In 1985, I'd always walk to work with my Walkman in my hand. I'd switch back and forth between by two favorite tapes, Bruce Springsteen Born in the USA and The Talking Heads Stop Making Sense. I'd walk by the Charles River with my headphones plugged into my tape player and marvel and dance at the idea of portable music.
Flash forward 20 years, I am walking by the same river to a different job. The Walkman was replaced by a giant white iPod, with 16 gigs of memory and loaded up with music. I again choose Bruce Springsteen Born in the USA, and walked along the same path. Only now, instead of just Born in the USA, I had the entire Bruce Springsteen library loaded on my iPod. I could probably walk to Asbury Park before I'd play the same song twice. And once again, I marveled at the idea of portable music.
Like so many people, I was saddened by the death of Steve Jobs. I read the news on my iPhone while I was making dinner from recipe I was reading on my iPad. Nearby, my little girl was playing games on her iPod which was handed down from my husband. Apple computers are in our house; the influence of Steve Jobs is everywhere in our lives.
Like so many things in life, explaining this death to my little girl helped me understand why this news hit me so hard. I explained to E how Steve Jobs was the genius who influenced the invention of so many things that touch our lives - our music, or phones, our computers - the way we communicate. When I explained it to E, I realized that no other person or company has influenced the lives of both me and my daughter the way that Steve Jobs and Apple have.
I started to think about how he died the day after Apple's big announcement of the latest product releases. It reminded me of when my father was dying, and all his children were gathered by his bedside, waiting. A wise hospice nurse told us that my Father wouldn't die when his children were around. I think when we were around, it was clear that we still needed him.
I kind of wonder if the same it true for Steve Jobs, that maybe he wouldn't die until he knew that the company he created could go on without him. Maybe seeing yesterday's meeting made it okay to go.
I don't know if it's ever okay to go at the age of 56. It feels like there is so much more that he could have done - who knows how the could have continued to shape the world if he had more time.
Still, I am inspired by his wonder and his innovation. He leaves the world a different place and for that, I am grateful.
"Don't let the noise of others opinions drown your own inner voice. Have the courage to follow your heart & intuition ~ Steve Jobs
He had amazing creative vision. He really did reinvent the telephone and the way we listen to music. And I laughed when I heard about the iPad because I thought it was a poor substitute for a laptop, but now I love mine. And he created Pixar besides. He definitely packed a lot into a too-short life.
ReplyDeleteThis post made me cry. I didn't realize how he's influence my life as well. Thanks for putting this out there and wording it perfectly!
ReplyDeleteI agree. Google his 2005 commencement speech at Stanford. He was adopted. Great story. And all our lives are better for his having been here.
ReplyDeleteHe did leave a large footprint in our world that will be noticed and felt for a long time. What a great quote.
ReplyDeleteisn't his legacy a beauty!
ReplyDeleteSo much life crammed into 56 short years.
Much love and peaceful grace to you
in your life-living:)
-Jennifer
Thank you for putting into words so much of what I've been feeling. I'm typing this comment on my trusty MacBook, and I honestly have a hard time remembering what life was like before I had it. I think what impresses me most about Steve Jobs is his endless curiosity and his belief in his own vision. That speech from which you quote at the end of your post is absolutely brilliant--a great user's manual for life!
ReplyDeleteI am writing this on an iPad. I take photos on my iPhone.write on a mac air.yes, Steve jobs has hhad a huge impact on my life.
ReplyDeleteAn excellent post
Gosh, that quote by him just about had me in tears. I tried not to over-think his passing because yes, he was too young but also because i didn't know him. But your beautiful post expresses exactly why we should think about him and the contribution he made to our world. What a tribute.
ReplyDeleteA blog for Steve Jobs for being the best of the best god given gift.
ReplyDeleteMy Blog: Remembering Steve Jobs – The Man, The Entrepreneur, The Maverick
Steve | spa wear
Yes, steve jobs is comparable to greats like newton,einstein,edison and others.Shame that he was NOT Given state funeral by USA or World befitting one of the greatest human beings ever born, may be because steve jobs believed in philosophy of eastern religions, namely buddhism and hinduism, Steve Jobs was NOT given state funeral and honours. Of course if he had belonged to hate-filled seetic cults, christinity or islam, both america and europe would have given state honours and state mourning, that is the octopus control of vaatican and jehadis all over the world, right,folks???
ReplyDeleteI really do love you! I have been trying to go to bed for more than an hour when I kept clicking on links that led to yours. You are right, God does have a sense of humor and purpose...being led to your inspirational and encouraging blogsite. Thank you!
ReplyDelete