It is difficult for some of us who have been around for awhile to realize that we live in a throw-away society. We shake our heads at the younger generation who want to throw things out when they do not work and who look at us curiously when we suggest they try to get them repaired. Yet the young people have kept up with the times. Things are no longer meant to be repaired. If something breaks down, you might as well replace it. Recently, our computer's laser printer was in need of repair. Twelve years ago this item would have cost close to $1,000 so the thought of having it repaired made me anxious. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the parts to repair were only about $200. However, for about the same amount I could buy a whole new printer!
The cost of two hours of labor to have a watch or DS game system repaired would actually be more than just buying a new one. After 10 years the manufacturer of my fitness watch just stopped making parts to repair it. I am not sure whether we are forced to buy new ones because they no longer make parts or if they no longer make parts because everyone just buys a new one. This is especially true in business where costs of new machines can be written off as an expense but it is also true in the home. It does not pay to repair a broken DVD player or most small appliances. Added to that is the fact that we have more electric appliances now than we ever had in the past.
This phenomenon extends even to automobiles. Of course, we still have auto mechanics but look how many people lease cars rather than buy them. Very few people buy a car with the idea of keeping it 10 to 15 years. Authorities say it is almost always less expensive to repair a car until it rusts away than it is to buy a new one, but we are programmed to get rid of it rather than repair it.
Perhaps the greatest problem, however, is just in the attitude that develops about how we care for things. Why bother taking care of an appliance or piece of equipment if you can just buy a new one. It really does not pay to maintain things or have them periodically checked. Unfortunately, this same attitude often carries over into taking care of ourselves. Even though we realize that they make very few replacement parts for the human body, we are nevertheless not accustomed to taking care of things and we neglect ourselves. The fact that we are constantly bombarded with medical ads for quick fixes for everything from sinus headaches to indigestion only adds to our neglect. Many people do not change their lifestyle after angioplasty or even heart by-pass surgery. They think the magic pill or surgery will eventually come to the rescue of poor lifestyle choices. A wise man once told me that there is a four letter word that no one likes to hear and it's spelled W-O-R-K. There is NO substitute for it. This is the secret: If you don't put the WORK in you won't get the WORK out. No shortcuts.
It is nice to know that at least for now we are not tossed into the trash pile when something goes wrong in our body, but it is more important to realize that we must care for ourselves in order to have a full productive life.
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