We live in a time where even our coffee makers are “smart” and our refrigerators know when we’re out of milk. Where a child learns to swipe before they learn to write. Where feelings are reduced to emojis, and friendships live in the cloud, not next door.
It’s dazzling, yes. Efficient, sure. But somewhere in this sleek, pixel-perfect world, I can hear the echo of a slower heartbeat — the analogue rhythm of a time when life wasn’t curated for a feed, but lived in full colour, with wrinkles, pauses, and imperfections.
I come from that world.
And I don’t want to lose it.
The Warmth of Handwritten Letters
There was a time when the mailbox held mysteries. When letters carried the scent of the sender’s home, the emotion of their handwriting, and the weight of time. Today, an email lands and vanishes with a ding. Instant, yes. Intimate? Not quite.
Conversations Without Notifications
Once upon a not-so-distant yesterday, people talked. Really talked! Not with half their brain tethered to a buzzing phone. Conversations were uninterrupted, filled with pauses, eye contact, and silences that spoke volumes. Today, even dinner dates include a third guest: the smartphone.
The Beauty of Waiting
Remember delayed gratification? Standing in line at the post office. Waiting for photos to develop. Saving for months before buying something. These little acts taught patience, discipline, and joy in anticipation. In contrast, our “One-Day Delivery” world often feels emotionally flat. Everything is instant — and instantly forgotten.
The Value of Craft, Not Just Clicks
Grandfathers who repaired things with their hands. Grandmothers who cooked without timers, just by instinct. There was art in the ordinary, pride in perfection, joy in slowness. Today, we’re drowning in convenience — and starved for connection.
Digital Tools, Analogue Soul
Now don’t get me wrong — I’m not here to unplug the WiFi or bash technology. I write this blog on a laptop, after all. But what I fear is amnesia — forgetting the grace, wisdom, and grounding that old-school values offer.
Maybe the secret is balance. Let your phone remind you of appointments, but let your heart remember birthdays. Post on Instagram, but also visit a friend unannounced with fresh gujiyas. Embrace the new, but anchor yourself in the tried and true.
Let the Past Walk With You
As we scroll, swipe, and stream through life, let us carry with us the aroma of handwritten letters, the patience of a slow-cooked dal, and the silence of starry nights when people talked under the sky instead of under fluorescent lights.
Progress is beautiful — but only when it remembers its roots.
Here’s to being analogue hearts in a digital world. Not out of touch, but deeply, beautifully in tune.
What old-school values do you still hold close? Please share your thoughts in the comments — or better yet, write me a letter. I promise I’ll write back.
Neerja Bhatnagar
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I have written 3 solo books and 3 anthologies. You can buy my books on Amazon. If you are on Kindle Unlimited, you can read them for free. Pls, do check and share your reviews.