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"It's my life, it's now or never, 'cause I ain't gonna live forever - I just wanna live while I'm alive" (JBJ)

Stay connected -
there's always an app for that.

Wherever we turn in this glorious world, we see infinite wisdom. We see creativity and beauty. We see people empowered to build, develop, mold and cure. Mankind has been endowed with the incomparable gift of intelligence, which has bestowed upon the world the most magnificent and priceless tools imaginable. With  already an almost limitless array of professions and skills that serve all of the world's inhabitants in so many countless ways, we can only anticipate greater growth and advancement in the years to come. How fortunate we are to be living in such a marvelous and brilliant age. How proud we should be of our achievements.
And how high are the stakes - how high are the expectations.

There are many titles given to our generation. Perhaps, one of the more frequently used terms is the Smartphone Age (I might have made that up, though it sure fits the bill). If you don't own a smartphone, you may get that awkward feeling that you are far behind the times when everyone is looking to the palm of their hands, poking a screen, while you must flip open your phone to see anything.
The smartphones boast 100,000's of apps for any purpose at all. As we're told, for whatever the need, "there's an app for that." There are apps for productivity, business, finance, education, lifestyle, news, navigation and many more. With these apps, we can rule the world - pretty much. We can organize our lives, communicate with friends and business associates across the globe, and make reservations for dinner. In short, we can accomplish almost any task with a smartphone. This, however, comes with a price. These smartphones aren't cheap. Be prepared to spend a small fortune for all this power.
Let's imagine for a moment, that you are not using your smartphone for any of these tools. Your personal finances are not organized, you are soon to be fired for the lousy communication you maintain with your clients, and your social life is an ugly mess. But do you have the most insane collection of games on your iPhone! You're a "killer" in Angry Bird, a four-star slugger in Homerun Battle (I am, actually), and you've shot more zombies than anyone on the silver screen. 
What a waste of a smartphone!


Hashem has truly given us uncanny capabilities. Each talent is another app waiting to be utilized. These abilities were given to us to make the best of life - to fulfill a lofty mission that requires high productivity, positive communication and a sensible lifestyle. Yet, how tragic would it be if we were to squander these abilities, only to replace our "home screen" with games and entertainment alone? Is that all our "smartphones" are designed for? 
Certainly not. 
We can surely enjoy life - we must. G-D gave us this exceptional world to appreciate it. And while we eat His delicious food, we must make a beracha. When we witness His great marvels, we must thank Him. And while we sit back on a much needed vacation, we should look at the exquisite sun as it sets with a sense of gratitude. Look into the crisp, clear water and say, "Hashem - man did You do a good job!"
Let us always remember that we are all "smartphones" - an ingenious work of art with G-D given potential. Let us, therefore, use our gifts - each and every app - appropriately. 


Say to yourself ten times today:
"Hashem, thank You for everything You've given me in life - I hope to use it all well!"