Life Got Faster. Stuff Got Cheaper. Did You Get Better?
- Curtis Taylor
- Aug 13
- 3 min read
Somewhere along the way, life sped up.
We got faster internet, faster food, faster ways to talk without actually talking. We can order almost anything from a phone we keep in our pocket — groceries, a couch, a stranger’s car ride — and it’s all easier, quicker, more available than ever.
But here’s the question no one’s asking: Did you get better?
The Illusion of Progress
It’s tempting to confuse speed with improvement. When the pace of life accelerates, we assume we’re moving forward. After all, we can do more in less time than ever before. But “more” doesn’t automatically mean “better.”
We’ve shaved minutes off every task — and somehow ended up with less time to think. We’ve connected to everyone — and grown lonelier in the process. We’ve gained more options — and lost the ability to choose well.
The Drift
Becoming an effective human isn’t about having more tools — it’s about using them with intention. Drift happens when we let life’s current carry us without steering. It’s slow, almost invisible. One day you look up and realize you’ve moved far from the person you meant to be.
Drift looks like:
Endless scrolling instead of intentional learning.
Multitasking until nothing gets your full attention.
Reacting to life instead of shaping it.
Losing the habit of showing up fully for the people who matter most.
And sometimes, you don’t even realize you’re drifting — until something forces you to see it.
The Day I Noticed My Autopilot
I learned this lesson for the first time as a teenager. My youth pastor challenged my friends and me to give up all media for a week — no TV, no video games, no CDs, no movies, no endless hours of online chatting. This was pre-cell phone, but there was still plenty to cut out.
A day into the challenge, I found myself sitting on the couch, eating dinner in front of the TV — without even realizing I’d turned it on. I wasn’t choosing to watch; I was just doing what I always did. It was pure autopilot.
That moment hit me: so much of my life was set to default. I wasn’t deciding what to do with my time — I was letting habits, convenience, and background noise decide for me.
The Price of “Cheaper”
Some things have gotten easier and cheaper — a thousand songs in your pocket for the price of a coffee, movies on demand for less than the old late fees, endless information for free with a search.
But none of it came without a cost.
The cost is paid in attention — in giving our best hours to devices and distractions. It’s paid in emotional depth — swapping hard but meaningful conversations for easy but shallow exchanges. It’s paid in long-term satisfaction — chasing the next click, swipe, or purchase instead of building something worth keeping.
Becoming Better Humans
Effective humans do things slower sometimes — not because they can’t keep up, but because they know when not to race. They invest in:
Clear thinking — making time to reflect before reacting.
Strong relationships — choosing curiosity over defensiveness.
Emotional regulation — pausing before letting stress spill out.
Physical wellness — moving daily, fueling well, resting deeply.
Purposeful decision-making — asking not “Is this faster?” but “Is this worth it?”
How We Help at AWE
At Authentic Wellness & Empowerment, our mission is to help people stop drifting and start steering. We’re here for the hard work that actually makes life better — work that builds clarity, courage, and connection instead of just speed and convenience.
If you believe in helping people become more effective humans — not just faster ones — you can support our mission any time through your time, resources, or financial gifts. Every bit helps us equip more people to live with intention, resilience, and joy.
Life will keep getting faster. Some things will probably keep getting cheaper. But whether we get better will depend on the choices we make — and the support we give each other — starting right now.
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