How Often Do You Click ‘Refresh’?

You’re not the only one who does it. I’ve watched my teenagers do it all day while they were home. I see strangers on the checkout line and in waiting rooms caught in that trap. I find myself there often too!

I’m referring to that constant up and down movement of our thumb as it refreshes the screen, scrolls and scrolls, clicks and clicks again.

You might be shocked to know that on average, we tap, swipe and click on our phones 2,617 times per day!

Why is it? What is the human drive behind that steady need for new information? What is drawing us in to hear more, see more, find out more?

I’ll tell you what I know about it.

It’s something we inherited from G-d. He does this too.

In our daily prayers we bless G-d for creating light, by saying “He continually renews the work of creation”. At every moment, G-d is “swiping his screen” in the form of recreating the universe. Every cell in our body is, at every single moment, receiving and surviving on brand new energy.

Inherent in our DNA (formed in the image of G-d) is the constant need for newness and novelty. G-d made us that way because he is depending on our creative touch to enhance his world. He wants our fingers to mold it, and our paintbrush to color it- and that craving for newness will always serve as a motivating factor.

It’s obviously a lot easier to enjoy the novel things that others create (hence the swiping and the over purchasing) but that fills our need for only a fleeting moment.

Look not further than at a child. They are forever asking for new things, yet yesterday’s toy is no longer thrilling. But sit down with them and build a brand new object with their Lego, and an old toy now takes on an exciting new form.

Ask the baker, the artist or the entrepreneur. The sense of pleasure they take in a novel piece of work or invention is unsurpassed.

With it, G-d also gave us mitzvahs to help fill this intrinsic need and to satisfy our drive.

Every time you give tzedakah or lend a hand to another, you are in effect creating something and that’s part of why it gives you so much satisfaction. Indeed every mitzvah we do, unleashes creative energy into the universe.

Challenge yourself to read about or learn something new and you’ll find just how much color and enrichment it adds to you life.

Swipe less, learn more. Click less, give more.

Consume less, create more.

Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom.