2025-03-24
I am in the middle of shifting my things from Bangalore to Madurai. I have so many decisions to make and my mind is chaotic. I am already short of time because I was sick with fever in the past week.
In the middle of all this, I was contacting a few Packers & Movers around and providing details of list of things I need to shift. Which includes an old large computer table.
Earlier today, I was thinking whether I need this table. Is this the time to buy a new table? This is any way old. The compartments provided all rusted, and one with a missing door. I am only using the top portion of the table since the entire storage part is useless.
But other than that, it works perfect for my need. It can fit my monitor, Personal Computer and two small speakers as well. Even after this, I can comfortably keep my keyboard, mouse and a plate to eat my food, while my journal and a book lies on the side.
I don’t actually have much usage for the storage space. I have other places in my home to keep my stuff. But still it bothers me to see the broken rusting storage compartment. I started looking for affordable tables in amazon and ended up in a adding more chaos to my decision fatigue mind.
First I was searching for affordable tables. Went to see the reviews to find a few complaining about its stability. Amazon suggested a few more similar products and I found one a bit more expensive but solves the stability problem. But it is shorter length wise when compared with my table. At this point, I forgot everything else around and started looking at tables. Tables, tables, tables. which one has better stability? does it provide some support for cable management? can I attach my microphone clamp to it? Colour options, storage options and all the other craps.
I finally arrived at something that was almost the same size and strength of what I already own. But hey, the storage space is not rusted. It is functional and looks beautiful.
Oh wait, beautiful. This was what bothering me all these time. It was not because my table’s storage space was not functional. It was not because it was rusted. It was because it didn’t look beautiful enough.
Beautiful enough for what or who? I rarely look down at these rusty parts. Then who? Was I worried that people who come to my house and find these rusted parts ugly? In the entire last year, only 3 people visited my place. I don’t have much friends and the few I have are two shallow to notice these things.
then who? let me tell you. It was the Internet . All these fancy desk makeover videos I watch, dream desk setup, desk accessories and everything. We are constantly bombarded with information about products and the internet makes us think, these are exactly what you want in your life. you might think it is a conscious decision. but nope. it never was.
I am not against consumerism as a whole. I love collecting retro techs. I love buying books. I love advanced techs that would actually help my day to day life. But at the same time, I should be conscious about my decisions I take. I should ask me multiple times whether this buy is a need or a want disguised as a need. Is it solving an actual problem or is it creating a problem to solve?
It is becoming too hard to keep asking this question. Because a functional table seem like an must want and essential. But the question is how disfunctional the existing table is, to actually throw it away.
Also read, the mindset of more by Tracy Durnell