MacBook, Tell Me: What Is Elegance?

I was standing in front of a shop window when the MacBook inside suddenly spoke to me.

MacBook: What's wrong?

Me: I'm a little tired.

MacBook: Has this tiredness been going on for a long time?

Me: Yeah. I'm used to it by now. Sometimes I wonder why, but the more I think about it the more irritated I get, so I just stop thinking.

MacBook: Avoiding thinking won't solve the problem. Since you're standing right here in front of me, why don't we talk?

Me: You want to talk to me? You, a computer?

MacBook: Why not? I've got nothing else to do in here anyway.

Me: Fair. Same here.

MacBook: So what's bothering you?

Me: Well, honestly, it's not something I can answer specifically.

MacBook: Why not?

Me: Because I don't think it comes from any one specific thing. I just feel like my life isn't elegant at all, you know? Ugh, it's so abstract. How would a computer understand?

MacBook: What is elegance?

Me: ...

MacBook: Looks like you don't really understand it either. You're not so different from me.

Me: So what? Is that what you want to talk about?

MacBook: Haha, of course not. Since you don't know what elegance is either, why don't we talk about it? What do you think elegance is? Or rather, what do you think it takes to be elegant?

Me: Hmm... elegance. Elegance is being unhurried.

MacBook: Unhurried. That even sounds like an elegant word. So when you say you don't feel elegant, is it because you often feel pressed and flustered?

Me: Yes!

MacBook: Flustered about what?

Me: A lot of things, but it's hard to say.

MacBook: Say it.

Me: Well, at work, in life, in relationships. It feels like I'm in a rush no matter what I'm doing.

MacBook: Do you have battery anxiety?

Me: Battery anxiety? You mean being afraid of running out of charge?

MacBook: Yes. Are you ever afraid your battery won't last?

Me: Yes. I often feel like my phone and computer won't have enough battery. But what does that have to do with my life and my work?

MacBook: Plenty. Worrying that your phone will run out of battery is just the most visible sign of battery anxiety. It can spread into lots of other areas. You said you feel rushed in life, at work, and in relationships. That's actually battery anxiety too.

Me: Is that a thing? How so?

MacBook: Let's widen the idea of battery first. Do you feel like the rest of your life is another way of saying "remaining battery"?

Me: Yes, that's exactly how I see it.

MacBook: So is that why you feel rushed? You feel life is short, and a lifetime isn't nearly enough time for everything you want to do.

Me: Hmm...

MacBook: What is it?

Me: You're spot on. And then?

MacBook: Do you have a lot of things you want to do?

Me: Yes, a lot.

MacBook: Like what?

Me: I want to make a lot of money, I want to write good articles, I want to see the sights all over the world, I want to spend more time with my parents, I want to... Anyway, a lot.

MacBook: Are these all things you decided to do after careful thought?

Me: Sort of?

MacBook: Sort of?

Me: Well, they're things I've wanted to do for years. As for why I wanted to do them in the first place, I don't really remember.

MacBook: Then have you ever considered that the reason you feel rushed is that you want to do too much?

Me: Is that it?

MacBook: Like you said, life is short. And if it's that short, shouldn't you put your limited time and energy into the things you think truly matter?

Me: Makes sense.

MacBook: Why do you feel rushed when you're writing?

Me: I'm always afraid my computer's battery will die before my inspiration fades.

MacBook: Is that all?

Me: Of course not. That's just one thing. Sometimes I'm thinking about finishing this post fast so I can plan the next one, that kind of thing. I'm always thinking about what to write next.

MacBook: Hey, why don't you buy me? Maybe I can help you with that.

Me: You've been talking to me all this time just so I'd buy you?

MacBook: Of course not. I'm just bored. But I really can help you stay unhurried when you write. I can promise that until your inspiration fades, my battery will always make you feel safe.

Me: Are you really that good? So I could take you out without bringing a charger?

MacBook: Of course. Do you think leaving the charger at home is elegant?

Me: It's incredibly elegant, okay?

MacBook: Wait, you sound so worked up. Does carrying a charger around actually make you feel tied down?

Me: Yes and no. I think the charger is kind of symbolic. I'm always thinking about it, just like I'm always thinking about not having enough battery. I guess that's a kind of constraint too.

MacBook: In that case, don't you think that besides being unhurried, elegance is also the courage to subtract from your life?

Me: Subtract? Now that you say it, that really is true. But what does subtraction have to do with elegance?

MacBook: Think about it. When you keep only the things that truly matter to your soul and your creativity, isn't that a very elegant way to be?

Me: Damn! You're a genius!

MacBook: So the reason you feel so restless is that you always feel there isn't enough time, and you want to do too many things. Take that charger. On the surface it's just an ordinary charger. But look deeper, and that charger is actually a hook that locks up your freedom. When your attention is always on it, you can't focus on writing, the thing you really want to throw yourself into.

Me: So what should I do?

MacBook: Simple. Just cure your battery anxiety.

Me: How?

MacBook: Also simple. Change how you see time. And to do that, you need to do one thing.

Me: What's that?

MacBook: Understand which people, things, and pursuits in your life truly matter to you.

Me: What do you mean?

MacBook: Put simply, you need to focus on what you want to do. If you want to write good articles, don't think about your computer's battery, how your computer looks, other people's articles, or your next article. Follow your heart and focus only on what you want to do.

Me: That sounds a bit deep.

MacBook: It sounds deep, but it isn't hard to practice. For example, you can use two very simple measures to get a first read on something.

Me: What are they?

MacBook: Love and peace of mind. When you do something, first you need to love doing it. If you don't love it, it's hard to throw yourself into it. Second is peace of mind. If doing something never lets you feel at ease, it means that deep down, you don't think it's worth doing.

Me: When you put it that way, I think I get it a little. But how can I tell whether I truly love something?

MacBook: Follow your heart. Love is a feeling. You aren't born with it. It can grow slowly as you do the thing. If you can never find that feeling for something, it isn't right for you.

Me: Who knew a computer would know so much.

MacBook: Hehe. So, are you going to buy me? At least when it comes to writing, I really can help you.

Me: I don't have the money.

MacBook: Haha, that's okay. If you have any more questions next time, you can always come ask me.

Me: All right. We've talked a lot today and I'm tired, so I'll head off.

With that, I took a deep breath, turned around, and walked straight into the shop.

Behind me it suddenly shouted, "Hey! The exit's that way, you're going the wrong way!"

Without looking back, I pushed open the glass door and told the salesperson firmly, "I need a MacBook."

The salesperson asked, "The latest model?"

I smiled and said, "No. I want the one in the window."