My sister recently bought a dishwasher just for two of them, she and my mother. Together with other modern appliances like a robotic vacuum cleaner and voice-controlled clothes hanging poles, understandably this purchase reflects her desire for convenience and efficiency in managing household responsibilities. She looks forward to more of it, like using a robot maid, so she can be fully liberated from household duties.
While she enjoyed her new purchase, I said, "they are great inventions for those who are physically restricted for the tasks." I gently reminded her of the increasing reliance on modern technology to automate household tasks, as well as the potential consequences and implications of this trend, specially on our ability to take care of ourselves and maintain essential life skills.
Modern technology can be a double-edged sword. While making our lives easier, they also have the potential to erode our self-reliance and weaken our capacity to perform basic tasks independently.
Don't forget the law of use or loss, Chinese saying: 用进废退. I remember years ago my mother cooked for herself. She enjoyed doing it and was proud of it. After my sister took over the task, she's doing less and less. Perhaps we should have done something different.
By writing about this, I hope people keep in mind the importance of maintaining a balance between leveraging modern technology and retaining our essential life skills and capabilities, and realize that very often good things don't come without a price. Perhaps losing our ability to take care of ourselves is the ultimate price we pay for these modern conveniences.