I am on what would be a 10-hour flight with my partner. The WiFi is not working and, as someone who always needs to be engaged, I am looking for something to do. We stumble on a multiplayer trivia game that is kind of like Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.
We start playing, and between each question there is a 20-second wait. At first it feels like a lifetime. I am impatient, ready to tap something else, wishing the game would just speed up. But after a few rounds, I realize I am enjoying it. The pause gives us space to talk, laugh about the last question, and even drift into conversations that have nothing to do with the game. Suddenly it feels fun and light, with no pressure. Almost like being back on a playground.
It struck me how different this felt from most technology and games today. Everything around us is designed to be faster, louder, and more consuming. There is rarely space to breathe, to think, or to simply connect with another person. This game reminded me that speed is not the only thing worth optimizing for. Sometimes balance matters more. And balance is still possible, if we choose it.
That small 20-second gap gave us room to be human. It made me wonder how many other places in life could benefit from slowing down. Work, relationships, even the way we use our phones. We rush through so much that we forget the joy of the pause, the richness that comes from having just a little space.
One small side note that stuck with me. After each game ended, the next one started automatically. That simple design choice kept us playing for much longer than we planned. It was a reminder that the defaults we build into things matter more than we think. They quietly shape how people use them, how long they stay, and what kind of experience they walk away with.
So maybe the lesson is not just about technology, but about life too. Not everything has to be fast. Sometimes slowing down makes the whole thing better.
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