That is obviously a joke, as titles can be used as many times you like, but I thought I'd make a joke this time. We have a user on Hive, with similar username and always makes me smile when I see their comments as I think it's a genius move. Anyway, before I digress, let's get back to what I want to share with you today.
At first, I thought I'd name my post "Value", as that's what my post it is about, but value here is not just the dry definition of the word and some rewritten economic text, it has a way deeper meaning (for me).
The whole thing started when I saw an iPod on Vinted. Someone listed it for sale and when I saw it, my first reaction was to check how many are listed for sale and at what price and saw there were not a lot and the average price was acceptable for an obsolete product like this one.
I have one too, this beauty you see on the photo. I got it in 2007 or 2008, can't remember exactly. I got it from someone I used to know, from Oxford. He got it as a bonus in a referral programme and as he could not appreciate it, he gifted it to me. It was quite shocking as back then these iPod Shuffles were in vogue, their price was quite high and this was sealed, unopened, so he could have sold it, but he was not able to value it. His loss, my luck I'd say. A big one.
So what I did was, take out my Apple iPod Shuffle 2nd Generation 1GB player and test it to see if it's still working as it's been sitting in my drawer for God knows how long. The first signs were good as it was still charging, its original box was also there, in a perfect condition. I even managed to put together the description I needed for the listing, all was missing was a test to see if it still plays the music I have on it, before I push the post button and this is where everything changed.
The detail I left out till now about this little beauty is, that although I hate pink and don't like the color, I loved it and when I say loved it, I mean really loved it. This little piece of 4cm x 2.5cm has been with me for years in good and really bad times. Most likely I was the last one to swap it with my phone, only because wearing a headset with a wire was really not what you would wanted to do anymore.
The music I have on it is historic for me, but not for the reason you think. Not because those tunes have been top of any list for God knows how long, but because each tune reminds me of an event from those times.
If I want to be honest, this iPod helped me save my sanity and get through all the heavy shit life handed me when my mom got sick. Waiting for hours at the doctor, day by day, week by week, trying to process mentally what you have to, when you know there's no cure or solution, is not something I'd wish for anyone and only you know how to handle the situation.
Some break down mentally, or turn to alcohol or other substances. Breaking down mentally was not an option for me as my mom was relying on me heavily, with her life, literally, and she was in a much tougher situation than me. Alcohol and other substances are not my thing, so I found my boost in music, through this precious piece. It was with me all the time, without exception and can say it helped me to get high on music when I needed it.
Then there was a song that made me smile again at first, but brought back memories of how I listened to it for a whole day, before I had my head surgery. Not being the first such surgery, I knew the anesthetic would not last till the end and it's inevitable to not feel the pain, so I needed that to control it. Dealing with that kind of pain it's not easy, trust me, the surgeon was shocked that I stayed quiet and instead of screaming of pain, as so many do, we joked the whole time. He even asked how come I tolerate pain so well. I didn't tell him my secret.
I bet everyone thinks it's crazy to listen to one single song all day. Maybe it is, but if it helped me get through the pain, it's good for me. Better than any other chemical substance and I'm glad I was able to find a very organic way to deal with it, on my own. What others think? Who cares as I sure don't.
Back to the story of the day, best case scenario I can get $50 for it now, maybe a little more as it's 2nd generation and the ones listed are mostly sold now, but do I need that money now? No, I don't. Would it help me change my life? $50? Come on, let's be serious. So then why sell it?
There's a difference between value and price and so many times the two are miles apart from each other. Price is what you pay, value is what you get. Price means very little for me in this case, but the value is priceless. It would break my heart to give it to someone else, even for money as it's a piece of my painful past that I value so much.
So this beauty goes back to my drawer for now. I need to buy a headset that is not wireless, as the one I have is faulty and only the left earpiece is working, then I can listen to music on it again.
Money is not everything.
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