November 10, 2023

Recently, my mother's washing machine decided to call it quits. Initially, it made a disconcerting noise, as if it was out of balance. My mother ignored the noise and continued washing clothes until the electronic board stopped functioning, leaving the machine in total darkness. It was an old machine by technology standards, she'd had it roughly 10 years. As it was no longer covered by warranty, we scoured the internet for a company specializing in repairs for her specific brand.

In anticipation of the technician's arrival, we made a considerable effort to clear a path around the machine. Piles of clothes, a couple of drying racks, laundry baskets, a mobile wardrobe and Amazon boxes for recycling needed to be relocated. In the process, thick layers of dust were disturbed, creating a visible cloud of neglect in the already dimly lit laundry room.

Upon the technician's arrival, he initiated a code that brought the machine to life, lighting up its face. Despite this, it still displayed an error and refused to function. He input additional codes to force a spin cycle, and assured me the spin cycle was working flawlessly. All of the systems seemed to work separately, but refused to work together to clean clothes.

Then he unplugged the machine and took a few minutes to complete his paperwork before plugging it back in. I stared at him and then at machine, wondering when he would pull out his tools. He paused and there was a moment of silence before the machine started beeping, buzzing and churning like it was fresh off the assembly line. Then with apologetic eyes, he handed me a bill for $125 and said, "it just needed to be unplugged."

The lesson is simple—burnout is real. Refusing to take a break from life's routine can be costly. We need breaks from the complexities of life and even the simple things we're designed to do. Take a break, shut down, unplug your phone and dial into your reset. You're so much more sophisticated than a machine that doesn't have a soul. Replenish yours.

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