Doesn’t have to be a thing you bought. Just some thing you didn’t have but then once you did it expanded your scope of actions.

The first obvious example that comes to mind is a car. Plenty of drawbacks to prevalence of cars, but being able to go where I want when I want, and far away, is very transformative.

I’m interested in other examples of things that aren’t just useful, but that open new possibilities.

  • Wirrvogel@feddit.deDeutsch
    31·
    9 months ago

    I am handicapped and in early retirement. I had a hard time going on walks, got tired fast, there was always the fear of stumbling/falling again and carrying a bag was painful using a backpack made me getting tired faster.

    I bought an expensive walking helper /walker with 4 wheels (not something you sit on and drive, but walk behind), a seat and a big bag for shopping. I feel like superwoman now when I am on a walk, because I can walk longer, buy stuff and just put it on the thing and it is so easy to get even heavy stuff home and whenever I get tired and no matter where I am, I just sit down, relax, power comes back and I can keep going.

    The best thing I have ever bought in my whole life.

    I was told this is only for very old people and that it looks ridiculous at my age and that I would not need it by everyone, fuck them. It is pure quality of life and increases my power to over 9000! I have been more outside in the last 12 months, than in the 5 years before that because of it.

  • MajorHavoc@programming.dev
    271·
    9 months ago

    I had a teacher advise me to make a habit of occasionally seeking out embarrassment, to stay in the habit, and prevent being paralyzed by fear of embarrassment.

    I’ve followed that advice for years, and it’s like a super power.

    I’ve done so much cool shit that a previous version of myself would have been afraid to try.

    I don’t even remember all the embarrassing stuff, even though there’s plenty. The cool stuff is what sticks in my memory, even though I’m prone to remembering my mistakes.

    • Acamon@lemmy.world
      181·
      9 months ago

      Saw a Ted talk that said the same thing. The guy over came some social anxiety by actively putting himself in an awkward situation each day (his was asking if he could get his coffee for free at the coffee shop). Once he got use to low stakes situations where people were surprised, confused or mildly judgemental (but also amused or just disinterested) it was easier to do things that actually mattered without worrying about people’s reactions. And he got a few free coffees.

      • 1984@lemmy.today
        82·
        9 months ago

        First step is to post something onpopular but true on Lemmy, and be OK with the downvotes. I dare you all. :)

        • Agent641@lemmy.world
          61·
          9 months ago

          Youtube is actually good for both viewers and uploaders if you use it right. If youre upset with your experience of it, its your fault.

        • Scrof@sopuli.xyz
          38·
          9 months ago

          HAMAS are terrorists and a part of the New Axis of fascist dictatorships which consist of Russia, Iran, China and North Korea among other minor countries and militant groups. Free Palestine movement is their loud, but in the grand scheme of thinga inconsequential piece of propaganda. TikTok is one the main propaganda tools of the Axis. There. Got downvoted for this plenty of times. Good thing the useful idiots are just a loud minority of primarily well-off USA students who cosplay being communists without understanding a thing about communism.

  • okasen@slrpnk.net
    13·
    9 months ago

    Moving to a city with a tool library. For an annual £20 fee I can borrow any of a myriad of power tools. Currently using an orbital sander for some DIY, previously borrowed a hedge trimmer for the garden, it’s freaking great.

  • rynzcycle@kbin.social
    111·
    9 months ago

    Dance. Started dancing (taking classes) at 350lbs 4 ½ months ago, still going now at 295lbs. Everything is sooo much easier. First exercise I really liked, improves my flexibility, strength, and cardio. And I feel mad sexy doing it.

    • RHOPKINS13@kbin.social
      4·
      9 months ago

      I’d highly recommend playing Dance Dance Revolution, if you’re at all interested. Very fun way to burn lots of calories. There’s an open source clone called StepMania. If you really end up enjoying it, you’re going to want to invest in some high quality metal dance pads. Worth every penny though, in my opinion.

      By the way, I’m 400 pounds. I know your struggle. I’ve lost well over 100 pounds playing StepMania before. Unfortunately I’ve had some bad events put me in a bad depression, which caused me to gain it back.

      • MajorHavoc@programming.dev
        1·
        8 months ago

        By the way, I’m 400 pounds. I know your struggle. I’ve lost well over 100 pounds playing StepMania before. Unfortunately I’ve had some bad events put me in a bad depression, which caused me to gain it back.

        As an arcade gamer, myself, I’ve never seen anybody who could play a DDR game like someone who put the time in as part of an exercise regiment. It’s so cool to watch. Like other game masters, but that much more impressive for the physical commitment.

        When I run into an exercise gamer at the arcade, I always stick around to see what I can learn by watching. I can often spot them by their vibe - there’s a recognizable patience of someone who already committed to getting their steps in, and is just waiting for the machine to free up.

        Admittedly, I usually I don’t learn much by watching, because I’m not anywhere near their league. But I have gotten some great beginner tips from the ones who hang around between sets.

        Anyway, mad props. Playing those games for health tends to elevate it to a high art form. It’s crazy cool to watch at the arcade. I suppose any sport can, but of course ‘dance’ is right there in the name.

        Edit: Also, sorry you’re dealing with setbacks. I hope things ease up for you.

    • Delphia@lemmy.world
      1·
      9 months ago

      I’m a crossfit guy, but I absolutely agree. Once you find an exercise you enjoy and look forward to life just seems better.

    • Sagrotan@lemmy.world
      4·
      9 months ago

      As sad as it is, it’s true. I was broke for so many years that I even today, after years of having some, it eats at me paying so much for a car or other stuff. And I don’t know if I should change. I think I’ll never will anyways. Just trying to help without being exploited. First: tell no one how much money your project (or whatever) made. Wife and kid know, obviously, no one else. ESPECIALLY not “family”. But it’s a super power in our world that one could get lawful justice if anybody does you wrong. Without any money, you won’t. From experience. And the daily anxiety is gone. Ok, not gone, but very, very small. Completely without I’d be too lazy in the long run, I presume.

  • southsamurai@sh.itjust.works
    7·
    9 months ago

    The first was my bike. Totally changed life. It opened up the entire county to me, though the far end was not viable time wise.

    Then my first car.

    After that, I suppose it was a cell phone. Gave me the freedom to travel and stay in communication on my terms. However, part of that was caller ID by default. The freedom to ignore calls and make the decision based on who was calling without having to worry about missing an important call was big time. Since I could do this anywhere my car could reach, it was the pinnacle of freedom, with subsequent iterations only expanding the use.

    After that? My cane.

    After my body fucked up, and I was on a walker for a while, being able to walk steadily without the walker was freedom again. It may seem like the walker was that, but it never felt like it. I went from jogging and walking and hiking freely to crawling, literally in a second.

    From crawling, a walker sure was better, but it was as much a symbol of limitations as it granted more mobility.

    But the cane? That’s when I knew I would be able to have something resembling the life I had lost. It isn’t the same as it was and never will be. But the difference between having the cane and not having it is what makes it powerful.

    • dutchkimble@lemy.lol
      1·
      9 months ago

      I really thought when the cane came up you meant taking over the world one hard smack at a time

      • southsamurai@sh.itjust.works
        2·
        9 months ago

        Wellll, I have done that a few times.

        Back when I got off the walker and faced a cane as permanent, I went to my old dojo and got hooked up with some lessons and sparring practice to kind of work around the issues. I’m not what I used to be, but the few times I’ve run into people that thought a middle aged disabled guy was a victim, there was some smacking done lol

  • Rob@lemmy.worldEnglish
    6·
    9 months ago

    My divorce. I didn’t even realize that my ex-wife was abusive until getting into the divorce process. Once I got away and started to understand, I began to take some of my power back and develop even more. I went from terrified of her to strong and confident.

  • kofe@lemmy.worldEnglish
    71·
    9 months ago

    Internet. I’ve lived in rural areas most of my life and only in the last five years was able to start gaming with friends and watching unlimited video. I feel much less resentment that people don’t want to visit me and am happier getting my social needs met in person by physically going out less often (I still get out once a week ish)

    It’s not a replacement for intimate relationships but any means, but I do think it can enhance them with healthy boundaries n whatnot. I went through a rough break up recently that’s had me realizing I’d like a partner that’s ok with me having space to chill with friends day to day but still making time for each other.

  • Bwaz@lemmy.world
    6·
    9 months ago

    A low-powered zoom microscope. I can again look at and work on tiny things, fix jewelry, electronics, remove splinters. Use it WAY more rhan I ever thought I would.

    • thegreatgarbo@lemmy.worldEnglish
      41·
      9 months ago

      For anyone interested, just Google “stereoscopic dissecting microscope used”. The ‘used’ part is to makes it less expensive. They can cost a lot. I used to use my lab sonicator water bath to clean my jewelry, and our dissecting scope to check the jewelry to make sure all the skin crud is gone from every crevice.

  • LemmyKnowsBest@lemmy.world
    71·
    9 months ago

    2011- prescription Vyvanse

    2017- $300k family inheritance

    2020- freedom to travel with no responsibilities

    2024- semaglutide