prettyclever:

jmak

Dear Steve Jobs, 

You changed the world; you were the Galileo/da Vinci of our generation, a pioneer in the competitive, exponentially expanding field of technology. Many wise words that left your lips are now floating around the interweb and I’m sure they’ll soon be up on the walls and fridge doors of thousands of people everywhere, in a wide array of languages, as mantras and mottos to live by.

The magic of Apple may diminish over time - after all, will any one company stay permanently at the top in a fast-paced, rapidly changing society like ours? - but you’ve created more than just products to suit our whims and fancies; you’ve changed the face of the planet with your dreams and your determination to make them happen, even through disappointment. You made history, sir. The world of technology 50 years into the future will be built upon the foundations you’ve laid for society. 

Funny how we sit in the making of history - surrounded by products you dared to envision and toiled to make happen - and don’t even quite comprehend the way you’ve revolutionised the means by which we communicate. In modern society, we as consumers are barraged with an endless stream of new products, designs, gadgets and gizmos and are forced to have an opinion on each one - awesome! Absolute garbage! Suits my busy lifestyle! Hate this operating system! We don’t think, “Wow. This is a fraction of someone’s genius sitting in the palm of my hand, lighting up when it receives certain frequencies to tell me that I’ve received a call from someone thousands and thousands of kilometres away.” We accept, we use, we throw away. We are spoiled for choice and we can barely find time to thank the people who shared their ingenuity with the world. 

Your passing yesterday forced the world to stop and think about what you’ve done for us, the way you stop to take a breath when you’re puffed out from running up a hill and look up to see the world before your eyes, the breathtaking view of the city that escaped your gaze as you were concentrating hard on getting to the top of the hill. We are now confronted with the magnitude of change that took place in your lifetime and we are taking it in, all at once. And we can barely believe it.

Your death made us appreciate your life and what you’ve done with it. That, to me, exemplifies a life lived to its full capacity. Your life and words will remain an inspiration to the generations to come. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I pray your family finds peace and comfort in such a difficult time too. x