Technology is a part of everyone’s life (well, at the very least, the “everyone” who is reading this article). The cars we drive, the Netflix we binge-watch while working out at the gym, and the phones we sometimes can’t seem to get away from are all part of the technological age that our generation has been born into, and that older generations have helped to create. While many people criticize it and think that because of our technology, we are becoming lazy or disconnected from the world, I would like to say a couple “thank-yous” to technology for adding happiness to my life, and the lives around me.

Thank-you for allowing me to video chat with my friends and family when I made a 3,000 mile move across the country six years ago. The ability to see familiar and smiling faces was always so uplifting for me, whether it was for a special occasion or just to check in on me in my new and happening life.

Thank-you for allowing me to still see my best friends even though we go to school hours away from each other. I can call my family, scattered all around the globe, whenever I want, so that even when I am unable to be with them in person, I can stay connected with all the people who matter to me.

Thank-you for making it so my sister and I can not only talk about the Harry Potter marathon together, but also send ugly pictures of us crying when Cedric, Dobby, Snape, (etcetera, etcetera) dies. Though I’m away at college and she has taken over my bedroom, we can still share our emotions together as if we are right next to each other.

Thank-you for the ability to spread news in an instant. It’s crucial to stay up to date on current events in this age, and because information can be spread so quickly, it’s a simple task to stay informed and have a thoughtful opinion on things happening in the world.

Thank-you because without you, my boyfriend wouldn’t be able to talk to his dad, who lives on another continent. Thank-you because in truth, without the endless videos of dogs on Facebook, I’m not sure what I would do. Thank-you for your advancements in medicine, because so many people are able to get the care they need. Thank-you for helping to offer so many new ways to learn and create. Thank-you for allowing me to express my thoughts on a platform such as this one. And, after Sunday night, thank-you for allowing me to watch a nail-biting game, and reward me at the end by giving me the Patriots' Super Bowl win.

Though sometimes technology can be a bit of a hassle, and though having too much of it can take us away from reality, I think there’s a lot about it that we can be thankful for. It does its job of letting us stay connected no matter where we are on the face of this earth. Because of technology, people can get the medical assistance they need, we can get great educations, and, even at the simplest level, we can create and share beautiful memories with one another. Many times, it's important to put the devices down and enjoy the moments you are given, but also, in so many aspects we should say, thank-you technology.