She obeyed every instruction I gave her, trustingly subjecting all the monetary assets that she had gathered for over 60 years to my integrity and honesty. Gran was at the mercy of her granddaughter and officers of the bank as she re-structured her bank accounts in a world so technologically remote from her sphere of activity that she did not even try to understand - she just obeyed instructions.

Gran’s experience convinced me that I needed to continually keep up with technology at least at a reasonable pace. I remember when Apple first introduced the PC thus ushering in the computer to homes and on to the desks of blue collar workers. One reaction to this era especially by the elderly was fear - a fear that came from perceiving the computer as a black box that would explode if one touched the wrong button.

That type of trepidation has long since been dispelled but has been replaced by another one. When I finally convinced my mother to start using the laptop that she had received as a Christmas gift (and that lay as a decoration on the dining table), the major barrier to learning was her perception of the computer as a mystery way beyond her understanding. That was three years ago. Today, she is a wiz at emailing, Whatsapping and Skyping but has disciplined herself to use the technology, not allowing the technology to use her!

So yes, we may use the internet (for example, you are reading this now) but most of us adopt a 'this is as far as I'm going' stance to technology - we do not appreciate technology as a a method of continuing education which increases knowledge, upgrades our skills and provides access to new opportunities. As such, we must embrace change and be continually upgrading our computer literacy . But do we still think that becoming an expert is not necessary and that it is certainly beyond us. How many of us have refused to go outside the virtual doors of Facebook? And how many are still enjoying messaging by SMS and will not install Whatsapp? I have a cousin who only started Skyping two weeks ago. Until then, she was emailing friends and family (back and forth in short conversations). In an instant messaging world, email has become the snail mail!

The age of computers has become so advanced and we have adapted our lifestyles and expectations with such speed that we have not appreciated the stress that this fast-paced change may be reeking on our mental and emotional health. But I’ll speak on the stress from technology in another post. Today, I want to share the benefits of not only being on the internet but also continually educating ourselves.

I believe that it is through learning and operating new software and computing platforms that we can remain keyed into what’s going on and can actually keep our brains and memory ticking and functioning effectively. Applying the skills of learning and principles of reason and logic along with a desire to learn are all that is required to become computer-literate. There ARE some things that never change after all.

On this side of 50, we have to discard all feelings of fear and embrace change - we cannot afford to be left behind. I’ll share eight reasons why we should seek to strike that right balance between addiction and total rejection of ‘techknowledgy’.

1. Stay connected with friends and family

The reality is that everyone (including our children) is busy. Also with the ease of travel and migration, many of our friends and family members are all over the world. At one point last year, each of my four children was in a different country. Social media apps such as Whatsapp, Facebook, Skype and Instagram allow us to connect with peers and family at low costs and without (it’s still up to us) seeming nosy. Though I’m twelve hours away in time and 24 hours in distance from my children, I have helped my boys in their business, stayed on top of bills at home and weighed in on study and job tactics with my daughter in another hemisphere.

2. Obtain valuable information

It really is how a tool is used that determines the benefits derived. So much knowledge is available via the internet. In January 2018, there were 1.3 Billion websites and 3,812,564,450 internet users! Can you even imagine that? There is so much knowledge in cyberspace literally at our finger tips. I continually remind my children that unlike me, they have Google and can therefore do so much more research than I could have done with just a set of encyclopedias.

In fact, I do more online research than they do - they tend to rely on their social networks for info while I Google all sorts of things from troubleshooting setting up mail on my new Mac to how the different keys on my new A/C remote work. Because I have tapped into the information available online, I don't have to bother others so much, I can upgrade my skills and education as well as execute everyday transactions as required. But my obejective in this season is to go further. Digital marketing holds a mystery that I intend to unlock so I'm educating myself on SEO, landing pages, affiliate marketing and the like. How can I influence and am I being influenced by the deliberate tactics of cyberspace?

3. Share activities with children & grandchildren

Marc Prensky is one of my favourite academic writers on education today. He writes “Today’s average college grads have spent less than 5,000 hours of their lives reading, but over 10,000 hours playing video games (not to mention 20,000 hours watching TV). Computer games, email, the Internet, cell phones and instant messaging are integral parts of their lives.” Marc calls this generation digital natives while we baby boomers are digital immigrants. Our children and grandchildren have been ‘netwired’ differently from us and as Marc says, we have to learn new stuff or/and learn “new ways to do old stuff”.

There is no turning back to the ‘good ole days’ if we are to communicate and engage our offspring. I’m fine with Facebook and am now struggling with Twitter and Instagram - the children speak in ‘tweets’, ‘snaps’ and ‘stories’ and I have to learn to speak that language to share the wisdom that I need to impart to them. The language keeps changing though. Even for them, 'snaps' weren't spoken until Snapchat came into existence in 2009. Language changes for them and for us....what remains the same is the need for effective communication. That's enough motivation for me!

4. Get your brain going!

After retirement, we risk reducing our brain activity to the point that we may even become senile. Why not sharpen your senses and brainpower by learning how to use software and apps in order to execute tasks such as learning a language, designing flyers, writing emails, editing, sharing and storing photos, keeping a diary, budgeting or banking?

There are as many apps as there are household tasks and hobbies, even hobbies for baby boomers like us. They can be downloaded to your phone or/and laptop or desktop. Useful apps for me are Google Translate (absolutely essential for a China expat), Reminders, Weather Live, Kindle (good with a glass of red wine), Planner Pro, Dropbox, ExpressVPN, Biblegateway, Netflix (must sometimes wind down) and QuickBooks. YouTube hosts thousands of videos through which we can learn ourselves into new hobbies and even new careers. What new skill can you challenge your brain to acquire in this season?

5. Stay on top of opportunities

Having decided to change careers to teaching English as a second language, the only place to execute that career was overseas for me since in Barbados, no one (or very few persons) speaks or wants to learn a second language. How could I check into opportunities on the job market? The World Wide Web of course. I’ve never seen the recruiter who got me my first job in person but our relationship has developed and we remain in touch regarding any possible new gigs. By scouring sites like Indeed.com and Monster.com, you can access job opportunities that would have taken us weeks even months to access by snail mail.

If you are a late career changer or are looking to enhance your skills, upgrade or start a hobby, access to the internet is essential. I have a friend who learned how to do make up like a professional through watching YouTube videos; another one learned how to make jewelry and yet another how to draw. When I thought about starting a blog, a very good friend and of mine Sharon Hurley Hall provided the final nudge that I needed to actually get going by forming a 'secret' Facebook Group through which she mentored and encouraged a small group of budding writers. Opportunities abound on the Web!

6. Make money online

The internet marketplace has opened up a myriad of opportunities for baby boomers to make money online. In addition to teaching at a university here in China, I also teach English online using Skype. In the comfort of your home and during flexible hours, you can design ways of making a side or main income.

The Amazon marketplace offers a great opportunity to sell good stuff that you want to get rid of or merchandise that you can pick up at a low cost and sell at a return. As a hobby or a job, selling online can motivate you to stay technologically updated while earning income for retirement.

7. Do business and shop

Society is fast becoming a cashless one. In China, most business transactions are done via Allipay and WeChat; food , bus and taxi rides, just about everything, are paid for via these media.

Alibaba, China’s largest e-commerce retailer is leading the way followed by American companies such as IKEA and EBay in creating virtual reality shopping malls. where we will be able to stroll through malls all over the world, even fitting dresses and paying with a nod, all from the comfort of our homes. It is predicted that by 2025, at least 32 million people will be using virtual retail technology.

Change is inevitable and the way everyday transactions are done keeps changing. Before 2008, social media platforms such as Pinterest, Instagram and Snapchat did not exist; Android software, the iPad, Google Chrome or AirBNB only came into existence after 2008. The (virtual) reality is that our way of doing transactions on this side of 50 will continue to become obsolete and if we are to avoid becoming non-functioning members of society, we too will have to upgrade our knowledge and learn how to use computers and the internet to our advantage.

8. Spread and hone your faith

Jesus walked from town to town to spread the Good News. Today as He promised, we can do greater and mightier things by traveling the world on our fingertips to spread the Gospel. Our Facebook page for example provides several opportunities to spread wisdom, understanding and knowledge in the midst of confusion.

Are you a good writer? Blogging and article writing are yet another platform from which we can share our Christian experiences and encourage others. If you want to start such a ministry, one of the first steps would be to get a name for your blog - there are several domain registrars including Justhost which I use so you should compare prices.

When we understand the potential that we have to influence the lives of the billions of internet users, Jesus’ prediction that the end will come after the gospel has been 'preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations..…’ (Matthew 24:14) does not seem so impossible after all.

To effectively live a Christian life, to be true influencers of the Good News, we will have to continually be in tune with the available methodology. There are several Christian websites that aim to educate and edify the Church. We can hone our knowledge and techniques of ministry through these different Christian websites, commentaries and resources that exist online.

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