Today I’m grateful for the extra 2 weeks I eked out of my remote-control batteries.

11.25.2024

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About 2 weeks ago a message appeared on my TV that said my remote-control batteries were critically low. I ignored it. Several days later, the remote died. Most people would have replaced the batteries and moved on with their lives. I, however, am not most people.

I like to play this little game where I try to get as much juice out of my batteries as possible. I’ve been doing this for years – probably since I’ve been responsible for buying my own batteries. Is it because I’m cheap? Maybe a little. Or is it because I’m competitive, and prolonging the life of my batteries feels like a battle of me versus the battery companies? Yeah, that’s probably it.

So when my remote died 2 weeks ago, rather than admitting defeat, I simply took out the batteries and put them back in. Wha-la! Another 3 days’ worth of power. When it happened again, I took them out, rotated which batteries were in which spots, and put them back in again. 2 more days of juice. When they gave out again, I rotated again. Lather, rinse, repeat until today when the batteries gave up the ship and could not be rotate-resuscitated any more. And only when they’re good and dead like they were today, do I replace them.

I can almost always extend the battery-life of a remote control for several days. Rarely can I get 2 weeks out of them. That’s a win for sure. And these bad boys weren’t even name brand.

I surely can’t be the only one who plays this little battery game. I know it’s silly. And I know it’s kind of a weird thing to declare gratitude for today, but what can I say – sometimes I’m silly and weird. I’m sure if I explored it, there is some profound metaphor for life in this battery game I play. Something about pushing myself beyond expected limits, perhaps? But truly, it’s not that deep. I just like a challenge. And today when I realized that it’s been about 2 weeks since my batteries first faked their death, I couldn’t help but smile at my victory.