Anicca

The concept of self-care and self-love has gained immense popularity. It is everywhere. People are talking about it across all social media platforms and  you hear about it in everyday conversations. However, if you really pay attention, it becomes quite apparent that many people discuss it without fully understanding it.

We have all been guilty of this at times - talking up things that we learn before understanding it completely. Personally, I too have been advocating for self-care for almost five years. Though with each passing year I have learnt and discovered more ~ its been a journey of continuous reading, watching, and learning.

Defining Self-Care / Self-Love

In the past, I would have described self-care as taking a little time out to pamper oneself. It could be something as simple as perhaps enjoying a cup of tea alone in the morning or indulging in a yearly body massage. But my understanding was limited to those small acts.

Despite these check-ins with myself, I rarely took meaningful action to address my physical and mental state. I would acknowledge the need for a break but felt burdened by responsibilities and obligations, convincing myself that putting myself first would be selfish. This mindset that the society has taught us, especially women, led me down a path of constant work, stress, and neglecting my well-being while taking care of everyone else until I experienced a severe burnout.

Looking back, I now realize that my understanding of self-care was superficial. While pampering oneself occasionally is essential, genuine self-love often demands more from us.

Discovering True Self-Love

Authentic self-care might sometimes push us to give ourselves the space we generously offer others; listening to and honoring what our minds and bodies are telling us. At times, it may even require us to embrace discomfort by being "selfish" enough to take that much-needed break or say no when we are already overwhelmed.

Self-love can also be painful, as it might require us to let go of relationships that no longer serve us or removing sources of negativity around us -even if they are friends or family.

However, before dismissing this as mere selfishness, consider three vital aspects:
The Definition of Selfishness: Is it selfish to listen to our minds and bodies, take a break from time-to-time, or set boundaries? Such steps are crucial for maintaining our well-being.
Who Defines Selfishness: If society deems these acts as selfish, reflect on whether those same people will support you during your darkest times or help pay your bills or help you with your mental and physical health needs.
The Importance of Self-Love: Without self-care, it becomes challenging to achieve our dreams or take care of others effectively. We must nourish ourselves to be capable of giving to others.

Embracing Self-Love: A Call to Action

At the core of it, self-love is about showing up for yourself every day and in every moment. It means saying no to things that don't align with our interests, cutting ties with toxic individuals, and prioritizing our well-being before caring for others.

As I look back on my enthusiasm for self-care when I first learnt about it without fully understanding its depth, I now realize the importance of introspection. By looking within, we can understand what our body and mind truly need. Only then can we start working on how to fulfill those needs without causing harm to others.

While this article provides insights into self-care and self-love that are my personal opinion from reading, learning, and experiencing things in own life, I suggest you to conduct further research and tailor these principles to suit your unique needs and personality.

Remember, genuine self-love requires continuous growth and understanding, making it a personal journey for each individual.

I bought Amazon Echo Show 8 (1st Generation) back in mid-2022 during a Prime Day Sale. I have it set up on my work desk as I often have music playing in the background when I am working. And that is what I use my Amazon Echo Show for most of the time.

It has been a smooth sailing experience for most part. That is until May this year, when one evening I started hearing some disturbances while playing music. So, I did what all 'normal people' do 😜... I switched it off for 10 seconds and switched it back on. That usually solves half the problems, right? But it did not work this time unfortunately. So, I tinkered around and realised that there was some wear-and tear on the cable. I went on a search for new cable on Amazon itself, but couldn't find one. My next step was to contact Amazon Customer Care because I did not want to order a wrong cable (and I am a noob when it comes to electronics). That is when I realised that my device was still under warranty. It took about 15 minutes of chatting with the customer care to have an Amazon Echo Show 8 (2nd Generation) delivered to my home the very next day & a pick up of the old device the day after - completely free of charge!

You see, they first offered to replace the cable but then realised that both the cable or the 1st generation device was no longer in stock. So, the upgraded me to the 2nd Generation device without any issues or red tapes.

So, I have used both the 1st gen. & 2nd gen. devices now. This review will focus on the 2nd generation as the older model is no longer available.

Stunning Display Quality:

The 8-inch HD display is very clear and it has excellent viewing angles. Whether watching movies, or making video calls, or the screensavers - the visuals are crisp.

Improved Audio Performance:

The second-generation Echo Show 8 has quite a good audio quality. The dual stereo speakers delivers better sound compared to the 1st generation device. Whether I'm listening to music, or watching OTT content the sound is much better in the 2nd generation device. Though I wish the bass was a bit better.

Seamless Video Calls:

The built-in 13MP camera makes the video calling experience much better than the 1st Generation device. I have only called via the alexa app, but I had crystal-clear video view and audio. 

User-Friendly Design:

Setting up the Echo Show 8 (both devices) was a breeze. The great display helps me watch OTT content from weird angles while getting stuff done around the room. The physical camera cover is a great addition that I really appreciate.

Alexa, the Ultimate Assistant:

As expected, Alexa works flawlessly on the Echo Show 8. The voice recognition is top-notch and returns quickly with search results. From setting alarms to maintaining to-do lists, to setting reminders, Alexa has been such a time saver.

Entertainment Hub:

Echo Show 8 comes with Amazon Prime Video, Netflix,  and couple other apps installed and short cuts to some other sites like YouTube. With a voice command to activate, good quality display and audio output, this device is a perfect miniature entertainment hub.

Productivity Booster:

The device helps me stay organized and productive. As I mentioned earlier as well, I can set reminders, create to-do lists, and manage my calendar with ease.

Compatible with Smart Home Devices:

This is one aspect that I havent had a chance to experience for myself. But one of the features of Echo Show 8 is that you can streamline & your Smart Home Devices through it. 

In conclusion, the Amazon Echo Show 8 (2nd generation) comes with a smart display that far surpasses its predecessor in terms of performance, display quality, and audio output. With its improved camera, and Alexa's impressive capabilities, this device has become an integral part of my day. Whether for entertainment or personal productivity, the Echo Show 8 is a versatile and reliable addition.

Highly recommended!

Just to recap before the wrap up:

Pros:

Stunning HD display
Enhanced audio performance
User-friendly design and setup
Responsive Alexa capabilities
Productivity-enhancing features
Quick & hassle free service response from Amazon

Cons:

Alexa app for both android and ios is slow and clunky