The Great Dictionary Dilemma

Should I Keep My Paper Companions or FULLY Embrace the Digital Age?

Ah, the age-old dilemma: to keep or not to keep the books that once taught us everything from "marhaba" to "Schadenfreude"—and in my case, even more unpronounceable wonders. As I stare at my beloved dictionaries, which have accompanied me through the highs and lows of language learning and followed me across countries like loyal pets (if pets were filled with word definitions), I'm now wondering: is it time to let go?

After all, I've evolved. Well, sort of. For the past 15 years, my reading habits have shifted from page-flipping to screen-swiping, and, more recently, to listening to books while multitasking (the pinnacle of modern efficiency, if I do say so myself). My Kindle is my best friend, delivering instant gratification at the mere click of a button, while audiobooks have become my trusted sidekick, allowing me to devour whole novels while driving, gaming or pretending to exercise. Who even needs paper dictionaries anymore? I mean, unless World War III happens, and we lose electricity—and then, frankly, using a dictionary might be at the very bottom of my to-do list, somewhere after "find water" and "stay alive."

Don't get me wrong; I love the feel of good-quality paper. As a devoted paper crafter, I still delight in the tactile pleasure of card stock in my hands, though I can't remember the last time I printed anything out unless unavoidable. I quit printing cold turkey by banishing my printer to the ground floor while my office lives on the top floor, an ingenious plan to reduce printing by sheer laziness. (Spoiler: it worked). My kids' school, like many others, has fully embraced the digital age, swapping heavy textbooks and activity sheets for sleek iPads. It's a move that makes sense, yet part of me longs for the simpler days when schoolbooks weren't one software update away from crashing.

And that’s when I realized that my dilemma extends far beyond my dictionaries. I started thinking about all the books I’ve loved over the years. The novels that made me laugh, cry, and feel emotions so intensely that they became more than just stories—they became personal milestones. Those books still hold a special place in my heart because they remind me of the emotions I felt while reading them. And yet, despite the sentimental value, I can’t ignore the fact that I’ve almost exclusively embraced digital reading now. Maybe it’s time to let the physical books go.

Well, not all of them. Sure, I’m going digital in a big way. I love the idea of carrying my entire library in one lightweight device and knowing I’ll never be without a book to read. But I can’t let go of everything. I will most likely keep those books that give me the most emotion—the ones that, when I look at them, still make me feel something deep inside. Those stay. And I’ve decided to keep just a few small dictionaries, too. They’ve traveled with me across the world and have been such a huge part of my language journey that I can’t imagine parting with all them just yet.

Let’s face it: books in digital form are just so much more convenient. I can carry an entire library in the palm of my hand, and if I suddenly feel like reading about middle eastern philosophy while I’m halfway through a crime thriller? No problem. A few taps, and I’m there. No more dragging around 60 boxes of paperbacks every time I move (which is often). And let’s not forget the trees. Yes, the beautiful trees we’d save by switching to digital. We have a moral duty here, people. Imagine the forests we could preserve by making the switch. Plus, there’s the dust. (Do digital books collect dust? I think not.)

Still, there’s something about holding a physical book that makes me feel like I’m holding a piece of my own history. Each one represents a moment in time, a particular emotion, or even a specific couch I was curled up on while reading. Sure, I may never open some of them again, but they’ve been with me through so much—how could I just toss them aside?

But here's the thing: I don’t need the physical books to keep those memories alive. The emotions, the stories—they’re all still with me, regardless of whether they’re printed on paper or glowing on a screen. And if embracing the digital age means I can carry a hundred books with me at all times and help save a few trees in the process, then maybe that’s a win for both me and the environment.

So, what’s the answer to the dictionary dilemma? Maybe I’ll keep one or two, as a memento of a bygone era, when words were bound by paper and the digital age hadn't yet taken over my life. The rest? Well, perhaps it’s time they move on to someone who’ll appreciate them—or, at the very least, give them a good dusting.

In the end, I suppose this isn’t just about dictionaries. It’s about embracing the future without completely letting go of the past. After all, we live in a world where technology rules, but that doesn’t mean there’s no room for a little nostalgia, even if it’s shelved in favor of an e-reader.

And if the apocalypse does come? Well, I’ll be the one sitting by candlelight, thumbing through my and favorite books and one surviving dictionary, feeling smug that I can still look up words and emotions the old-fashioned way.