Mortality and Meaning

We all die. Listening to Take me Home by John Denver on the way home today, I reminisced about visiting my great grandma in Southern California just before she died.

Virginia mothered 9 children and had a huge extended family. She was old and on her way out, and everyone was visiting to say their goodbyes.

Even at 12 years old, I was vividly aware of the absolute mortality of the situation while spending those last few days with her. I knew it was my last visit, our last conversation, the last hug.

Seeing our life on the grand scale makes you reflect. You want to enjoy life and spend time with your tribe. You want to have fun, to feel alive, to love.

But what really gives us meaning? While listening to those country roads I realized it’s your contribution to humanity. It’s the donation of your time and energy on this earth to the progression of our species. One can derive meaning from her/his effort towards creating a better future.

There will be an after, after us, for others. Meaning comes with handing the torch.

The Covid Reality

I got tested for Covid last week because I came into contact with someone who subsequently tested positive. From firsthand experience I can say, when it’s you and your loved ones, it gets real real quick. It’s naturally hard for humans to extrapolate to other people’s feelings on such a large scale—millions of people infected worldwide, 120,000 deaths in the United States—how difficult is it to resonate with those arbitrary numbers? Having gone through this, I can confirm that the virus has not gone away, that you can still get infected, that it can potentially change your life. The symptoms are so wide-ranging, you really don’t know how your body will react. I’m not writing this to scare people, but to illuminate what it’s like to go through testing, to wonder whether you’re positive or negative, to exhale when learning you’re negative. This disease is still new. There is so much we don’t know. And so I appeal to everyone to please wear a mask, to socially distance as much as possible, to be smart and stay safe. We as citizens need to continue to implore our leadership to continue testing and more intelligently consider reopening. Results should take hours, not days. Testing methods vary widely—I know 4 sets of people who have been tested, and each testing procedure was different. We must continue to conduct studies on this disease and break the results down into terms that laypeople can understand. We have a long way to go, regardless of whether the Denny’s or local pub is open in your neighborhood. If we remain vigilant, we will get through this quicker and more safely. It’s actually a very simple choice, despite its difficulty. What will you choose? What will we?

The Nature of Progress

Progress is often slow, messy, and costly. It requires tremendous effort and resolve. But it’s worth it. It matters that we live lives our great-grand parents could only dream of; that a poor person in the first world enjoys better living conditions than bygone kings and emperors of the past. We will never reach an acceptable status quo, because there will always be more progress to be made and more problems to solve. But just because the horizon is unreachable doesn’t mean we shouldn’t push to get there. If it means a better life for our children and our children’s children, is it worth it? Will you accept the nature of progress and still fight for it?

Enlightenment Lessons

Enlightenment Now by Steven Pinker might be the most important book I’ve ever read. It has altered my world view (in a constructive, positive way) and reinforced my confidence in the ideas of the Paradigms book I’m writing. Although very dense and time consuming, Enlightenment Now gives reason for being optimistic about humanity and the planet. To summarize in 3 sentences:

Pinker argues that the Enlightenment created a framework of science, reason, humanism and progress that has bettered the entire world. Because the media will get more attention and revenue if they report negativity, barely anyone is aware that people around the world are healthier, wealthier, freer, safer, smarter, happier, live longer, enjoy more leisure activities and leisure time, and lead richer and more fulfilling lives. Pinker proves this with an enormous amount of cited data, including over 70 insightful graphs, and advocates for a reaffirmation of Enlightenment principles: we might be irrational beings with many biases, but our ability to reason is what has enabled us to make all this progress, in addition to the scientific principles of requiring evidence, employing logical thinking, and reviewing each other’s work to validate ideas and phenomena.

I am convinced of the book’s thesis. We can attribute our progress—our accumulated knowledge and better life experience—to the sovereignty of reason, the application of science, and a humanistic morality. And we need to recognize this is what’s got us here.

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. It truly is a big beautiful amazing world. Yes, we still have problems, and many serious ones. But how lucky am I, are we, to stand on the shoulders of giants and enjoy the fruits of previous generation’s strive for progress. May we continue to improve the world for all. 

Both Ways

It’s incredible how far we have to go. There are a lot of things to fix. Yet at the same time, life is amazing. There is so much to be grateful for. Can you grip both? Can you be a part of the solution

Thriving in Our Time

The coronavirus is still here. I’ve been writing primarily about the civil unrest in this country recently because it’s been so top of mind for so many people. But part of that is because we’ve let our guard down against a global-wide health epidemic. In the United States at least, we have not beaten down the first wave to manageable levels with how we are now operating society. I implore people to find a trustworthy source, such as this Twitter thread, to stay current on the data. We can beat this disease, as we have many others. But it’s going to take all of us, and it’s going to take cooperation. 2020, what a time to be alive. But as Gandalf tells Frodo, we don’t get to decide that, only what we will do with the time we’re in.

Grateful and Good

Since this blog’s inception I’ve advocated for embracing gratitude. Just about every single one of my corresponding instagram posts has a gratitude hashtag. When we fully appreciate the abundance and awe present in our lives every single day, setbacks don’t affect us as much. Our lives may not be perfect, but there is always so much for which to be thankful. I’ve written about it many times in many ways; you can check it out here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

However, setbacks happen. When I came across Jocko Willink’s video on YouTube I found another "g-word" that can really help us reframe our life experience. He champions a growth mindset and uttering the word “good” aloud when bad things happen. Doing so forces you to think about what possible good has come from the situation, and enables you to reflect on how you can best proceed productively and with purpose.

As Jocko says, you’re still alive and breathing. And when you think about it, you’re probably living a pretty incredible life compared to many. Using “the two G’s” in tandem can be enlightening. There’s a whole lot of good out there, and if we’re grateful for it, we’ll not only accomplish our goals, but enjoy life as we’re doing it.

Treating Political Information

With the egotism spewing from current American leadership, I think it’s important for every citizen to employ a basic strategy for digesting information. The rhetoric is so outrageous and polarized (and in many ways designed to be) that it requires some basic steps to absorb it:

1. Actively listen — do not multitask (there’s no such thing), focus on what is being said and how it’s being said

2. Pause — let your brain assimilate the information, give yourself a minute to process

3. Reflect — compare what is being presented to what you already know, to the opposite ’side,’ and if necessary, learn more about the situation 

4. Discuss with others / share online — after you have completed these steps, you will have understood what you’ve consumed and can rationally add to the discussion

We cannot silo ourselves in our positions on anything right now, given what is happening in the country. We must join the conversation and take action. But in order to do that, we need to be able to sift through all the blaring information being thrown our way. If we can do this, we can see reason as well as empathize with our fellow citizens. If we can do that, we can change this country and the world.

Knowledge and Kindness

Reflecting on the current polarized political environment, the harsh economic market, and the hostile social landscape, I think about the human condition. Reality is as real to everyone else as it is to each one of us. Others feel the same degree of pain, consternation, joy, and love. In some ways we are in a battle of knowledge—“that one’s opinions should be based on justified true beliefs”—but we also must remember we are emotional, often irrational beings. We sometimes, even often, make bad decisions. That’s okay. In these truly unprecedented times, it’s important to be open, to open up to possibilities, to others, to the universe. Be kind. We will work through all of this, and our children will have a better life experience for it. Let’s persevere onwards toward a better world for all, but let’s do so with some grace. 

Lessons passed on

Fathers teach the most important lessons to young men. They are irreplaceable in a child’s life. What starts in early nurturing leads to more fulfilled living. I am lucky to have a wonderful father who has taught me many great lessons; there are also many who do not have that luxury. Today is a day not only to honor fatherhood and the people who serve in such a role, but to reflect on the importance of family integrity and strength. Thanks Dad for modeling a successful human being. Happy Father’s Day to all. 

Summer Solstice Symbolism

Milestones big and small continue to pass. I was able to shower myself for the first time since my ankle injury. In other news, today marks the official start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere with the coming of the Summer Solstice.

I feel a change of season is always meaningful. It’s literally the dawn of a new set of environmental conditions. To that regard, may this momentous day signify a change in our societal environment as well.

May we be slower to judge. May we be faster to cooperate. May we listen to each other and thus validate each other with open ears and open hearts. May we revert to evidence and reason in uncertainty. May we recognize our common fragility and our common strength. May the summer of 2020 be a turning of the page.

We are diverse, but we are one. We are in unprecedented times, let us act in unprecedented, multilateral fashion. If we come together to strive for universal progress and humanism, there is nothing we cannot accomplish. Let’s make 2020 look even crazier upon future reflection because of how we united and overcame our obstacles. The future is ours to create. What kind of summer do we want for our children?

Incentive and Direction

What is this movement’s endgame, what are we working toward? What are the real problems and their possible solutions?

I don’t know how to do it and I’m trying to figure out how to learn how to do it, but I think we do need to make some fundamental changes to our political and economic systems—to get at the root causes of our problems. Free markets in both sectors have bred much success, but they have also resulted in where we’re at today. We need some checks, some regulation, on markets in our society. Let’s focus on a couple political facets.

I think we need to create the conditions in which several political parties can successfully operate in the political arena. We can change our first-past-the-post election process, abolish the Electoral College, or try other means. But I believe having a larger number of political parties, say 7 or 8, would incentivize a few things. It would basically require parties to be more representative of their declared constituents and more clear in their ideals and policy, in order to distinguish themselves from their rivals. It would also incentivize cooperation within all branches of government at every level, because in order for any given political party to succeed, it would need to work with the others. Parties would need to engage and communicate and debate and compromise. When there are only 2 parties present, they are much more incentivized to maintain their power than they are to actually effect change, and this results in citizen disenfranchisement and the broken process we see today. We must change this.

I hope it’s also become obvious that we need to divorce the corporate world from politics and better regulate campaign finance. Whether reversing Citizens United v. FEC is enough or different or more drastic action is needed, I’m not sure, but we need to incentivize the right kind of people to run for election, and we need to ensure once in government they are incentivized to work for their constituents, not to maintain the interests of corporations. Governance is hard; we want people who truly want to effect change, who are willing to endure the arduous labor inherent in governance to achieve results. Political actors cannot be held hostage to lobbyism and big business—they must be independent, free thinking, and holistic in their patriotism and service.

I bring up these political issues because it’s from that domain real policy change will occur. In order to change the fundamentals of the system, we need our politics to work for and by the people.

Black Lives Matter has achieved some important things. It’s woken people up about the existing prejudice within our system. Now we need to determine the causal roots and decide the most efficient and effective ways to change them. White people around the country now better understand their inherited white privilege. That’s good. Police brutality is being publicly discussed, and that’s good. Police reform is happening—that’s good. But some of the solutions being offered don’t appear to be solutions to me. I understand “defund the police” is the expression being used to discuss allocating funding and resources differently to best serve citizens. But when has taking away money ever solved a problem? How about we reduce the number of different scenarios police respond to, but keep the budget the same—now we can recruit better officers and conduct more training so they are better at their jobs. We have the funding to prevent burnout and mitigate the crazy amount of stress experienced on the job. What if we also create more community outreach, and create a new branch of public servants that respond to mental health situations? Yes that requires even more money, but it would also better address the problems about which people are protesting.

I’ve written before that these issues are nuanced. White people owning their white privilege does not equate to everyone in modern America being racist. Police reform can help alleviate much of the civilian-peace officer conflict, but taking money away from the institution only makes it harder to do so.

We have some real problems, and the current movement has brought them out into the open. It’s integral at this juncture to determine what are the true causes and focus on eliminating them. I don’t know if I would go so far to say our system is broken—there is also a lot of good—but it’s vital that we address and solve our problems sooner rather than later. It will take consideration, and focus, and science. It requires awareness and a huge amount of effort. But it’s worth it, and we can do it. We can change the world. 

Internet Options

There’s a lot of voices out there. Sometimes I struggle with outputting my own. Does it matter? Does it get lost in the cacophony of opinion prevalent throughout the inter web? Perhaps. But all my posts not tagged with ‘mobile blog’ are premeditated—they’re not rapid assertions published without much thought. The internet is a great tool. There are circumstances in which going live is powerful. It can also be a public broadcast for reflective thought and argument. It can even replace our old mechanisms for consumption. Which do you use it for?

Fairness, Meaning, and Black Lives Matter

Black Lives Matter is a manifestation of our drive for fairness, and it provides us meaning.

Meaning can be and often is separate from happiness. The lives of everyone, including black people, are better now in 2020 than they were in 1950 or 1900 or 1850. We are all wealthier and healthier than our ancestors within the same socioeconomic statuses. Overall we’re even happier.

But I don’t think Black Lives Matter is about that. It has more to do with meaning. Yes we are all better off now, but there is still massive inequality that is perpetuated by the very institutions designed to uphold justice. Unfairness is widespread and rampant. There are rules and laws and systems in place that make this so. This is the purpose into which I hope the current civil unrest transforms: to eliminate such discriminatory unfairness, and to create a rising tide that lifts all boats.

It all goes back to where it all started—the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the founding values of this country. These ideals and documents still hold a sway over us, because they are meaningful. We believe in their decrees: that all humans are created equal, that we all have a right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. (We must reword the Constitution to incorporate all of humankind within its declarations, not just men or those who own property.)

I’ve said before, the current civil unrest is good for us. It may be painful, but it’s necessary. It’s making us better. It will enable us to move closer to our fundamental ideals. It will result in a fair society, in which we are truly treated equally, regardless of the color of our skin.

We have serious work to do. Lucky for us, we are well off and have the technology to engage in a nationwide discourse, we have the tools to disseminate information and promote awareness. We are at a pivotal moment in the world’s history, and that can give us meaning. It’s important to remember that. By ensuring our children grow up in a fair world, one in which they have the freedom to be happy, we can appropriate our own meaning and happiness. 

Intention Lesson

Meanwhile the coronavirus rages on. I saw an article from The Onion derailing states’ reopening plans—to basically wish the virus away. It’s hard to say what to do, because we are still learning more every day. It is a ‘novel’ virus after all. But maybe beyond everything, it’s teaching us how to deal with multiple things at once. Disruption of our habitual routines, observing the real effects of governance, and taking a good look at the truth that is our current system. Have we caught our collective breath yet? Because it’s time for intention. 

Movement Expansion

The ongoing Black Lives Matter movement has succeeded on 2 accounts. It has already resulted in police reform and has kickstarted the conversation about police discrimination and brutality. It also has succeeded in getting educated white people to question their privilege and consider the experience of people of color. These two early victories are commendable.

What’s next? What about the uneducated white people who refuse to enter the conversation? What about the actual black experience, beyond their encounters with police? Quality of life for people of color, voter suppression... these are interrelated yet separate issues, and the waters are already getting muddied as we try to have a conversation about all of them simultaneously.

We should certainly celebrate the early victories that have been accomplished, but it’s also hopefully obvious about how much further there is to go. Here’s to the Black Lives Matter maintaining steam and transforming into a much broader movement about the greater issues plaguing our society. The fight won’t be easy, but it’s definitely just, and it will be worth it. 

Acting as One

Have you noticed the most powerful things we say to each other are words of kindness, of truth, of equanimity? Think back to a time you were proud of your speech, and it won’t be one of anger or frustration. Our real power comes from love. The current conditions, as they have always done, are allowing us to learn that lesson. Whether we know it yet or not, we are one. It’s time for us to act like it. 

Change On Mind

I’ve been thinking recently about 10 laws to enact for change. If you could make 10 new rules to change the current system, what would they be? I hope to do a post in the near future about mine.

With my mobility severely limited due to my ankle sprain, health care has been top of mind. Hearing the political rhetoric from the media and the 2 American political parties has election reform on my mind. My work experience and my travels have made me consider how we can transform education.

There is much to do, and the current protests illuminate that. I’ve praised the civic discourse and political action, but now, as the days turn to weeks, it’s important for us to focus on what needs to change, and discuss how we can change it. Important police reforms have been made, which is commendable because it provides direct evidence of the link between civil protests and policy change, and it also shows our political leadership’s willingness to listen to its constituents and move the systemic levers to create change (at least on the local and state levels, thus far).

I’ve asked this question before: what kind of world do we want? We’ve made so much progress, both over the centuries and in recent weeks, with answering that question. That’s an important part, albeit only the first. Our next step is to identify what specific amendments will move our system towards the change we want to see. I don’t think we’re done with the first part yet, but it’s critical to keep the second in mind. What world do we want... but also... what specifically will make turn that vision into reality?

Reforming Our System

Insert your one sentence quip about how to fix it here. This is difficult stuff! A perfect storm of a global pandemic and economic suffering and visceral evidence of the still-prevalent racism in our society? This is new. We’ve never had the technology to appreciate all of these things happening simultaneously before. Much of the country is out of work, so maybe we take some time to appreciate the nuance of the situation. There have been protests, and there has been looting. There can exist police reform, and an expansion of services offered to the public. There can be a pandemic and widespread civil action occurring concurrently. Let’s pinpoint the main causes of our distress, let’s deliberate about them, and let’s go about solving them. Gotta do ‘em in order. 

Caring about the Future

I’ve talked to several people who have confessed breaking down emotionally about what’s going on within the United States. People care, they really do. We just need to infiltrate our institutions. There’s a lot of weight and history behind these systems, so it’s hard. But it’s not impossible, or even far fetched. It just requires mass numbers, mobilization, and organization. How hard is that? During a pandemic? With divisive leadership? Well, we’re showing it’s possible, that it’s happening, that it’s resulting in real change. People do care, and they’re effecting change, by the tens of thousands. Life isn’t picture perfect. But we’re getting it done. The world is ours to change.