Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline seemed a timely read given recent tech magnate speculation about the “metaverse.” Futuristic fun and pop culture references aside, the book lays out a possible future. 

In the story a dystopian world is largely ignored by the majority of the impoverished population, ditched for a persistent three dimensional virtual online reality. While foreboding in the year it was published, 2011, the scenario invokes fear in 2021. 

But the novel’s main message, even if not fully developed or featured, resonates deeply in current times as well: people are good, this world is worth saving…and never give up. Still fiction, but Ready Player One is a highly relevant tale and a short fun ride. 

American Autumn

I guess it’s autumn again in America, with football on Sunday’s. Watching a game on TV, you wouldn’t even think we were still in a pandemic. 

Because at some point, life goes on. I believe in doing all we can for public health and safety, in each of us taking responsibility for a healthy society, but at the same time…we have to live. 

This juxtaposition has proven difficult for us to move forward. But forward we must go; it’s the only path available. 

Anniversary of Reflection

Today is always a day of reflection. Whether we like it not, 9/11 is one of the most significant events in our lifetime, for anyone alive today. 

It has impacted almost the entire globe and changed billions of lives. Particularly for Americans, its horrors will never completely fade. 

How we choose to interpret this anniversary will determine humanity’s path forward. Each year this day serves as a stark reminder that we are all here on this planet together. 

Balance in Moments

Some moments are more important moments, and how we leverage those significant ones affects our path. I’ve learned that as I’ve gotten older, and I try to remember it. 

I feel guilty sometimes for not going full throttle all day every day. But for me at least, there are times for activity and time for rest, times for relaxation and times for work.

We can build a world in which this is possible for everyone, and yet opportunity and a good living standard exists for everyone. If we seek such balance for all, we can make it happen; do we see it? 

A Whole New World

We’re starting to accept the reality of the pandemic as a society. Do we accept it will be one of the most defining events of our lifetime?

We live in a changed world, that’s the reality. How we go from here…that will determine the lives and success of our children. 

If we approach this new world with this type of perspective, we will empathize more, and build something better…a new world with equality, justice, and peace for all. We can change the world. 

Deciding to Change

At any given moment, we can decide to change what we believe, or how we go about life. We’re the only animal on the planet known to do that. 

We have slowly built up this type of flexibility into our governing systems, making lots of progress the past few thousand years. However, our exponential growth in technological capability heightens the benefits and consequences of whatever the current societal structure. 

Much as we would need to motivate ourselves to start a new exercise routine or improve our eating habits, we must find the impetus for societal change. If we use technology as a tool for betterment, we can improve life for all species on this planet. 

Perfect Dismay

I’ve watched a couple 80’s comedies recently, and I found characters’ portrayals of dismay interesting. Much of that era’s comedic moments centered around unfortunate things happening followed by the actors’ reactions.

Unwanted events happen all the time: someone cuts you off in traffic, your package arrives with its contents broken, a person annoys you in a public setting. It’s as if people used to accept that life isn’t perfect, and now we bemoan any setback we experience. 

Bad things will happen sometimes, that’s just a part of life. We can rally better as a species if we deem problems and obstacles in life as simply part of the adventure.

Economic Revolution

Labor Day was created to celebrate the labor movement in the late 1800’s, a time in which the United States underwent rapid economic transformation. It feels like we are approaching another inflection point of economic revolution. 

We have taken the concept of a 40 hour workweek or “the weekend” for granted as a society, but it’s critical we remember these innovations were fought for, not given. With the ubiquity of powerful technology across all industries and sectors, must we work 40 hours a day, 5 days a week, or most of the year?

We need to decide how important, and sustainable, continuous growth is compared to collective happiness. Today serves as a reminder that our lives of convenience need not only apply to consumerism, and that if we want to change the economic system, we must insist on it. 

A Future of Possibility

I have always been fascinated with history, but recently came across an epiphany for my life's work: forward-thinking focus on the future is more important. This shift from past to future mustn't be jarring, as we can learn much by looking back and applying it to what's ahead.

But I've reached the conclusion that I want to live in a world of possibility. We inhabit a world with its fair share of perils, and it can become overwhelming and drive fatalism or acceptance.

I choose to focus on the lead measures, not the lag, and to contribute to solutions that currently do not yet exist. The future isn't easy, but with awareness and consideration, we can craft one of hope, equality, justice, and yes, possibility.

The Outside

Wind and water, trees and grass…with the pandemic, how much have we enjoyed these elements? None of it exists anywhere else in the known universe, after all. 

A gathering is always better in nature; it offers multiple facets of communion. We’ve been reticent inside for too much time, and appreciation is due. 

We live on the most incredible planet in the solar system, perhaps in existence. Let us remember its wonder and beauty, of which we owe everything. 

Weighted words we hear

The question can apply to ourselves individually or as a group—where do we go from here? At birth we inherited a set of circumstances, and from that moment on our experience depends on how we adapt to opportunities. 

The words “fate” and “destiny” have always held appeal to me. Not for wanting to believe in them, but their concepts themselves have been alluring…that there is something grand I can join. 

That grandeur is the universe, with all its encompassing chaos and beauty. The opportunity of reality is what all of us collectively make it, and while that might be daunting, it is also limitless in possibility. 

Purpose and Play

Hard work is rewarding in what you can accomplish and in the sense of satisfaction you can obtain. There’s a need for it as a human animal.

There’s also a time for it; we are not machines. We also derive pleasure from play, and there must be space for that too. 

The great balance between play and purpose seems to be one of life’s great conundrums, one I have yet to solve. How we navigate this tightrope affects not only our well-being, but how much we can happily contribute to the world, and thus us all. 

Unique Value Proposition

Some of us may to choose to create value through our career, others through our hobbies or personal lives. Either can be a good fit depending on one’s circumstances, but the point is we should all create value. 

Each of us has the capacity to offer something unique to the world. It can be a broad use application that garners millions of users, or a niche perspective that contributes to the lives of a small group of people. 

The opportunity is always there, in any given moment, to make an impact, no matter how small. Only when each of us makes the decision to try, can the collective efforts be felt across the globe. 

The non War Path

Some good happened in the world today in that a Forever War ended. People can disagree with many things regarding the Afghanistan withdrawal, but can anyone disagree that war isn’t worth it?

We might debate America’s place or role in the world. We might wonder how we can do things differently or be better. 

But on the grandest of timelines, how are the atrocities inflicted on humans by other humans, this time, any different than previous times in our species’ history? We might not all be able to come together right now, but it’s time for us to recognize that is the path forward. 

Always Learning

There’s always so much to learn, and I feel that’s the most important lesson. Even reducing our experience to the here and now, there’s still so much unknown. 

I believe that humbleness is key to our advancement. It’s the recognition that yes, we do live on the shoulders of giants, but yes, there is still so much more to improve. 

How we navigate that line of experience with humility…that will determine what options are available. How do we want to proceed?

Lately Learning

We live in a world of uncertainty, and the pandemic brings that to the fore. In such a world, can we freely debate ideas and have civil discussion about the best path forward?

Are we capable of changing our minds? After all, it’s highly unlikely that any one of us has ever always been right. 

The only way to build, to improve our collective circumstances, is to learn from each other. How much learning have we done lately?

Determining the Way

In the somewhat rare circumstances you get to enjoy far off friends’ company, you recognize what we’ve been missing. This pandemic has been a journey, and as we progress out of it, hopefully, we differ on approach. 

I support being outside with your loved ones. I believe we are social creatures, and that we can interact with our tribe in a safe way. 

The path forward is unclear, and we have to discuss it in a sensible way. What do we decide, and how shall we decide it?

Empathy to Build

We live in a very charged world of opinion now. Listening to other viewpoints can be difficult when high emotions are often involved. 

I try to force myself to understand other perspectives, because I recognize I might not always have great empathy for others’ plight. There are so many diverse circumstances, across just my state, not to mention the country or the world. 

It is our differences that offer our greatest opportunity to learn and to build. We can create a fortified world with understanding and empathy, if we so choose. 

Progress Check

We’re at such an interesting point as a species: technology enables great things, yet we still struggle to govern and organize. We have come so far, and yet we have so far to go. 

Education at a basic level is ubiquitous across most countries, in which we systemize the passing down of knowledge to children. We also enjoy a relatively safe, peaceful world. 

Do we want more? The further we can push ourselves, the more we can cooperate, the more utopian we can make this planet, for all people and all life. 

Determining Sphere

The days change, but there’s some semblance of the identify of your tribe. I experienced that today. 

I engaged in the standard societal opportunity of what was afforded, and then I spent time with people that matter, to me. This is not available to everyone. 

How can we make it so? How can we expand beyond our own prospective sphere?