A Cause To Believe In

The garden path

Who are you? Why are you here, in this world, this reality? Is there a point to it all or is our life just an algorithm instructing us to eat and consume, work and accumulate, “to spend a pleasant day”–ancient egypt’s euphemism for sex–and procreate, sleep and then do it all over again on a new sun. Have you thought of the meaning of your journey? Is the path you’re on of your own choosing? Does any of it even matter?

A child is easily captivated by the shiny and glittering, instantly fixated in awe of the colorfully loud and dazzling, and readily lured by the aesthetically pleasing. Giving no thought at all to its worth, virtue and value

I believe that we live in a world shaped by our collective choices. Choices that we sometimes justify, requiring us to stretch and bend reasoning to steady our unsettled psyche and make us feel good. Then those type of choices become the stablished, a part of life, defining us. Like when the poverty stricken is acknowledged but then casually cast aside. We know of their suffering, constantly being made known over the air, on the wire, on paper and their presence on the streets. And yet as soon as we pass them by, our thoughts drifts to the acquisition and consumption of the meaningless, the vain and the wasteful. Out of sight, out of mind; the norm, such is life. Not an iota of thought as to why it is this way, to understand, get to the bottom of and maybe come up with a solution that’ll work now and tomorrow still.

It is shameless to define the poor as those producing not enough when they are actually prey to those who take too much

The unseen hand

Again to emphasize its encompassing pull, our collective choices is what shapes reality. To be precise, our actions that emanate from those choices which in turn initiates events that ripple across existence. No man is an island, some would say. Us being a part of something bigger and each of our choices contributing a brush stroke to paint this grander picture.

The human fear system is one of our evolutionary neural predispositions that is not adaptive. Its mostly in the dark when it comes to what we should really fear

First is sadness, followed by anger, then punctuated by fear; emotions that well up upon contemplation of the choices we have made and the grievous repercussions we now bear because of it. Choices and behavior directed by the economic model that pervades our daily toil. It is the finger that points us to the path we somehow must take to succeed. An unseen omnipresence that guides us through our journey, as if we have bestowed it our unquestioning compliance. A stern and unforgiving force–follow you win, defy you loose–pitting us against each other to vie for a prize, not realizing the very hefty price it entails. You against your neighbor to determine who has more of the world, surrendering yourself in return and letting it define who you are instead of you defining what it should be.

How do you begin to free yourself when you don’t even know you’re a slave

The flame within

From my perspective, lasting change starts from within and the mindset that emerges from such reflection. But prior to that, we must first recognize our blindness to the adverse effects of the system’s we put in place. Habituation desensitizes us from distressing stimuli. That something upsetting in the beginning becomes normal once already incorporated into our daily lives. When we no longer see problems to things we are already used to. Being led astray by the worldly system; distracting, confusing, patiently waiting for our light to get dimmer and dimmer and then eventually get extinguished in utter submission. The greatest trick pulled on man is to make it disregard and forget its boundless potential.

I am humanity; curious, creative, capable. Built the great's pyramids and wall. Peered through the very far and the very small. Traveled to the moon and the bottom of the deepest sea. What I can conceive I can make happen, if I choose to then it'll be!

After sadness, anger and fear comes choice and the will to pursue our aspirations for humankind. To stablish a collective that’s united by values we want to pass on to the future. Each of us on equal footing; sharing power, responsibility and accountability. Its time to abandon the child in us and bring to light our true selves that has long been restrained. To rise up in true unity and break free from the trickster’s hold with the brightness innate in us. Together we challenge it, brave it, like it, live it. Let’s find the true path that leads to a meaningful journey and maybe on arrival, we’ll meet the emergent collective–our evolved selves, the singularity.

The world on fire

A glimpse of a possible future arising from social choices we resolutely make.

The road not taken

"Good morning", greeted Amina as I and my son, Avenir boarded her city bus as we head for my son's primary school. "Have one yourself." I replied reciprocating her genuine smile, adding a gentle tap on her shoulder as I move through the isle towards the empty seats at the same time having pleasant exchanges with fellow travelers. This has been this way since "The Reversal", not to mistake it with the magnetic pole reversal, but it did kinda turned the world upside down. Our view of the road for one was radically altered after the reversal. We now view the road as a community space and no longer just mobility space. A respect-and-care space where we interact and see to each others wellbeing. No more traffic jams nor road rage incidences as we have totally given up of personal transport except for bicycles Everyone from all walks of life taking public transport and are now mostly acquainted with one another. Its the road reimagined and redesigned taking into account commuter's spatial behavior and dynamics to explore and shape social realities in relation not only to mobility but of community bonds through peer-to-peer engagement and support. The change in direction is still being continually updated, rerouted if you will, until we arrive at the correct destination.

The lesson never learned

"Larkin", echoed a voice and quickly by another, "get up, time to get ready". Then came a familiar smell; garlic, fried, hmnn, fried rice. The world seemed to get fuzzy as the smell perforates it, being eclipsed by another world coming into the fore as my eyes struggled to open. Blinked once, then twice and reality flooding in all at once. Voices now clearer, more so that annoyingly familiar noise now intelligible, "Amina that brat", were the first words of my day. Now realizing that I had slept on the living room sofa. Passed out from a night of researching for a community to plant my roots, where I would like to work and someday start a family of my own. Double checked my choices, making certain, because its an important decision to make and the school-brokered registration is today. This is now the norm after "The Reversal", where learning is considered a job and upon graduation rewarded via an "extendable", an apartment that we would own. Awarded by the community we choose to live in for choosing to contribute and support while at the same time pursuing whatever professions or skills the community needs which we call upgrades. Of course everything else is provided by the community. The other great thing is that its guaranteed that everyone graduates, no one is really left behind. The rebuilt educational system is now more peer-centric and collaborative, promoting the notion that learner's be responsible for one another. No more of that authority-centered, test driven education. And coupled with the AMP model and AIAU, "work" now goes way lot smoother; where our job is to know, understand, gain insight and find an application for it. Who new learning would be this motivating, fun and productive?

The oneness in the design

Sitting on the bed with feet on the carpet, my thoughts in deep appreciation for my loving spouse and my two sweet albeit naughty kids; a morning ritual to help me steady my day. With a deep breath to cap my heartfelt gratitude, gave a little nudge to my still sleeping wife before proceeding to wash up and make breakfast. My life is not boisterous but not quiet either, just the way I like it; honest and straight. Some experiences of ups and short-lived downs--courtesy of my headstrong youngsters--but very much level, thanks to a very able partner. This is home, a piece of paradise and a tight-knit team that play and unmistakably playful.
More so, "The Reversal" has drastically changed our view of the home which has now been acknowledge and authorized as the smallest unit of power and governance in a democratic space. Its the smallest entity that can vote, on both representation but most specially on issues. No longer is the all powerful individual--nor the very few either--that decides for everyone else. Debates and votes start at home making it effectively a parliamentary unit. True democracy as turns out is very easy to implement, with very minimal cost compared to before and no more of the complexities as well. Power is now devolved to its true owners, effectively ending the reigns of the superbodies and supermen or superwomen just to be considerate.
More changes came about from this effective governance, shedding light to the irrationality of how we organize ourselves and create institutions to address our concerns which pretty much reflects our thought processes. It was as if we were beings living exclusively inside a cave that has finally ventured out, encountering a tree for the first time and finding its fruit gratifying and nourishing.

Don’t miss out on this extraordinary adventure. Let’s explore the uncharted together and give everything we’ve got as we play this challenging and rewarding game.

The fun is in the journey, the reward is the meaning we find when we arrive