No ads telling me to buy things. No temptations to eat out. No temptation to just grab a coffee. No sales on things that are such a good deal that I have to snap them up. No neighbors to keep up with. Just a quiet life where I had enough.
However, in today's culture there it is becoming more and more common to equate success with money. Or happiness with money. Take your pick. Either way people are working harder and harder to achieve success with success being money of course. Unfortunately, money is a slave driver. There is always more to be had. Always striving for just a little bit more. Always something newer, always something shinier, always something better.
To be sure, money is important, but having been at a point in my life where I had money but no peace and no joy. I learned quickly that Happiness and Family are far more important than money.
As the sayings go :
but also
Now there is something interesting about science. It is kind of like the "money" of intelligent people. People are always looking at science to make things better. Just like money: Having enough makes a huge difference! Computer VS no computer? Cellphone VS no cellphone? Transportation VS walking? The list goes on and on. Mosquito repellant, plastics, USB Pumps, LED Lightbulbs and the list goes on and on and on.
However, people keep chasing more science, more exploration, more advances, more, more, more. Sometimes I think it more important to allow the world to catch up. Why make better and better things...when a lot of the world population can't afford anything. Why make the ultimate in luxury for the few when some people must live in squalor? Why make more and more things to poison our water and fill our landfills when we are killing ourselves with microplastics, pesticides, and more?
Personally I love science. I love new devices and technology. I like discovering things, learning things, and seeing progress over time. I think virtually all learning is a good thing....at the right time for the right purpose.
I also had teenagers. When they were younger I often heard they question: WHEN
When can I stay out without a curfew. When can I have a laptop in my bedroom. When can I have my own car. When will you give me more responsibility.
As a father the answer infuriated them. When you are ready
You see there wasn't an age that my kids needed to be before I gave them access to more freedom. It was maturity.
I think it is the same way with science and humanity. Humanity keeps wanting more and more science but are we mature enough to use it wisely?
We have built AI but will it control us or we control it?
We can build nuclear weapons but can we be trusted not to blow each other up?
We can build drones for research and exploration...or will we use them to kill either other?
We can build robots that can do all sorts of dangerous or boring jobs. But will we train them to kill our enemies? Indeed why will we make robotic workers when there are people trying very hard to get a job just to scrape by.
I believe all science and learning is great. When we are ready. Honestly with how we are treating our planet and our neighbors? I think that we should stop the focus on learning and advancing more and focus more on learning how to make peace in our home and keep it clean before we try to make it nicer with better science.
Or maybe I'm out to lunch. I'd love to get your idea on the topic. Always love getting comments. Thanks for reading this far.
