The human’s ability to screw things up and still come back for more

image: denis collette

I’m often devastated by the mess we are capable of making of things. We turn up here, beautiful planet, Garden of Eden, all is well and then we start.

Where did the rot set in? What is the provenance of the malaise that afflict us? If I were a crude man I would call it sheer crass stupidity but I am not so I will refer to it as folly.

Here are the options:

1. The skills to sustain life are becoming more refined. This means an ageing population, but also it means a more foolish population because the basic tenets of human life are still an enigma to the vast majority. The longer you live in ignorance the more acute your old age foolishness will be.

2. Work out rapidly what it is you want, the credo by which you will live and the means by which you will enable that to happen. Where there is a shortfall, work out how you will fill the gap. Then do it.

3. Opt out. Disenfranchise yourself from the Universe. Take one of the three paths, i) hedonism - just enjoy yourself. ii) nihilism - nothing matters anyway. iii) rat-racer - climb the ladder and never mind whose fingers you step on to get up there, greed is good a la Gordon Gecko. 

Happiness, it has been said, is a journey, not a destination. If you’re still looking for the tripod in your life (growth/development - fulfilment/satisfaction - happiness) you’d better hitch up your skirt or breeches and start running.

Good luck whatever you choose.