Issue No. 12

Sometimes it becomes unclear what separates you from the world. From your perspective, you're merely an observer, witnessing the Earth's movements and growth. Everyone seems so busy and preoccupied, while the trees dance and the wind sings. The planet revolves around the Sun without fail, and times continue to change.

It is estimated that approximately 100 billion people have existed throughout the history of human civilization. That's a one followed by eleven zeroes—100,000,000,000. Our current population of about 8 billion people represents only 8% of the total number of humans who have ever lived. That means there are 92 billion people buried in the ground. Among all these individuals, who are you? Are you merely another skeleton destined to be buried in the future? That fate awaits us all. But who are you in the present moment? Millions of years of evolution have culminated in the person you are today. What is your purpose here?

I am consistently amazed by our tendency to view ourselves as the central character in our own lives. It's a delusion fabricated by our brains to prioritize our survival. In reality, we are not particularly special. Even in comparison to other living species, we can be considered quite mundane. We spend most of our lives working, only to have a fleeting respite of two days per week to repeat the same monotonous routine. And yet, we believe ourselves to be free. Among all animals, we are the most unforgiving towards ourselves. We are easily offended, discouraged, stressed, and angered.

This question haunts me daily.

However, I believe what sets us apart from animals is our capacity to be self-aware. Self-awareness is a crucial evolutionary advantage in our species. It has led to the discovery of the most profound ideas in philosophy and science. It's a question so profound that it won't find an answer for thousands of years, perhaps even longer. Self-awareness is one of the ultimate inquiries of the universe, alongside the question of why something exists rather than nothing. Because we can perceive and recognize ourselves in the mirror, we are capable of taking care of ourselves, and I hope we do so more frequently than we currently do.

Because when you take care of yourself, you look good. When you look good, you feel good. When you feel good, you want to share that feeling with others. When others receive your kindness, they reciprocate or pass it on to others. When you are confident, healthy, and content, you can focus much better on the things you care about the most: your dreams, your family, and your loved ones. Evaluate your life and identify what is lacking, then fill those gaps. Take it one step at a time and be proud of every progress you make. Compare yourself to who you were in the past.

Sometimes, I take a photo of myself in the present and compare it with a photo from ten years ago. It's a simple exercise, but it immediately reveals how far I have come. It allows me to envision what I could be like in another ten years. It makes me realize what I am truly capable of.

That's precisely what is exciting about life: that in the future, you will look back at your current self and think, "Wow, I accomplished all of that."

A Man Walking on a Dark Road

Photo by Gabriel