Past. Present. Future. Musings From My 70th Year - 2024
'Three score years and ten'. That's it! 25,550 days & nights. That's your lot! Anything more is a bonus. Or so Psalm 90:10 in the King James Version of the Bible seems to suggest. At least that is somewhat more than I was given to expect as a fan of the Moody Blues, one of my all-time favorite groups from back in the '60s, in this 1981 track release from their Long Distance Voyager album: '22, 000 days, 22, 000 days. It's not a lot, it's all you've got.'
So as I prepare to enter into my BONUS YEARS, after turning 70 much later this year, here is my deeply-considered (crammed full with years of hard-earned life-experience) New Year's wish for You & Yours is: May YOU live a long and healthy life.. enough to happily enjoy, respect and revere YOUR (and that of the world's) Past, Present & Future - in equal measure - with awe, enthusiasm, unbridled curiosity & passion.
Welcome to Issue 64 of 1idea.
I have written before in many articles why: 'I believe that we live in the greatest time ever to be alive' and that 'There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that we live in the most exciting of times ever in history to be alive.'
In the latter article, I talk of how: 'In my lifetime (on the cusp of 70 years) we have moved from an era of little to zero information.. to an Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) era of an abundance of information. How things have changed 180°. No, I have that wrong. How things have changed 180..000° ..and more!'
Given that it is estimated that as of 2023 '..the current number of smartphone users in the world today is 6.93 billion, meaning 85.74% of the world's population owns a smartphone', we can expect a HUGE potential increase in the VOLUME & VELOCITY of information that will flow in the future.
As exciting as that is for the curious, paradoxically (as I opined in the above-mentioned latter article) that very abundance of information will likely lead to many 'gorging on that which will render you (them) unhealthy and lazy'. 'The trick, or idea, when abundance presents itself, is to be highly selective of that which will sustain you and keep you (your mindset) healthy, whilst at the same time keeping yourself open to new information, ideas, adventures and opportunities that will present themselves.'
Having produced many 1000's of articles & posts in my time, and even a few books (e.g. Confessions of a SERIAL Entrepreneur), can you imagine if just 1 billion people do the same over their lifetimes, let alone 6.93 billion people! Both exciting (for the potential of billions of new inputs, opinions, observations & ideas) and frightening (for the sheer volume of information & misinformation that will be produced) at the same time.
So, to limit my contribution to the tsunami of information about to flood us all, I shall restrict the volume of this article to some simple thoughts arising during a festive season break-away in the bush with my family - written about before as: Another GREAT Day in Africa!
I must mention too, that each year at this time, my wife cajoles me to remove at least half-a-ton of old books & files from my library of hard-copy information (much like removing an arm or a leg) and this year I came across a memorable reminder of the year 1994, when we (the lay-public) first got access to the internet.. and Microsoft digitized the encyclopedia with amazing color pictorials. To some us, this year was the biggest happening in information distribution since the Gutenburg press. I found this original CD package of the 1994 Microsoft Encarta Multimedia Encyclopedia on a forgotten cupboard shelf.:
Thought 1. Today, especially given the advent of AI as made available to the lay-person in 2023, we already potentially have access to all the information one needs to learn about the fundamentals of almost any subject (and on to much deeper specialist knowledge if so interested).. given that technology has made information more accessible by more people than ever before.
Some examples:
Thought 2. As I get older, and family, friends & acquaintances thin out due to the passing of their time on this planet, I naturally get to thinking about, reviewing, and pondering my own past, present & future, and marvel at how far we have come as a society in my lifetime.. and at how many specific events and people I am able to clearly recall as having had an impact and influence in my life during that time.
The older I get the more I appreciate history.. especially the significant work, art, architecture & developments of people who came before us. History is fascinating. Todays technology makes it possible to follow the travels of those who seek out the mysteries of the world, filling one with awe and curiosity. I marvel at what people came up with in their day without the technology that we have today.. or did they have better technology, or better techniques for applied thinking?
Some examples:
Thought 3. I recognize that I have a heightened sense of being something of an independent loner, of wanting to be left alone, of wanting to remove myself from those who do plainly stupid things (in my humble opinion, of course). Making this refuge that is my digital island - Contemplation Island - an ideal sanctuary.. my HAPPY place.. to contemplate our world and the behaviors of the people on it. That's the beauty of our current technology that brings the world to our doorsteps - and the latest technology (A.I.) is just getting better at it.
I am also acutely aware, through years of experience in both life & business, that there is 'good and bad in everyone' and that we have to be extremely careful to avoid and outwit those who deliberately choose to follow a path of sowing rotten seeds of mistrust, misinformation, mayhem, crime, corruption and destruction of people's lives and properties.
I, with my partners, colleagues & associates, choose to help make the world a better place - A HAPPY PLACE. We've chosen to do that through our WISDOMS? DifferenceMakers? In Every City project. We'd love YOU to join us.
At very least, we recommend that get your copy of The DifferenceMaker? e-book - Making a Difference in YOUR life by Making a Difference in the Lives of OTHERS. - where we share 10 simple principles, that we have identified and applied ourselves in our long lives, for you to build your life upon and share your experiences with others too. Available now for only $3 - Note: this e-book is included FREE to our Patreon members (see WISDOMS? DifferenceMakers? In Every City for membership details).
How I love to learn:
simplify.. Simplify.. SIMPLIFY.. is the above NASA engineer's core message.. as is our mantra in our WISDOMS? projects.
If you're new to us it is recommended that you read issue 1: One Idea is All it Takes
About:?Trevor Nel is an 'ideas-generating machine' and co-founder of WISDOMS?. You can connect with WISDOMS? and become: 1. a PATRON and/or; 2. a PLAYER , and/or; 3. a PARTNER - follow each link for more info.
Next week:
Trevor Nel?is author of One Idea Is All It Takes and numerous publications & articles, including :
This post is brought to you by Trevor Nel co- developer of WISDOMS? DifferenceMakers? In Every City - in collaboration with 1idea? - the digital newsletter that explores the simple idea that just one idea can be all it takes to change YOUR entire life & business.
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Get your copy of The DifferenceMaker? e-book - Making a Difference in YOUR life by Making a Difference in the Lives of OTHERS. Available now for only $3 - Note: this e-book is included FREE to our Patreon members (see WISDOMS? DifferenceMakers? In Every City for membership details).
In this e-book we introduce you to the 10 simple, yet profound, principles that are the foundation of the more in-depth personal journey of The Differencemaker? Program.