During the days of yesterday – the olden days. The typical person will wake up from a bed of grass with the sky for a roof. He will go out hunting for something – anything to satisfy his growling stomach. If fortune favoured him, he goes to bed content that night. If not, try again tomorrow. He only takes a bath when he had had enough to drink. And only feels safe when the only things moving are his two feet. The only entertainment he has is the company of his fellow clan members around a night fire as each share a story about the last time he/she almost got eaten. And their last thought that night is surviving tomorrow.
In contrast, This morning You woke up in a warm comfortable bed with a roof over your head and a sense of security. You took a hot shower and had a breakfast of your choice with food plenty left in the fridge. You took a ride to a “comfortable” job that pays you a secure salary at the end of each month. In the evening, you could decide to meet up with friends at a restaurant and then goto the movies. Or you could just watch a movie at home in your comfort. You may decide to have a bubble bath with plenty of options left to entertain yourself with.
Surely, we have come a long way. In the olden days, people travel long distances just for a drink of water, while I and you just open the tap. There was scarcity of food. Little to no entertainment or even the luxury of having time for entertainment besides just surviving. Not seeing or hearing from family members that live far was typical. Even kings and chieftaincies- the best they had was a messenger on a horse. It took forever to communicate. We had no idea of other nations existence in other corners of the world.
Moreover, it was an era when there was the biggest segregation of the human species on earth. During those days, if you were a son of a blacksmith, you become a blacksmith. If you were a daughter of a baker, you become a baker. And if your parents are peasants, you are also destined to live your life as one. Whereas if your parents happen to be royalty, you are destined for an easy life and so will your progeny that will come after you. Hence the popular phrase ” Some are born with a golden spoon and others are not”.
But as time went on, we slowly transitioned from the feudal system into the industrial age. Where people started changing from individual craftsmen to more organised labor of 100s of people working in factories. So with that, we had synergy of number, where more products and services can be rendered at large scale in shorter timeframes.
Furthermore, we became even more efficient as machines started to come into the picture freeing us for more creative work. The advancement in technology exploded. The once big and diversified world became much smaller as we scale across cultural boundaries and steeped into the era of globalization.
We got: gun-powder from China, our cars from Germany, spices from India, Pizza from Italy. and cocoa beans for making coffee & chocolates from Africa.
We now live in a world today where a son of a black immigrant from Africa can become the president of the most influential nation in the world. It turned out that with all these changes happening, our previously stone-carved destinies are no longer carved in stone. Our destinies are now in our hands. The old saying of “not being born with a golden spoon” is no longer crippling because our beginnings no longer have to dictate our future. The popular theme now is “From rags to riches”.
We have replaced Kings and queens with elected Presidents and successful individuals. Everybody now has a possibility of Opportunity beyond race, gender, and religion to be whatever they want.
So you can be whatever you want, right? Not quite. Unfortunately, we have created a different prison for ourselves, a double aged sword if you may. Before, we suffered from scarcity and now we are hunted by a ghost of abundance in broad daylight. Whatever you are looking for, there are clear steps and ways of getting there. But the problem is that, there are too many options to choose from and too many suggestions from the world every second. It’s so hard to focus these days. And if the plethora of options you have keep overwhelming you, you will never get anywhere.
Isn’t this the 10th time you are thinking of joining the gym? what about those business plans you have been pushing back for the 3rd year now? Or your New-year resolutions that are almost the same every year but no results? I mean, I’m not that smart but Albert Einstein once said,” Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”. It’s as if we are living in a matrix because we are unconsciously following this invisible program that we just can’t seem to pull out of.
The only way to escape this matrix, is to look at your life and the program you’re living and pull the plug on whatever thing you know is not serving you and start moving towards the thing your heart has been pulling you towards. That is the only way of Finding your lullaby from the noise.
Have been thinking of doing something lately? draw up a plan today and start tomorrow. Your life is a novel, the pen is in your hand and it’s your job to make it a good read. So go make something happen ๐ฏ.
