The Pavilion in the Trees is a unique architectural feature located in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia. This structure is nestled within the trees, offering visitors a tranquil retreat surrounded by nature. Designed by Martin Puryear, a renowned American sculptor, the Pavilion was completed in 1993 as part of the Form and Function in the Garden exhibition. The design reflects Puryear’s interest in organic forms and the blending of art with nature.

The Pavilion in the Trees is made primarily of wood and is elevated above the ground, supported by stilts that give it a treehouse-like appearance. Its location within the canopy of trees provides visitors with a sense of immersion in the natural environment, making it a popular spot for contemplation, quiet reflection, and enjoying the beauty of Fairmount Park.

The structure’s open-air design allows for a harmonious integration with the surrounding forest, letting in dappled sunlight and offering views of the park from a higher vantage point. The Pavilion in the Trees is not only a piece of art but also a space for community gatherings, yoga sessions, and other activities that celebrate the connection between art, architecture, and nature.

Thales of Miletus, often regarded as the first pre-Socratic philosopher, was a seminal figure in ancient Greek philosophy. Born around 624 BCE in the city of Miletus in Ionia (modern-day Turkey), Thales is considered one of the Seven Sages of Greece and is credited with laying the foundations for Western philosophy and science.

Key Contributions and Philosophical Ideas:

1. Material Monism: Thales is best known for his belief that water is the fundamental substance (or archê) underlying all matter. He proposed that everything in the universe is composed of water in various forms, and that water is the primary principle that gives rise to all things. This idea marks the beginning of material monism, the belief that a single substance or element constitutes the essence of the universe.
2. Naturalistic Explanations: Thales sought to explain natural phenomena without resorting to mythology or divine intervention. He is considered one of the first thinkers to apply rational thought to understand the world, paving the way for scientific inquiry.
3. Astronomy and Mathematics: Thales made significant contributions to astronomy and mathematics. He is credited with predicting a solar eclipse in 585 BCE and developing several geometric principles, such as Thales’ Theorem, which states that if a triangle is inscribed in a circle and one side of the triangle is the diameter, then the angle opposite the diameter is a right angle.

Notable Quotes Attributed to Thales:

Although many of Thales’ works have not survived and some of his ideas come to us through later philosophers like Aristotle, here are a few quotes attributed to him:

1. “The most difficult thing in life is to know yourself.”

• This quote reflects Thales’ emphasis on self-awareness and introspection, a theme that would become central to later philosophical traditions, particularly in Socratic and Platonic thought.

1. “Hope is the only good that is common to all men; those who have nothing else possess hope still.”

• Thales here touches on the enduring human capacity for hope, even in the direst circumstances.

1. “Time is the wisest of all things that are; for it brings everything to light.”

• This quote highlights the concept of time as a revealer of truth, wisdom, and the nature of all things.

1. “What is the divine? That which has neither beginning nor end.”

• Thales’ contemplation of the divine shows his early engagement with metaphysical questions about the eternal and the infinite.

Legacy:

Thales’ work laid the groundwork for subsequent philosophers such as Anaximander and Anaximenes, who further developed the idea of a primary substance. His emphasis on rational inquiry and naturalistic explanations would profoundly influence later philosophical traditions, particularly those of the Milesian school and eventually the entirety of Western philosophy.

Thales’ legacy is not only philosophical but also mathematical and scientific, as his efforts to understand the world through reason and observation have inspired countless thinkers throughout history.

The word “epistemology” comes from the Greek words “epistēmē” (ἐπιστήμη) meaning “knowledge” or “science” and “logos” (λόγος) meaning “study” or “discourse.” Thus, epistemology literally translates to “the study of knowledge.”

The term was first coined in the 19th century, and it refers to the branch of philosophy that deals with the nature, scope, and limits of human knowledge.

Religion VS Reason

The word “metaphysics” has its origins in Ancient Greek. It is derived from the Greek words “meta-” (μετά) meaning “after” or “beyond,” and “physika” (φυσικά), which means “the physical” or “nature.”

The term was coined by early scholars to describe the works of Aristotle that came after his “Physics” in the traditional ordering of his writings. Aristotle’s “Metaphysics” dealt with questions beyond the physical sciences, concerning the fundamental nature of reality, existence, and the principles of being. Therefore, “metaphysics” literally means “what comes after the physics” and has come to refer to the branch of philosophy that explores the nature of reality, existence, and the relationship between mind and matter.

Friedrich Nietzsche’s essay “How the ‘True World’ Finally Became a Fable: The History of an Error” from Twilight of the Idols traces the evolution of the concept of “truth” and its eventual decline. Nietzsche presents a brief history in six stages, illustrating how the idea of a “true world”—a reality that is perfect, unchanging, and exists beyond our sensory experiences—has been progressively deconstructed and ultimately rendered meaningless.

1. The Platonic Stage: The idea of a “true world” begins with Plato, who posited a realm of perfect forms or ideas that represent the true essence of things. The material world is seen as an imperfect reflection of this higher, true reality.
2. Christian Adaptation: Early Christianity adopted and adapted Plato’s concept, merging it with religious ideas. The “true world” became synonymous with the Kingdom of God or Heaven—a place of ultimate truth and perfection accessible only after death.
3. Kantian Critique: Immanuel Kant challenged the notion that humans can have direct knowledge of the “true world.” He argued that our understanding is limited to phenomena—how things appear to us—while the “true world” (the noumenal world) is unknowable.
4. Skeptical Doubt: With increasing skepticism, the belief in the “true world” begins to wane. Philosophers start to question whether this “true world” is even necessary, seeing it as an invention rather than a reality.
5. Nihilistic Rejection: The idea of a “true world” is finally abandoned as a relic of a bygone era. It is recognized as a fable, a construct that no longer holds any meaning or value in a world focused on the here and now.
6. Embrace of the Earthly World: In the final stage, the “true world” is entirely rejected, and attention is turned back to the actual, tangible world we live in. This marks the end of the illusion and a return to life as it is, without the need for metaphysical consolations.

Nietzsche’s critique exposes the gradual dismantling of the “true world” concept as humanity moves toward a more grounded, realistic perspective, recognizing the fable for what it is—a comforting but ultimately false narrative.

The phrase you’re referencing comes from the Bible, specifically from the book of Matthew 24:42 (King James Version). The full verse reads:

“Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.”

This passage is a part of Jesus’ discourse about the end times, where He emphasizes the importance of being vigilant and prepared, as the exact time of His return is unknown. It’s a reminder to live with awareness and readiness for spiritual matters.

PRIDE

• Dante encounters OJ on Chestnut Street, where they engage in a spontaneous workout challenge, using the urban environment as their gym.
• Emphasizes the idea of treating the world as a canvas, where individuals become both the artist and the artwork, embodying vitality and vigor.

Time as Currency

• Critiques modern society’s obsession with time, arguing that it has become the most valuable currency.
• Contrasts the time spent by hunter-gatherers on necessities with the long work hours in modern society, which negatively impact family and personal well-being.

The Weapons of Mass Distraction

• Highlights the iPhone as a modern “weapon of mass distraction,” likening it to the SOMA drug from Brave New World.
• Observes how technology, particularly in the hands of children, disconnects people from reality and authentic human interaction, raising concerns about future generations.

Money as Language

• Discusses how money, like language, is a medium of exchange that reflects personal values.
• Criticizes the government’s ability to print money endlessly, funding wars and perpetuating societal values of violence and conflict.

Curiosity, Chaos, and the Flow State

• Advocates for cultivating curiosity daily as a true measure of success, rather than material achievements.
• Describes how embracing curiosity and the chaos of urban life can lead to a flow state of creativity and fulfillment.

Ancient World, Modern Life

• Reflects on Heraclitus’ quote about the exceptional individual and connects it to Diogenes’ search for free souls in Athens.
• Critiques modern society’s reliance on external forces like social media, advocating for turning within to achieve true freedom.

Control and Hubris

• Explores the natural human feelings of lust, greed, and attachment, emphasizing the need to tame these emotions to avoid hubris.
• Uses the example of Achilles’ fatal flaw of rage to illustrate the dangers of excessive pride and its destructive consequences.

Become Recalcitrant

• Encourages embracing natural human instincts and resisting societal pressures to conform.
• Urges readers to “become recalcitrant” by kicking back against these pressures, striving for greatness, and reclaiming their vitality and strength.

The scene depicted in the image is a powerful moment from The Iliad, Homer’s epic poem that chronicles the final weeks of the Trojan War. It portrays one of the most dramatic and tragic episodes of the story—the aftermath of Hector’s death at the hands of Achilles.

The Story of Achilles and Hector

Achilles, the greatest of the Greek warriors, had been withdrawn from battle for much of the Trojan War due to a dispute with Agamemnon, the leader of the Greek forces. However, the death of his close friend Patroclus at the hands of Hector, the prince of Troy and its mightiest defender, spurred Achilles back into action.

Consumed by grief and rage, Achilles sought vengeance. He re-entered the battle with a ferocity unmatched by any other warrior. Achilles was a force of nature, cutting through the Trojan army with ease until he finally confronted Hector outside the walls of Troy. The two warriors faced each other in a duel that would decide their fates. Though Hector fought bravely, he was no match for Achilles in his wrath. Achilles slew Hector, striking him down with a fatal blow.

But Achilles’ anger was not sated by Hector’s death alone. In an act of ultimate desecration and as a warning to his enemies, Achilles tied Hector’s lifeless body to the back of his chariot and dragged it through the dust around the walls of Troy. This act of dragging Hector’s body was not just a personal vendetta but a message to all who would defy him. It was meant to strip Hector of his honor in death, denying him the proper burial rites that were so sacred in ancient Greek culture.

The scene captured in the image is that moment—Achilles, standing tall in his chariot, his face etched with the cold determination of a man who has lost everything to his rage. The body of Hector, once a proud warrior and prince, now reduced to a battered form, trails behind, leaving a path in the sand.

The Aftermath

The desecration of Hector’s body horrified the Trojans and even shocked the gods. Zeus, the king of the gods, ordered that Achilles allow Hector’s body to be returned to Troy for proper funeral rites. It was Priam, Hector’s father and the king of Troy, who bravely entered the Greek camp to plead with Achilles for the return of his son’s body.

In a rare moment of compassion, Achilles was moved by Priam’s grief and agreed to return Hector’s body. This act marked a turning point in Achilles’ character, showing that even in his anger and grief, he could recognize the humanity in others.

The Symbolism

The image of Achilles dragging Hector’s body is a stark representation of the destructive power of rage and revenge. It highlights the themes of honor, mortality, and the consequences of unchecked emotions that run throughout The Iliad. Achilles, once the epitome of heroism, becomes a tragic figure, his humanity overshadowed by his wrath. Hector, though defeated, remains noble in death, a symbol of the inevitable tragedy of war.

This story, like much of Greek mythology, serves as a reflection on the complexities of human nature and the duality of strength and vulnerability. It is a reminder of the price of vengeance and the fleeting nature of glory, as well as the importance of compassion and understanding, even in the midst of conflict.

PRIDE

Yesterday, while walking down Chestnut Street, I ran into OJ, who is always working out with his shirt off. One day, he decided to challenge me, because I too, had my shirt off, it was like real recognized real, and we began doing pull-ups on the construction site nearby. He’s always out there, using the urban landscape as a concrete gym. As I saw him doing push-ups yesterday, I was walking down the street, enjoying the sun as I actively tanned and walked. As soon as I got to the corner where he was, I simply dropped to the ground and challenged him to some push-ups. He actually ended up showing me this really cool move, where you do an explosive push-up from a normal grip to a wide stance on the decline. When you’re filled with vitality and vigor, you have excess energy that you must release. When I’m on the streets, I often feel like OJ, looking at the world as a playground, a place for me to conquer the concrete. We must become our most vital selves, improvising and treating the world as our canvas, where we both become the artist and the artwork. When you walk the street, you are now a sculpture. Get like me and OJ, and become a blueprint for others to admire.

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Time as Currency

We have become slaves to time. We wake up to alarms, make sure we’re on time for work, constantly being pinged with notifications to remind us when we must arrive, and have subscribed to this artificial idea of time itself.

Have you ever heard the phrase, “spending time?”

When I consider this notion, it reminds me that time is ultimately the most valuable currency that exists in life. What are you spending your time on? What are you giving your attention to?

Think of hunters and gatherers, and how they spent just 13 hours a week gathering necessities, allowing them the time to spend the rest of the week devoted to community, storytelling, and human connection. In this modern world, however, we spend at least 40 hours per week, some even 50, 60, or 80 hours per week, focusing all of their attention, spending all of their time, working and toiling, typically for a corporation, a company, a bank, or a boss. This leads to parents working long hours, spending less time with family, impacting the growth of their children, as they now must spend their time with superficial peers. The time children spend throughout childhood this way can lead them to an identity crisis, causing depression and anxiety among the masses of young people. The impact of the way in which we spend our time can have catastrophic effects, breeding mediocrity.

The Weapons of Mass Distraction

When we went to war in Iraq, we may have never found the weapons of mass destruction, however, the weapon of mass distraction sits in your front right pocket and is the iPhone. Consider the iPhone as the SOMA drug in this Brave New World.

This past weekend, I went to a restaurant with some family. Across from our table, I noticed this phenomenon, where parents give their kids iPads at restaurants, letting them watch extremely strange videos on loop. It’s truly a shame that this is occurring at scale, and is something I’ve noticed throughout the past few years, pretty much everywhere. Even babies in strollers are now given iPads when they’re being pushed around the city. They don’t even have their heads up anymore, looking around the world, but are glued into an alternate reality on the screen itself. This is concerning because we’re essentially breeding a generation of zombie-like robots that will grow up already taking the SOMA against their will. If we disconnect from our reality and our instincts as we are being born into this world, what are the effects this will have on future generations and society in general?

Alexander the Great was taught by a private tutor, Aristotle. The impact that this teacher had on one man led him to become one of the most influential figures in all of human history, spreading Greek culture throughout his vast empire. Now, we have parents who will hardly interact with their children, let alone give them attention, mentorship, or moral guidance. Will there ever be another Aristotle, another Alexander the Great, if we are sedated by the weapons of mass distraction from here on out?

If you realize that you’re being domesticated like a dog, would you continue to obey?

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Money as Language

Like language, money becomes a medium of exchange through which we express ourselves and our values. Some people will decide to buy grass-fed beef and organic vegetables, while others will purchase cigarettes and candy. What people purchase, how people spend their money, or even how people spend their time, reveals what different people value in life. I like this idea:

Tell me what you purchase, and I will tell you who you are.

Think of the government’s ability to print money ad infinitum. This paper money funds wars in foreign nations. It’s quite obvious that modern society values war, as we keep printing our dollars, funding endless violence. Just reflect on the last century; for nearly 100 years, millions of deaths have occurred due to the central banking system’s money printer.

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Curiosity and the Flow State

Do you wake up in the morning excited for life?

I believe we should cultivate curiosity every day, and as artists, this is our ultimate aim in life. If your curiosity is increasing by one percent each day, consider yourself successful. We must redefine this notion of “success.” I find it interesting how people hope for your success, wish that you are successful with your job, etc. But these notions have nothing to do with what truly matters, such as vitality, contentment, or curiosity. Success has turned into a strange material goal to achieve that is quite meaningless.

Consider Aladdin and the Cave of Wonders. This was the famous scene where he found the genie in the bottle. However, if Aladdin decided to choose the buried treasures, he would be trapped in the cave forever. Aladdin decided to choose the omnipotent power and wisdom, choosing the genie in the bottle. Let’s be like Aladdin, and choose wisdom over gold.

Curiosity is important for me to cultivate every day, as it fuels me with excitement. However, I find meaning in the mundane and embrace boredom as a way to find myself in a blissful flow state of creativity. By walking the street aimlessly, without much direction or purpose, I’m able to reflect in words while simultaneously fueling my senses from the external world around me. I enter a Zen zone when walking slowly, as this act of movement becomes my meditation. There’s something about the chaos of urban life that fuels me and has me laughing in the face of it. I’m always out there smiling when I’m photographing because it’s just so much pure fun, observing life on the front lines. When you’re full of vitality, 99% of things in this modern world seem like a distraction, and you want to remain focused in this flow state of production. I find joy in the unpredictable nature of urban life, for spontaneity is my muse, and the street is my canvas.

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Ancient World, Modern Life

I recently read Heraclitus’ Fragments and one quote that stood out to me was in regard to mediocrity and being exceptional:

“One man is worth ten thousand if he is first-rate.”

This reminds me of Diogenes and his lantern, walking through Athens, searching for free souls. Diogenes rejected societal norms and essentially viewed most people as slaves to their possessions, social status, pleasure, and the fear of death. He viewed freedom as self-sufficiency, by becoming aligned with nature, rejecting artificial needs and constraints.

Most people in this modern world are controlled by external forces, the most obvious example being social media and the iPhone. If you’re consuming news, it’s going to ultimately impact the way that you view the world. If you’re consuming media or advertisements, it will sway you this way or that way, like a feather in the wind. However, when you turn within, and free your mind, body, and soul, you become connected with your essence. In a world of distractions and noise, we must turn off the radio static and listen to the sound of our heart beating. True freedom is found from within.

Control and Hubris

Feelings of lust, greed, and attachment are natural, but we must tame them in order to improve. I believe we should fuel ourselves with pride, but be mindful of hubris, or excessive pride and arrogance. Think of Achilles and his fatal flaw of rage. This led to his ultimate demise during the battle of Troy. Achilles became blinded by his power, allowing his emotions to dictate his actions.

One of the most vivid examples of this is when Achilles, after slaying Hector, attached his body to his chariot with a rope and dragged it through the sand. This act of desecration was meant to instill fear in his enemies, but it also highlighted the dangerous extent to which his pride and rage had consumed him. Achilles, once the epitome of heroism, allowed his hubris to cloud his judgment, leading him down a path of destruction. In the end, Hector’s brother Paris shot Achilles in the heel with an arrow, killing him in battle.

Become Recalcitrant

So let’s rise above our passions and realize the fine line between confidence and hubris. Let’s embrace pride openly and reclaim our human instinct to become great. In this modern world, we are becoming docile, weak, meek, and tamed. We should embrace our natural instincts, as this will lead to a more vigorous life. Remember your nature, and your roots as a human and hunter-gatherer. We are bipedal, stand upright, have a tall spine, and require open spaces to thrive. Don’t put yourself in a box, in a closed system, and conform to societal pressures.

Disobey and be untamable. Don’t be a domesticated dog.

re- (“back”) and calcitrare (“to kick”), which comes from calx, meaning “heel.”

Be like a stubborn horse on Achilles’ chariot, and kick back with resistance. It’s okay to be great and strive to be the best, like that of Achilles!

Plutarch was a prominent Greek philosopher, biographer, and essayist who lived during the first and second centuries AD. He was born around AD 46 in the small town of Chaeronea in the region of Boeotia, Greece, and died around AD 120. Plutarch is best known for his parallel biographies of famous Greek and Roman figures, collectively known as the Parallel Lives, and his moral essays compiled under the title Moralia.

Early Life and Education

Plutarch came from a well-to-do family that provided him with a comprehensive education in philosophy, rhetoric, and mathematics. He studied in Athens, where he became a student of the philosopher Ammonius. His education was deeply rooted in Greek tradition, but he was also heavily influenced by Roman culture and philosophy, which is reflected in his works.

Career and Influence

After completing his education, Plutarch traveled extensively throughout the Roman Empire, visiting places like Alexandria and Rome. In Rome, he became a well-known intellectual figure, giving lectures on philosophy and ethics. Although he spent much time in Rome and had a deep appreciation for Roman culture, he never lost his Greek identity, and he remained proud of his Greek heritage.

Plutarch’s philosophical outlook was heavily influenced by Platonism, and he was an advocate of practical ethics. His works reflect his belief in the importance of moral character and virtue in public and private life.

Parallel Lives

Plutarch’s most famous work is Parallel Lives, a series of biographies that compare the lives of famous Greeks and Romans, such as Alexander the Great with Julius Caesar, and Demosthenes with Cicero. These biographies are not just historical accounts but are also moral studies, emphasizing the virtues and vices of these figures. Parallel Lives became a major influence on later Western literature and philosophy, particularly during the Renaissance. Writers like Shakespeare, Montaigne, and Emerson drew heavily from Plutarch’s work.

Moralia

Another significant contribution by Plutarch is his collection of essays and speeches known as Moralia. This work encompasses a wide range of topics, including religion, ethics, politics, and literature. The Moralia provides insight into Plutarch’s thoughts on various aspects of life, offering moral guidance and philosophical reflection.

Later Life

In his later years, Plutarch returned to Chaeronea, where he served as a priest of Apollo at the Temple of Delphi. Despite his active participation in Roman public life, he remained deeply connected to his hometown and its local traditions. He also served as a magistrate in Chaeronea and played a role in its civic life.

Plutarch was married and had at least five children, some of whom he outlived. He wrote a touching essay titled “Consolation to His Wife” after the death of one of their children, which provides insight into his personal life and his stoic approach to grief.

Legacy

Plutarch’s works have had a profound and lasting impact on both classical and modern thought. His biographies in Parallel Lives are considered among the most important sources of information about the lives of notable figures from antiquity. His moral essays in Moralia continue to be studied for their ethical insights.

Plutarch’s influence extended far beyond his lifetime, shaping the intellectual landscape of the Renaissance and the Enlightenment. His works were translated into many languages and have been continuously read and respected for their wisdom and insight into human nature.

Plutarch’s legacy endures as one of the most important moral philosophers and biographers of antiquity, and his works remain a significant part of Western literary and philosophical tradition.

Here’s a summary of each essay in the collection of Plutarch’s Essays that you provided:

1. On Listening – Plutarch explores the importance of being an attentive and discerning listener. He emphasizes that listening is not a passive activity but an active engagement with the speaker. He advises against jumping to conclusions or interrupting and suggests that listening carefully can lead to greater wisdom and understanding.
2. How to Distinguish a Flatterer from a Friend – This essay addresses the challenge of telling apart those who genuinely care for you from those who simply flatter you for their benefit. Plutarch offers practical advice on recognizing the subtle differences between true friendship and flattery, emphasizing that a true friend will offer constructive criticism and not just empty praise.
3. On Being Aware of Moral Progress – In this essay, Plutarch discusses the importance of self-awareness in one’s moral development. He encourages individuals to regularly reflect on their actions and progress in virtue, suggesting that such introspection is crucial for continuous moral growth.
4. Whether Military or Intellectual Exploits Have Brought Athens More Fame – Plutarch debates whether Athens gained more fame through its military conquests or its intellectual and cultural achievements. He explores both sides, weighing the enduring influence of Athens’ cultural contributions against the temporary glory of military victories.
5. On the Avoidance of Anger – Plutarch examines the destructive nature of anger and offers strategies to control and avoid it. He suggests that understanding the sources of anger, practicing patience, and maintaining a sense of proportion in one’s reactions are essential for avoiding the pitfalls of anger.
6. On Contentment – This essay is a reflection on the nature of contentment and how to achieve it. Plutarch argues that true contentment comes not from external circumstances but from an inner state of mind. He encourages the cultivation of moderation, self-sufficiency, and a focus on what one has rather than what one lacks.
7. On God’s Slowness to Punish – Plutarch discusses the divine attribute of patience and the idea that the gods are slow to punish human wrongdoing. He explores the reasons behind this slowness, suggesting that it allows for repentance and correction, ultimately leading to a more just outcome.
8. On Socrates’ Personal Deity – In this essay, Plutarch reflects on Socrates’ concept of a personal guiding spirit or daemon. He considers the implications of Socrates’ belief in this inner divine voice and how it guided his actions, representing a unique form of divine communication and personal morality.
9. In Consolation to His Wife – Written as a letter to his wife, this essay provides comfort and advice on coping with grief. Plutarch encourages her to find strength in the memory of their lost child and to see the broader perspective on life and death, suggesting that rational reflection and acceptance can ease the pain of loss.
10. On the Use of Reason by Irrational Animals – Plutarch challenges the idea that humans are the only creatures capable of reasoning. He presents examples of animal behavior that suggest they too can use reason, challenging the sharp distinction often made between humans and animals in terms of rationality.

Each essay reflects Plutarch’s deep engagement with moral and philosophical issues, offering insights that are both practical and profound.

We are domesticated like dogs

Expand your muscles

Stretch your legs

The psychology of money

Time preference

Thinking about the future and security

How to build a prosperous future?

Immediate needs versus future needs

Broken money, incentivizes people to spend for immediate pleasure

The decay of Society is a byproduct of not considering the future?

Bitcoin incentivizes the individual to think longterm and about the future

Cost-of-living is increasing which leads to meaninglessness because people don’t know how they’re going to get by

Don’t give up!

Compassion and altruism

Maslow‘s hierarchy of needs

Food and shelter

Family and relationships

Spirituality

Self actualization

Becoming the best person you can possibly be

We’re stuck at the basic need of food and shelter, which leads us to stray away from compassion, family, relationship building, or spirituality

Money shapes how we show up as individuals

Bitcoin has the potential to change out people show up

When you’re just surviving, you don’t even have the ability to think

Thrive, don’t survive 

Bitcoin is hope

When you’re treading water, you become nihilistic

“ they’re just neurons or synapses firing in your brain”

Excited for the future?

Act differently. Act hopefully.

Internal versus external locust of control 

External control leads to depression, health problems, and shorter life expectancy 

People who have control over their trajectory have much better health outcomes And life expectancy 

Does the external world control you, or are you controlled from inside?

Are you going to allow the government and the environment to determine your fate? 

The number one cause of stress globally is money

Stress impacts you mentally and physically

Disease is to be uneasy, to be unwell, to be anxious. Dis-ease

Think bigger than yourself

Because people are just getting by, it is inevitable that you will see spirituality decline

Bitcoin makes you stop thinking about money 

Who am I? How do I want to show up in life? What are my values, what are my morals? What is life? How do I want to raise my kids? What is the meaning of life?

Time is currency – “spending time”

Expand consciousness

 Hunters and gathering spent 13 hours per week to gather what they need. The rest of their time was spent focused on community, time around the fire telling stories, and having connection to other people.

The 40 hour work week. 365 days per year. 14 days of freedom?

Feudal system

Live off the land

God, tribe, and land

the American revolution was over 3% tax rate 

Now the tax rate is around 39%

The state takes around half of your work, half of your salary

The tax of inflation 

We have the key

War and the money printer 

Bitcoiners are the new Knights of the Templar

Money that promotes everybody to show up more authentically

When parents are separated, and one parent has to provide, it impacts children, emotionally, which leads to ADHD, depression, and anxiety, influencing your personal relationships

The breakdown of the family, relationship, and politics

Decentralized system

There’s only one option

Why so much focus on prestige, power and possessions?

What makes you happy in life?

Contributions, challenges, and connections

The current system promoted incentivized consumerism

 Happiness comes from reflection and internal dialogue

Consuming something is a temporary thing. A fleeting moment

Love yourself and have goals

The hidden cost of money

The meaninglessness of fiat

The parent and child bond

When our money is losing value over time, it makes it harder for parents to show up

If parents have to work longer hours, that’s less time that the parents spend with their kids

This causes children to spend more time with their peers instead. The problem with peer relationships are they are superficial sub 12 or 13 years old. They are all the same, look the same, want the same things, sound the same, and have the same mannerisms. This causes children to have an identity crisis,  with high depression and anxiety because they don’t really know who they are. They don’t have a moral compass, that north star, which is their parents or their elders because they’re always out working.

if you’re pregnant, and stressing about money, the hormonal imbalances of cortisol that are developing because of the stress will ultimately impact the kid 

If a kids nervous system are flooded with these stress hormones, then when that kid is born, they will have a hypersensitive nervous system

Kids with hypersensitive nervous systems have shorter life expectancies, higher rates of autism, higher rates of depression and anxiety, and drug use.

Relationships- Monetary stress on a mother is impacting kids before they are even born

Environment- When our money breaks down, we are incentivized to consume. When we consume, purchasing goods and services, those goods and services are made up of resources. We are decimating our waterways, our forests, and minerals, so that we can feed a consumer driven society.

Bitcoin flips this on its head. Our purchasing power incentivizes us to save. We become more conscious about what we consume and consume less.

This will cause mediocre products to disappear, forcing a competitive market for better products to be made.

Money shapes how we interact with our environment, relationships, and politics.

The government has a money printer. They don’t need to be fiscally responsible

When the government does not balance its books and runs massive deficits, it’s able to fund operations through debasements of the currency at the expense of the currency holders

Government, environment, and relationships

The government printing money is evil

Bureaucracy is our new God 

The consequences of fiat currency has been catastrophic and attributed to millions of deaths

Fix the money, fix the world, and fix the endless war 

Money is a medium of expression, like language, we express to the world what we value 

Some people will buy grass fed beef and fresh vegetables. Other people will buy cigarettes and candy. You can see what people value based on what they spend their money on. 

Society as a holistic entity –  you can see what people value based on where their money flows. Do they value grass fed, and organic farming or do they value war?

Inflation, capital controls, and regulation

Anti-war

I don’t want to direct my capital to something that promotes war

Print dollars, fund war, at your expense

Society supports war? 

What does society value?

How does a free market survive if we don’t know what businesses should survive or what society values 

Our food is fake and artificial

Peer to peer communication is diminishing the government’s ability to control the narrative 

Bitcoin is money for the people

You cannot take my capital by force

Hope

The cost of living crisis

When you can’t think for yourself, totalitarianism is the outcome

The feeling of loneliness and meaningless leads to mobs forming

The guy in the suit is now naked

Kamala Harris is focused on equity of outcomes. Everybody has the same outcomes? This is communism.

Species are capitalistic inherently

Capitalism is competition with those who are able to offer value surviving

In natural evolution, species are able to offer value and are able to use their environment in a productive way better than their opponent, naturally surviving.

We need competition and value to rise up

Equity of outcome is breaking down society, redistributing wealth, and disincentives people to add value to society

A mass misallocation of capital

Free markets

Support humanity

Just sharing some workflow ideas. I like to take notes throughout the day, throw them into iA Writer. Then, I realized by copying and pasting these notes, and sending it to ChatGPT, and prompting it to organize them for my next essay, it really did assist me with writing this morning. I like to write with the stream of consciousness, not taking too seriously, and using the little microphone on the keyboard, or voice to text, to just write by speaking on my morning walk. It was helpful to have these bullet points, from ChatGPT, diving into my notes, and organizing them for me.

When I read online content, I just use the text to speech option. First, go to your settings on the iPhone, then click accessibility.

Next, click spoken content.

Then, increase the speaking rate speed so you can read it out loud faster

Finally, highlight the text that you want to read, and just click speak!

The Knights Templar, officially known as the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon, were a Christian military order founded in 1119 during the time of the Crusades. The order was established to protect Christian pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land, particularly to Jerusalem, after the First Crusade had created a series of Christian states in the region. Over time, the Templars grew into a powerful military and financial organization.

Key Characteristics of the Knights Templar:

1. Founding:

• The order was founded by Hugues de Payens, a French knight, along with eight companions. They approached King Baldwin II of Jerusalem and were given a headquarters on the Temple Mount, where the Temple of Solomon was believed to have stood, hence their name.
• Their initial mission was to protect pilgrims traveling through the Holy Land, which was often dangerous due to bandits and enemy forces.

1. Military Role:

• The Knights Templar became known for their military prowess and discipline. They were heavily involved in the Crusades, fighting in key battles to defend Christian territories in the Holy Land against Muslim forces.
• Templar knights wore distinctive white mantles adorned with a red cross, symbolizing their purity and willingness to shed blood for their faith.

1. Monastic Vows:

• Like monks, the Templars took vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Despite their wealth and military might, individual Templars were expected to live austere lives.
• They followed a strict code of conduct and were expected to be models of Christian piety and virtue.

1. Financial and Economic Power:

• The Templars quickly became one of the wealthiest organizations in medieval Europe. They received donations of land, money, and other valuables from European nobility and monarchs who supported their cause.
• The order also developed an early form of banking, allowing people to deposit money in one location and withdraw it in another, which was particularly useful for pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land. This financial network made the Templars a powerful economic force.

1. Dissolution:

• The Knights Templar’s power and wealth eventually led to their downfall. In 1307, King Philip IV of France, deeply indebted to the Templars, ordered the arrest of the order’s members across France. He accused them of heresy, blasphemy, and various other charges, many of which were likely fabricated to justify the seizure of their assets.
• Under pressure from King Philip, Pope Clement V disbanded the order in 1312. Many Templars were tortured, forced to confess to false charges, and executed. The last Grand Master, Jacques de Molay, was burned at the stake in 1314.

1. Legacy:

• Despite their abrupt end, the Knights Templar left a lasting legacy. They have been the subject of countless myths, legends, and conspiracy theories, including tales of hidden treasures and secret knowledge.
• The Templars are often associated with various esoteric and secret societies, though much of this is speculative and not supported by historical evidence.
• They remain a symbol of medieval chivalry, religious devotion, and military discipline.

The Knights Templar are remembered as one of the most famous and enigmatic military orders in history, with a legacy that continues to captivate the imagination even centuries after their dissolution.