What’s the meaning of life?
My answer used to be:”To be happy, right here, right now.”
My answer just changed.
“To be happy right here, right now. And to make others happy, right here, right now.”
Nobody ever said the meaning of life doesn’t change, right?
I was raised to know a lot.
Then I became a “knowledge worker”.
Which means always knowing more.
Here’s the thing though.
I only started to add value when I left knowing behind and started doing things.
Most of the time that involved not knowing.
Not knowing if I was right.
Not knowing if things were going to be successful.
Not knowing is more important these days.
Because the things you know, we all know.
Thanks to the internet and google knowledge is only a click away.
So the future will belong to those people who don’t know and still do.
I think they call such people entrepeneurs.
Let’s be honest, more than half of the songs on the new Daft Punk is just OK.
And yet, in 8 months it will be considered one of the best CD’s of 2013.
Which says more about the rest of the CD’s than about Daft Punk.
My hope is that now that more and more people are streaming their music and are choosing access to music over ownership of music this could be the beginning of the end of one of today’s biggest waste.
The CD.
10 or more songs sold together.
Of which more than half are just fillers.
Time to go back to the ’50s.
When artists released songs, one at the time.
And only when they had enough songs they would put them together on an LP.
Imagine what this would do to live shows too.
Rather than seeing artist rehash the same old songs you’ve heard a million times before, expect them to play a few new songs which aren’t released yet.
That would end the carbon copying of the same old same old shows.
Oh man, a world where live shows are unpredictable again.
One more thing to add to my “wish list for my children”.
Simply because I’m afraid my generation is going to stick with the same old, pre-chewed stuff for at least two more decades.
But hey, feel free to prove me wrong people.
Prove me wrong.
I’ve come to realise that after 15 years of being a business man, a worker, a professional, making a living, supporting my family, building a career… whatever you want to call it, I lost one thing.
I forgot how to play.
And I literally mean playing as in meaningless spending your time.
Just simply doing stuff that has no value other than just entertain you.
Sure, I had hobbies.
But even those were done for a reason.
To relax.
To release the stress.
To stay fit.
The books I read were to improve my skills in sales, marketing or some other business skill.
And if I read novels, it was mostly the novels you are suppose to read.
You know the Eco’s and Garcia Marquez’ of this world.
Since I realised play was missing from my life, it actually turned everything upside down.
Sure, playing Candy Crush is nice.
But what is more important is that everything else should be play too.
Raising your kids.
Playing sports.
Yes, even doing your job.
Because if you do anything without play, you’re not fully living.
A famous Belgian singer once said that he doesn’t believe in god, but that he tried to follow the rules just in case he was wrong.
Well, I say, flip it around.
Make this life heaven.
Make each and every moment as playful as possible.
Be content.
Right here, right now.
Everywhere, always.
Just in case there is no afterlife.
Somedays, mostly Sundays, I don’t feel like doing anything.
Maybe walk around all day in my pyamas.
Perhaps read a book.
Or watch 4 hours of cycling on TV.
Only to realise around 6PM I need some food.
And then wonder how little clothes I need to change to go out for food without feeling completely like a bum.
Somedays I am lazy and proud of it!
