Signal

I stop at the red signal and go when it turns green. In a way, I listen to the signal, as if it is real and my thoughts get informed by the signal’s presence. I have to acknowledge its presence (perhaps more than any other vehicular presence) and the basic relation set is between ‘me’ and the ‘signal’. The signal becomes an interface for forming all other movement relations with other forms of transport. Simple to understand. Let’s extrapolate this tendency.

Likewise, any form of machine and the digitization/ automation tool is an extension of a rational mind – proficiency, planning, production, optimization, order, predictability, speed – are some of its dimensions.

We designed the machines so they do work for us – and now we have designed systems, where we need to ‘obey’ the systems so they function orderly! In a nutshell, the systems control ‘us’ rather than the other way round!

In an increasing connected/ global/ digital/ virtual world, the challenge would be to weigh the advantages of automated systems verses human ways of doing things, which are spontaneous, messy, slow, social and culturally inclined. The challenge is also regarding what ‘memories’ does one wish to create – conceived out of human-to-human interactions or human-to-AI interactions?

With human-to-human interactions, we definitely remain human. With human-to-AI interactions, we will need to remind ourselves that ‘we’ are humans having feelings!

The Book

Times change. What we consider true or valuable – might not appear so for the next or the precious generations. We place value on things, objects, or ideas such as technology or people or a set of values such as the environment. These values depend on our internal nature and also how we are brought up socially and culturally. As we grow, as time moves forward, we change – our values change.

With ‘Time’, as a forward phenomenon that we experience, everything changes. If that is the case, are we supposed to hold on to something or are we supposed to prove what is right? Are we supposed to be critical of everything always?

I think, we all wish to experience a connection – with everything around us. This is so, because it seems to give us a peaceful feeling. The connection might be an effort or it might come naturally. Criticality is required to understand the essence of things – the essence that remains present at all times. Enormous faith is required within us and others to generate connection. Empathy is another word that can be stated here.

We all exist. And we all will conclude our journey someday – our book will close one day and what we write in the book will not matter to anyone later on. That being the case, why be adamant in proving the worth of our book? The book is an opportunity for us to write something – and that’s all there is to it. The book is, at best, for us only – we can choose to give ourselves satisfaction or pain.

The book will end one day. Let this thought sink in us – so we become ‘less’ hard on ourselves and others too. We realize that there isn’t much worth trying to crib or complain or be miserable. We are just wasting our time clinging to such negative emotions.

Can we make our journey meaningful to us? Can we expand ourselves? Can we contribute and can we connect? Can we love ourselves and people for what they are? Can we express pure love?