Acknowledging the Gains, Working Towards Reclaiming the Losses

Now that the pandemic is slowly fading into a memory, I find myself missing a lot of its effects.

Sure, it was not an easy time for me in terms of work and finances, especially considering the nature of my work. Still, I very much enjoyed the enforced separation.

And it somehow resulted in me being where I am now. I likely won’t be here doing what I’m doing if not for the entire episode.

In numerous ways, life has improved - well, mine, at any rate.

And yet, there are certain aspects that haven’t. I’d say they have diminished or deteriorated quite a bit.

It is, perhaps, time to do something about this.

I don’t think it will be an easy path, but I’m confident that improvements can be made. I just have to take one step at a time.

Too Many Tasks, Not Enough Brainspace

It's hard to do any single task properly when your mind is upon a few different things at the same time.

There are, perhaps, some who have a larger brainspace, and they are able to handle multiple trains of thought without tiring quickly.

I suppose it's possible to expand one's capacity, though I wonder if the expansion has a ceiling.

Knee-jerk Reactions, Better Safe Than Sorry? Consider the Consequences First.

Knee-jerk reactions over the unknown.

Like a child adamantly refusing to enter his own room until the light is switched on, it's a self-preservation mechanism.

Behind it is a bit of the old adage, "better safe than sorry". And it's understandable.

Nobody wants to put themselves in potential danger.

And yet, there are consequences to every reaction.

It will be prudent to consider them.

Freedom vs. Security - Where Are You On This Spectrum?

One of the reasons that I loved games like Uncharted Waters 2: New Horizons (from my previous post) and Sid Meier’s Pirates was that I was fascinated with the ideology of the pirate.

Sure, it’s been highly romanticised by popular fiction, especially Treasure Island, and, more recently, the successful Pirates of the Caribbean series.

Still, there’s just something so appealing about sailing the high seas, living in the company of ride-or-die comrades, far away from “civilisation”, outside of the clutches of societal expectations.

Of course, life on a ship was difficult, dangerous, and often deadly.

You could die in battle or mutiny, during a tempestuous storm, from malnutrition or scurvy, as well as a plethora of other undesirable ends.

But there can be no freedom without risk. And I deeply value that freedom.

Which isn’t to say that I eschew any form of stability and security.

It’s not a one-or-the-other deal. We’re all somewhere on the continuum.

Some of us lean towards freedom (which, of course, comes with risk), and some of us lean towards stability and security (which is typically less risky).

So where would you be on this continuum / spectrum?

Do you lean more towards the free and risky end (Arrr, me hearties!), or the stable and secure one (ye landlubber)?