Happy 2024.
I absolutely wrote Happy 2023 before changing it to 2024.
Without getting into too much detail in this particular post, the crypto industry opened with a classical big-bang with the Bitcoin ETFs prematurely announced on a hacked SEC Twitter which, 8 hours later, led to a SEC Bulletin that was pulled 5 minutes after posting, which then required a confirmation from the SEC. So yes, Bitcoin ETFs have been approved.
So then what’s today’s post about?
What I’m Up To
I’m currently enroute to Davos, Switzerland where I will place my New Zealand Icebreaker to the test, as well as suits by Pelumi Oke.
Premium Economy on Swiss Air is NOT A JOKE (Compared to Delta). But the Business Class? It’s a kiss.
My fridge broke and trying to repair it is not worth it. So Im guessing Im getting a new fridge. Now let me tell you - a fridge breaking is an extremely intense experience that will quite literally stop you until you get it completely remedied. You don’t know how much you need it, until it’s gone.
For All Mankind Season 4 ended. This is my favorite song in the entire series so far.
What I Reflected On
The idea of living in the moment is the moment when all moments end.
I recently ran to a podcast episode from Big Think on the scientific and philosophical discussion on “Time Tips from the Universe”. There was a classical discussion on what time actually is, of which the prevailing thought is this: A relative construct based on whether the “point of origin” is chaos, or order.
Time since X happened, with X being the point of origin.
The “day resets to 0” at the stroke midnight which can signify a clean slate for the day, an “orderly manner”.
How Do We Experience Time
Time itself is experienced as a rollercoaster between chaos and order. Without the two conditions, “what is time” is meaningless as the question that rises is “why should you care”. Our lives are filled very much with chaos and order and we can cycle through so many moments every second.
Which brings me to the real gut puncher - Being Present.
When we experience the busyness of time, and realize we don’t like how fast time is going, we often “zoom our selves out” and try to be “present”.
The idea of living in the moment is the moment when all moments end.
Time allows for change to happen. And you can’t go back to previous experienced moments. You can only experience post-change moments.
To be present is to acknowledge that this moment is about to end.
As a realization of that statement, I find myself acknowledging that every circumstance of “being present” is a self-indicator of “how much I enjoy the moment” and don’t want it to end.
But I know it will.
It always does.
What I feel
It’s a very sad, visceral experience to be reminded of mortality every time I say “I’m being present”.
I think back to the Rings of Power (Lord of the Rings) - specifically the relationship between Elrond (An elf where in this world, they are basically immortal) and his Dwarf friend Durin, whom he has not seen in 20 years. Durin resents Elrond for that because in the 20 years that Elrond hasn’t been around, Durin has gotten married, had two kids, and had entire life.
To Elrond, the 20 years was a blink of an eye to him.
To Durin, it was his entire life.
Makes me wonder, how many things have I been so busy with that those waiting on me lived an entire life until I was available.
I think about my cats. Let’s say they live until 15 years old. How much of their lives am I missing when I go on holiday, or close the door to work?
I think about every morning walk where I hold hands with my fiancee, and those “moments” I get to have. I think about the time sleeping where I am not conscious enough to “experience time”.
And then I think - well what do I think of my time in all of this?
And I can say, I’m content with the time I’ve experienced.
Because for me, time is my teacher that brings me the wisdom to appreciate what I have and what I do want, especially after not realizing the significance of an experience the first time around.
To be present is to acknowledge that this moment is about to end.
And that the next moment is just about to begin, and who knows what that will bring.
Extra
Decent falafel wrap from Palestine Grill in Zurich.