John Wright

(Author's note: After writing and then reading this reflection from the perspective of someone other than me I decided it sounded egotistical, possibly even arrogant. Then I thought further about the difference between egoism and egotism. It more accurately reflects the former, and for that no one should apologize, for it is our right and our personal responsibility to identify and to promote our own best interests. Also to be proud of personal success.)

I reached the age of seventy today. For various reasons that seems to me to be a significant accomplishment; one not due to any special efforts on my part. Put briefly I have made virtually all of my choices in life based on what I have wanted and not based on what I have been instructed to do or pressured to do relative to maintaining my health. I am genetically fortunate, not wise. Conversely, I have lived almost all aspects of my life my way, not according to rules or recommendations from those who attempt to control or strongly influence others. In short, I am and I have always been independent to a fault. I think that knowledge of me is what brings a smile to my face now. I did not waste my time following other people's agendas.

My independence has from childhood on worked well for me because I was bright enough to know my limits ... well, at least most of the time. I learned early where to put limits on myself relative to dealing with adults, and later in life in dealing with my employer and society at large. I also have had a great appreciation of the Golden Rule from childhood to the present time so I tend to get along well with almost all people. But truth be known, the number and variety of people throughout history and into the present whose opinions and thoughts matter a lot to me are indeed few. Thus I have tolerated and when necessary avoided, sometimes completely, individuals and organizations whose values and purposes differ very far from mine, one exception being my curiosity to understand all that is around me, so first I learn, and then I decide.

A close friend once complimented me on being so open and accepting of women and how they think and what they value. Later that friend had an epiphany about me. She then stated that she was wrong in her earlier assessment of me. She decided that the apparent openness was essentially me not giving a damn what other people thought and not caring to waste my time arguing over what I considered to be foolish or meaningless subjects. She was right both times.I am very accepting of those whose take on life is different from mine, and I am committed to giving them space to be who they are, for I expect the same consideration to be given to me. In addition, I find most people to be terminally ignorant, which means stupid, so what they think is irrelevant to me. Thus I avoid conflict.

As I studied the progression of humanity from childhood forward I derived a few simple truths that helped to form my value system. First I divide all human activity into two parts, that which results in major advancement to the quality of life and to the power of humans to change historical realities, vs. that which is simply going through the motions of living. The former is my religion. It will eventually result in human immortality, the absence of which is the fundamental reason our history as a species is such a mess. The latter is pretty much poorly organized chaos without plans or purpose beyond the immediate horizon, so I simply deal with it the best I can to achieve my ends. It is most of the act of living and being, and the thoughts and decisions of would be leaders throughout history were/are woefully pathetic in methods and results.

I value very little in the area of politics and in the actions of power/wealth hungry individuals, businesses, religions, educational institutions and governments. Most of them make a lot of noise, do a lot of unwitting damage, do a marginal amount of good, and overall are irrelevant to human progress, except to the extent that they underwrite the advancement of human knowledge through pure and applied science.

One might think I am essentially unhappy with life as I have found it. That would be a mistake. The truth is that exiting the area of my deepest values and fundamental drivers and looking instead at how I use my time, especially at this time in my life, and you will find a man who thrilled in learning about the physical world and engaging it and using it's resources to create/make nice things for myself and for those I care about. You will also find a hedonist within me. I see every reason to take advantage of what I am and all that is around me to enjoy the physical side of life, within the limits of the Golden Rule. Thus my interests, comforts and my pleasures are high on my list of things to do. So should it be. To do other than that is silly. My only regret upon aging is that I now must exercise greater care not to damage myself, and to deal with the reality that I will do ever less of what I have enjoyed most. Ah, well ... Overall it is a "So what?" I, like the rest of humanity, will one day perish and soon be forgotten.

Okay. It is obvious that the reflections of an old fart like me would be pure poison to those who are approaching or who are in the prime of life. It is their turn to live out their lives according to their understandings of reality and purpose. The problem, of course, is that my views and my opinions of human history and of the future span millenia, while the focus of the young is the present, as it should be. We must continue to maintain human life while we journey into the distant future.