"Fresh Starts" - Some Takeaways

Recently, Paul Graham was highlighted (HT Newmark's Door), and while he routinely writes great essays, in this particular one his main subject matter was...essays so I'll link it again here. One of the elements which stood out: people want to be surprised, and so they naturally seek out the things which surprise them. That line of thought also applies here, in terms of my not being sure where this little sequence of posts would take me, for in some ways they were a pleasant side trip down memory lane. But - and much more importantly - the element of surprise is what our institutions unfortunately tend to process out of their goals and missions.

People aren't convinced that growth and progress are still desirable, in part because too many institutions are invested in their self preservation above all else - something that doesn't mix well with surprises of any kind. It is tempting to believe that remaining "in place" by way of total predictability is both feasible and desirable. But, just as a plane needs momentum in order to stay airborne, people need continual momentum and new elements in their lives. In the same manner, their economies also need continual momentum so as not to fall back. That is the prime problem with excessive focus on credit in the present. Those who are invested in credit as primary, attempt to preserve already defined wealth by paring back the very momentum which makes it possible for economies to continue thriving.

The ways we envision our institutions at local levels, also affect how economies play out at larger levels. When our local institutions become insular and exclusive, the larger institutions of nations which reflect those local institutions, do the same. If all this were simply about the loss of new experiences and surprises, that would be one thing.  But it doesn't take long for people to rebel, to lose hope, to become angry and seek justice through their own interpretations as to what justice actually looks like.

How does a stalling economy play out in real life? For one thing, the pulling back on the part of institutions to protect themselves means reduced porosity between all of them, and consequently less interaction between all of us. At local levels, that tends to manifest in fewer observable areas of general public activity, something I especially thought of after a recent Yglesias post about outdoor areas (also a part of the inspiration for this little group of posts). However some nations are concerned about a growing tendency for their youth to remain behind closed doors, and indeed, being outdoors was once the way most of us met new friends and started new chapters in our lives.

Not so long ago, less insularity between institutions meant that people didn't think twice about sharing open spaces with one another. That, in turn, generally meant less need to be concerned about who would be standing or walking nearby. Automobiles, unfortunately, provided  means for institutions to become more closed off, for one could readily avoid interacting with other groups if they so desired. In real life that translated into mostly empty streets or heavily trafficked areas. What's more, those who continue to walk along streets without the benefit of transportation create uncertainly on the part of others, as to why they are actually there. Particularly in many areas of the southern U.S., people will drive even to designated walking paths, as being on foot in other areas sends out the "wrong" signal.

Before anyone can realistically hope for the mixed use settings and open environments which are once again being debated in some circles, greater openness between institutions also needs to be a part of the mix. Both the opera house and the macrobiotic center were - in any number of ways - open to all comers. Just as the opera house was a place where people from most any institution could come together, the center was a place where patients also freely mingled with those who were primarily health oriented or otherwise interested in alternative healing. What's more the center also emphasized a coming together of eastern and western cultures as well. The broadly representative nature of these groups, meant that those who participated were free to pursue other opportunities for connecting points and experiences.

The future communities we build need to give us real choices as to whether we want to strive for the signals of wealth, or whether we want respect and dignity in settings that see a small income with the same impartial glance as the large income. People need communities which encourage the skills and  knowledge use which actually matters - not just for consumption purposes or in hopes of catching the elusive job, but in everyday use with one another. In other words, we structure our environments so that people are encouraged to reach across their institutions, instead of hiding behind artificially imposed barriers.

We can create meeting places - outdoors and indoors, where multiple missions and cross fertilization of ideas are not just possible but everyday occurrences. Fewer mandates in life, more surprises. More spontaneous and planned time with one another so that we remember faces, names and what others actually enjoy doing. More "work" that feels like play. More broad smiles on the faces of those who take part in what have been overly solemn or serious rituals, and yet still choose to partake in them just because it feels good to do so. More "skipping" on the meandering sidewalk, to the next board meeting.