Multiple Lives

I will end my reflections on “virtual life” with the possibly scariest forecast of all: People – while living in a virtual world – will be able to assume more identities. In one “reality” a person can be a brother or a sister, in another a son or a daughter, in another a parent or a cousin… They can choose to be here a doctor and there a lawyer or...

Will this mean that we might lose our own identity, that we might end up not knowing who we really are? A psychiatrist says that it is highly possible.

In conclusion, will human beings reach a point where they will prefer to live in a custom-made world? Will they opt for a life with virtual families, friends, jobs? At this point, who will “work” and operate in the real world? Will there “be” a real world anymore? 
Amen.

Cyber Universe

According to scientists, what may possibly await us is a tri-dimensional Universe in cyberspace with virtual countries and governments, virtual schools and universities, virtual properties and stock markets . People who lead a boring life will be able to live wild dreams at night, will be able to live out all their fantasies. Inevitably, the line that divides reality from fantasy will blur and become less clear. It's not unlikely that "all" people will end up choosing to live in a more gratifying, yet unreal world.

A question: Will this mark the end of real life? Will bakers “only” bake virtual bread? Will human beings learn how to fill their stomachs while feeding their avatars?

Shoes and Avatars

A woman has created a successful business selling virtual accessories (shoes, jewelry, bags etc.) for Avatars (avatar = virtual double of a real person). Scientists say that in a few years’ time a whole virtual universe will be created. It seems that a virtual community called “Second Life” already exists and it has more than 5 million “residents”. Here people (as I imagine it) willingly plunge into a world that does not exist in order to live a life that does not exist. Why do they feel the need to do that? Interesting question worth pondering.

The “Matrix” Is Here!

Scientists say that by 2020 artificial “intelligence” will be everywhere, computers will be embedded practically in every object, in the very fabric of your life but… you won’t even know it!

Is “The Matrix” becoming reality? 
Or are we just discovering what already “is” and has possibly "been" since time began?

P.S. I will dedicate the next few posts to the subject of virtual reality. It is a shocking (scary?) topic worth becoming aware of.

Relax!

I often wondered about (and worried upon!) the real meaning of life. I endeavored - very hard indeed - to find an explanation to why we are REALLY here and what we are supposed to do to fulfill our "mission". Then I happened to read the words of the Spanish-American philosopher and poet Santayana: "Man is not made to understand life, but to live it". Wow! That's interesting! Does this mean that I can stop worrying? Is it enough for me to do what I believe I should do, try to be the best I can... and then just relax? What a relief! But I can't help wondering (here I go again!) if it is that easy to just live without any other philosophical concern. Worth trying, though.

Watermelons and Life

A street vendor cuts up and displays several fire-red watermelons for passers-by to purchase. You would believe ALL the watermelons to be as red. It is not so. You might find a pale-pink one. Life is as unpredictable. In spite of the premises, you can never be sure of the results. Therefore…. get ready to face, accept and deal with the “color” you are being presented with.

The "Concert" of Life

In a cute little cafe' some musicians gather weekly to play just for fun. Whoever wants to join in, is welcome. Different kinds of music, of instruments, of styles, of voices... But all are harmoniously blended. Is life similar to these improvised concerts? I think it is. When thoughts and actions are positive, also relationships (with others and with self) are okay. When they are not, they resemble a badly matched band where the musicians are unable to play together. No one expects the perfection of Beethoven's 5th symphony played by the Metropolitan Philharmonic. We can be contented with a simple, pleasant melody, just because this is what life is capable of being - in spite of all its mistakes and imperfections.

Stars

I've read a science-fiction short story about a time when human beings lived under a dome. Then, for some reason, this dome was going to be opened and people would see - for the first time - the stars. People were scared to death and chaos ensued. This story fascinated me and now, every time I look at a starry sky, I can't help thinking that at present people are not "afraid" of stars but, on the contrary, they are totally indifferent to their mystery. They don't even notice them, their inconceivable distances, sizes, amount of light and energy have no impact on their lives. But if "you" take the time to really think for a moment about the stars, you will be overwhelmed by the grandiosity, by the infinite, unreachable reality of this universe in which you live. And you will "feel" that your presence here is a miracle to be grateful for.

Mysteriuos Universes

There are millions of plants and animals on Earth, and they are all different. Looking at people - I mean really "looking" at them and seeing how diverse they are (their features, their body shapes, their characteristics, their ways of dressing, moving etc.) - makes one wonder… Each individual is a whole world, complete and independent (to a certain extent) from all the other “units”. Every person is a mysterious universe, sometimes loving and caring, other times nasty and threatening, maybe boring or funny, but always intriguing and fascinating! Have you ever seen yourself and your environment in such a perspective?

Riding and Thinking

Something interesting occurred to me that made me think.

Riding on a bus, I was looking at the traffic out of the window on my right. After a while I realized that the cars and fields I was seeing were reflections of the front window reflected in "my" window. I also realized that the "real" road signs I wanted - and needed - to see were hidden by the reflections. I could not see them because my eyes were distracted by what was "unreal". Do we do the same in life? Don't we often concentrate on imagined stuff (and believe it to be true) and... actually forget to live the way we should, and COULD?

In The Box

Some people prefer to talk about everyday facts, about petty gossip - rather than engage themselves in something more serious, that would make them “think" and reflect upon their lives. They could examine themselves in order to be happier, to create a better life … But what do they do, instead? They don’t pay any attention to what "they" are, to what "they" do, because this would take   a little  time and some will power. They don’t want to do this kind of personal exercise on a regular basis and prefer to overlook whatever might cause problems or discomfort. If this is their choice…let them go ahead and enjoy their lives “in the box”. What about YOU?

Are You Really Living?

Life is short. You want to make the best out of it. But how? In school they teach you notions, but how can you figure out the things that really matter?

D.H. Lawrence wrote:

"I just wanted to live my life so that my nights were not full of regrets".

And Emerson:

"We are always getting ready to live, but never really  living".

And YOU? How do you live your life? Are your nights full of regrets? Do you ever really LIVE? Or are you just managing to "survive"?

Ask vs Demand

A short story to be pondered upon:

A wise man offered the perfect solution to a couple who was forever quarreling. He said:

"Just stop claiming as a right what you can ask as a favor."

The quarreling instantly stopped.

Think for a moment about your usual behavior. Do you tend to "demand", "expect" or "ask" for what you want or need? If you "ask", HOW do you do it? The way your personal relations are greatly depends on your honest answer.

Open or Closed?

Is your mind open to new possibilities? If it is, it will be easy for you to accept new perspectives and possible change. If  it is not, it will benefit you to do something about it. Being closed-minded, in fact, precludes the possibility of a better, more serene life. It’s a cage that you voluntarily create, day after day, and which you are totally unaware of. You believe you are free while you are not! Do you prefer to overlook, to ignore this thought? If you do, you will continue to remain tied down instead of soaring high according to your nature. 

Let Us Talk Less!

A lady asked a friend for a ride but, when she started telling her why she needed it, she was told: "You don't need to explain." The lady was dumbfounded. She had always thought that, when we ask for something from somebody, we NEED to give explanations. It seems it is not so ."Ask and you shall receive" probably means that the simple act of asking someone who is willing to give is enough to be granted our wish. Now I can't help wondering how many extra, not-needed words do we utter every day, just because we believe we have to go on, and on, and on in order to tell, explain, recount, justify, try to convince, prove a point etc... Never had I seen this truth so clearly, and understood why silence instead of words can often make life easier (and more appreciated by others!).