XXVI. Ch-ch-changes and Growth

A quick note to those of you who took a few minutes out of your Mother’s Day to read The Porcupine. Wherever you are, there is a mother. We would be nowhere without the mothers of the world. While almost all of history is written and recorded from a man’s perspective, it is the love and perseverance of women and mothers that keep things going.

After nearly three months, I am back to work this week in a new place in a new position. It has presented the opportunity to learn a lot of new things. I have kept digging into AI and learning programs supporting digital design. I have a full book draft ready to edit and give myself six months to do it. I read three books from the pile by the bed and visited with friends I hadn’t seen in some time.

The most important thing is it meant more time simply being around family.

The more routine things like taking kids to school, washing the dishes, watering the plants, and walking in the neighborhood, all take on more meaning. This interlude in life, this lack of an external schedule, became a reminder of what’s important. After all, we all end up in the same place.

Decades ago, I spent a weekend in a Naikan Center and learned about the books of David K. Reynolds. A key to mental health and enjoyment of life is to be in the moment, even doing the most mundane chores. When our mind runs free instead of focusing on what is right in front of us, it can cause unnecessary stress and anxiety. A purposeful time out helps to reset the perspective.

Leaving a job for me has been more about leaving the relationships. God forbid you’re in a situation where you look back on your life and all you remember are the reports you produced, the papers you moved, or the schedule you kept. Hopefully, as you progress through life, you’ll realize it is not about position or prestige, it is about people.

Many things in life we have limited control over, and this has been an opportunity to have conversations with our brood of adulting kids on resilience. Losing a job, forgetting a purse, missing part of an order, having a fender bender. These are all manageable things that happen. We’re human. If you’ve developed a healthy perspective of life, losing your shit should be kept in reserve for the times that really need it.

There is nothing as important as the relationships you develop in life. Scott Galloway has been discussing this in his podcasts and presentations. He does this authentically because he uses his personal screwups, anxieties, and lessons learned to offer advice.

In his recent TED Talk, he asks if we love our children.

It’s a powerful presentation complete with facts, data, and a kiss my ass mentality if you don’t like it. It is well worth a watch as a reminder of how decisions can end up screwing someone else when it simply doesn’t have to be that way.

What we do concerning our children is a timely subject given all of the outside influences and how much they either nurture or hinder normal development. Some of this comes directly from a covert campaign against being educated. That hasn’t changed as far back as I can remember. The smartest were usually outliers in a high school class and not as popular. Young ladies could be both popular and smart. With the rise of social media, gaming, and apps how well will our boys be able to make small talk and find ad hoc adventures beyond what tech provides? Will our young ladies lose the educational and economic gains made over the past four decades?

I think we are all struggling to define ourselves more in this new age, and as a result, it is our youth that will bear the burden of how well we deal with it.

The first critical step is to look beyond the comfort of our kids and do what we can for the benefit of all kids. If we could get to a decision-making mindset that does just that, we would make great advancements across the spectrum of the entire American culture.

No BS Quick Hits

Great story of a young man not letting conditions stop him. These are our youth. These are our young Americans.

I am a big proponent of continuous learning, and this new free compilation from Maven looks tailor-made for busy schedules. Make sure your kids are becoming familiar with AI, in the right way.

The insurance industry is ripe for a new model. Here’s a good no BS reality check on where we are and why. No amount of political gamesmanship is going to change the facts of climate change.

While this article proposes some reasons for the struggle, I question all the solutions being considered. Take a step back and think about the last twenty years and what has changed. What would you list?

• We have gaming systems in every home. I saw the initial rise and it was the occasional home that would have a system and most were at least two players ready. Nowadays, everyone is in their own home playing independently or online.

• Smartphones in every pocket. While we are connected through tech, we are less connected in person. The ad hoc events, side chats, and bump-intos happen less often because we aren’t looking for them.

• Less parental time at home. Most homes now have two working parents. Until the taxing and compensation systems change, support for families will continue to mean a microwave and an x-box.

• Less time outdoors in unscheduled play. Because most political initiatives are about structures and controls, unstructured events are considered wasteful. Even being outdoors is considered more unsafe.

Focus on changes in these four areas and I believe some trends will emerge. Some suggestions to get there include:

• No phones in schools at least through middle school.

• Public messaging to up the reading time and lower the gaming time at home.

• Revitalize cities and communities from a kid’s point of view. This would include walking to school, local parks, safe routes, cool things to see, and having fun.

I would not consider myself a techy because I don’t have the brains for it, however, I do like to try some of these things if they are affordable. My kids laughed at me for buying the sunglasses that were associated with Snapchat several years ago. I think they failed because they were clunky with limited options. These glasses will be the first of many more wearables to come. If you can hear, see, and talk with an AI assistant without having to use your hands or interrupt those around you, I think you’ve hit the sweet spot. I actually have a story I’ve never published that works with glasses like this, written about twenty years ago. Such is the life of an aspiring writer under siege from laziness, a lack of discipline, etc. Tech needs to be regulated, not feared.

I’ve been enjoying Chuck Hobb’s newsletter for a while. I’m always reminded of history that I don’t know, predominately because I was never exposed enough to it. Chuck knows the value of education and specifically studying history. You’ll know you’ve dug enough into history when you appreciate just how little you really know.

The AI takeover is happening. When a news establishment based on over a century of journalism creates a position focused on how to use and incorporate AI, you know the change has begun. As the old saying of the best defense is a good offense, get your brain involved now. Learn about these various tools while we are in the first stage. AI will change everything. Stay tuned and stay involved. If you are a parent, I strongly encourage you to get your kids involved with some AI products. Khanmigo is a good one. I’ve long been impressed with the initiative and sincerity of Sal Khan and Khan Academy.

During my recent job transition, I thought of going back into the teaching field. I know many great teachers and as I’ve said many, many times, most of my positions in public service over the decades have never been as hard as the days in a classroom.

A good and effective teacher has to play so many roles. The expectations on teachers have only increased, while the expectations on everything around them, from administrators to parents to student readiness, have not. I would focus strongly on K-8 and listen to the teachers on what works. Double the number of teachers to half the current ratios, and allow a lot of flexibility and personalized teaching and outdoor time. The goal is to make education stimulating, not a chore.

If you’re on Facebook or Instagram, I hope you’ll be able to see this video from teacher Day Harrington. Years ago, I had the privilege of subbing in her English class. I covered a whole week once and it was super enjoyable. It was the kind of place that makes you love to teach, so I was saddened to see this video she posted.

If you’ve been following along on the state of education in America, you understand what is happening. It’s not books or teachers that are the problem, it’s an old model trying to evolve to a new one. While the old model needs a boost of creativity, there is too much interest in maintaining structure and control.

And Now….

It is never too late to start a regular reading habit as a path to more thought and enlightenment. Hope to see you next time. Keep reading, and remember: Be a good human. (this week’s song came about at the same time as Devo, The Cars, and Gary Numan. This was where New Wave began and hit like a sledgehammer to young ears tuning the radio.)