January is an interesting time.
The holidays have come and gone, the calendar has reset, and people are diving into those resolutions.
But while Out With The Old, In With The New is all the rage on these short, chilly winter days, it misses the point.
Yes, much of life is about improvement — improving ourselves and the world at large.
But it’s also about the little things. The moments and sensations that remind us what it is to be alive.
The reflection of sunlight off a passing car on a blue, sunny day. The feeling of hitting the water during the perfect cannonball. The warm fuzzies we get when we see a loved one smile.
These all should matter.
For while these things don’t help us achieve, they allow us to feel. And feeling is what both defines and protects the unique human brand of accomplishment.
Protecting our ability to achieve is vital, as machines are taking over tasks that were once manned by people. With the advent of Machine Learning, computer programs are now able to take on more complicated roles than ever before. While these developments certainly make things more efficient, they also eliminate job opportunities and make prosperity more difficult to come by for many people.
It might sound bleak, but have no fear. The dawn of Skynet is not imminent.
Why? Because machines can’t see the little things.
They can’t feel. They can’t build connections off of empathy. They can’t mend fences or solve the complex issues that the world faces.
They don’t get goosebumps on their forearm or chills up and down their spine. They can’t comprehend delight or despair.
They’re here to do a job, and that’s it.
We’re here for more than that. Not just to live, but also to know how it feels to be alive.
That’s what this shared ride called life is about, what it should be about.
So, take a moment to breathe in that crisp winter air, to gaze at that stunning sunset, to spend more time around the people who make your heart flutter.
The little things are a big deal.