The Changed and Unchanged

The time we spend in a car is a lot; the time we have left to read a book is very little - then we learn to by audio-books or potcast channels, so someone would read for us.

We used to spend an hour or two to hand-write a love letter to the person who has our heart. Now, instant text, email - even electronic cards has everything design for us in template. All we need to do, is to hit "send."

We used to cook - cook at home, and cook everything from scratch.

Mom used to make dresses and sweaters for me. 

I've lived for 28 years and I've seen how things change fast these days. It used to be: revolutions were measured by centuries, and social changes were measured in the unit of by decades. Now, revolutions are measured by decades and changed are measured by months, if that! It is confusing. I feel I have more commonality with people that are in there fifties and sixties, than with people who are only 10 years younger than me. 

It IS confusing, if we focus on the changing phenomena - I am sure we would be confused even a century ago, if we choose to focus on "changes" - it's just the changes are much more prevalent and obvious these days. The key here is choose what to focus on - for example, if we focus on negative things in life, of course all we see in life is negativity (by the definition of "focus"), and of course we would feel depressed.

If we focus on changes: how people are different, how people are living differently these days, how people act differently, communicate differently, or even dress differently - we get confused, or may even become frustrated when we try to build communities. Because we are trying to build something that lasts - how does that fit in this "everchanging" era, making it new and cutting edge? Almost impossible.

However, if we change a perspective, or in another word, change focus, this stress will be alleviated. People still want to learn through systematic learning resource (through audio-book or potcast), people still want to connect and express their affection (through text message or email), they still want to enjoy good food (going to restaurants rather than cooking), and they still want to be creative and look nice (although through buying clothes rather than making). There are these fundamental needs of humans that will never change. 

I think, a good community that lasts is one that caters to these fundamental and timeless human needs. If we can add a little modern twist, then it becomes trendy and popular.

From simplicity to simplicity - the knowledge-intake process and
how many people are doing it. (a fun diagram by the author)