This is a piece I wrote some two years ago, a piece for my daughter before she was born. The reason I did this was because I felt that if something happened to me, I wanted her to have some idea as to who her father was, I wanted her to not be left wondering with nothing but the words of others. It is also where I began to actually connect with her, it made me think more heavily about who I am and what kind of parent I aim to be. It is also where I really started to connect with what I wrote. Perhaps there is some value in it for others too.

This is for the new tag #forthechildren

To Part Two

The Endless Conversation (part three)

Talking about risk, the risk assessment of a situation is something we take very seriously but very few understand. I recommend reading up a little if you haven't already as it is great to have even a basic understanding of human thinking biases. Daniel Kahneman's 'Thinking Fast and Slow' will give a very good view of the matter but perhaps you can find something better.

In general though, the human mind is always looking for certainty. Security. We want a sturdy roof over head, a partner we can trust, a stable job, guaranteed returns, safe streets, positive feedback, and social acceptance. And, we are willing to do anything to get it, even if the price is the security of another. As long as we and what we see as ours is safe.

But this quest for security should raise a question: does the treasure exist at all? Thinking about this a little and applying my severely limited knowledge of the universe, I think the answer is a definite maybe. Everything is moving, no matter how slightly. Each individual atom has a storm of action inside and we know that there are much smaller particles again in the form of quarks. But, this doesn't mean that they are even the smallest of course as tomorrow we may discover more or perhaps we already have.

Anyway, all of these tiny components make up all the other components and none of the parts, whether big or small, are perfectly still. Going back to the unknowable interconnected universe in which we live, every movement has an affect on other parts and so on and so forth. Even if the initial movement was never witnessed, i.e. the big bang (is that a thing still?), every other part has been affected by it and will be seemingly affected forever. Therefore, no matter how secure a position is made, in reality, there are innumerable forces always acting to shift it. Which means every position for everything is always experiencing a level of risk.

Ok, back to the 'real' world for a moment. What does this mean for us, not as particles of matter but as humans? Our security is a dependent. By this I mean that our security depends on assurances of other people, systems and circumstances of which we have no control. No matter how safe our vehicles are and carefully we drive, if someone in the oncoming lane swerves to hit us, there is not much that can be done. Think about that while driving next time.

Scary isn't it? It doesn't matter how much money one amasses in a bank, a computer glitch or an unscrupulous banker could empty it. No matter how strong a building, there is always a meteorite out there stronger. These events are very unlikely of course and maybe not even relevant, but there are scores of people who have lost, are losing and will lose their jobs to innovations in technology. No matter how good they are at their job, or how much they are liked in the workplace. Maybe that example is closer to home.

No certainty yet, so why then the maybe? Do you see the pattern above? In each case the same event takes place. A loss event. Life, money, home, job. Things that we identify with. (Loss of life might be the ultimate discovery in security but may not be worth the investment) Well, for humans our certainty doesn't depend on being able to predict what will happen, how it will happen or any aspect of it. It depends on how secure we feel.

Perception of security shouldn't be mistaken for security itself and when someone offers security, question it thoroughly as it is very, very unlikely that one can actually deliver on the promise. If we don't fear the loss of something, there is no risk in losing it. This doesn't mean not caring at all, if anything, quite the opposite.

Taraz

To Part Four

Perhaps you have heard some of this before, perhaps not but it is was a point where many ideas converged and a point from which many more sprang. This was almost a year before I joined Steemit and started to write. Some of my thoughts might have changed, many have stayed the same but, I do feel like I am growing and each day, becoming a better parent than I was yesterday. Feel free to comment and add your views. I will link the next tomorrow.