Aptitude

I don’t know why I chose that word to title this post.

I’m thinking about ability and industry and economic change. I wonder if I should become an electrician’s apprentice because stability. Artificial intelligence is not likely to replace your local electrician anytime soon. Robots might. Which is a kind of artificial intelligence, a vehicle for it but, you still need a guy to put in the ceiling fan. Know what I mean?

I’m still facing this change from one corporate entity to another with some trepidation. I am contemplating side hustles, like music or writing. Both of which, of course, are being replaced with artificial intelligence.

I love the meme that suggests that artificial intelligence and robotics should replace how we do chores around the house. I don’t want to empty the dishwasher. Can a robot do that for me? I want more time to practice the mandolin and to sing songs with my friends . I want more time to write essays and exercise my mind. Instead, we’re using artificial intelligence to replace the writers and musicians. We have this whole thing backward.

That is, of course, grossly oversimplified. But, welcome to my brain. I do not see the forest for the trees. I only see one big tree. I oversimplify everything that I can.

Today’s Franciscan Nugget: “Day One - The Object - Jesus said, "Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor." (John 12:24-26)

The dog wants to play tug-of-war with the remnants of his squirrel plushy. I need to take my meds. My son wants to borrow my iPad to play Minecraft. I’m going to be weaning myself off the screens this summer. He, too, will find there’s more to life than Sonic Prime.

I know. I’m a monster.

The hope is to spend more time with my family and friends. The hope is to spend more time out of doors. The hope is to spend more time writing and making music and less time chasing the dopamine. I will still be on social media sharing what I’m doing and seeing what you all are up to, but I need to stay away from a variety of things just because they’ve become bad for me. I want to learn to read books again.

It is a beautiful early summer/late spring day here in Virginia. I love this time of year before the heat really settles in. Today is June 1. Summer vacation is officially begun. The dog likes to chase chipmunks.

Y’all be excellent to each other.