The Stories We Tell
Everybody has a story.
In general, but especially when it comes to explaining their own financial success and economic well being. For our purposes here, I'll be speaking in the context of developed markets, by the way.
In democratic nations fortunate enough to boast of advanced economies operating on some version of capitalism, the prosperous demonstrate an almost unshakable belief in the meritocratic origins of their success. That penchant for ascribing good fortune to merit is understandabl
Since no one chooses the brain that happens to sit in their head…they did not choose the particular sperm and egg, the country to be born in, the absence of abuse early in life, etc…and since everything we do and think originates in the brain, it is obvious that free will is simply an illusion that our consciousness creates. Understanding this has made me more humble and less critical of others.
Understanding those factors should greatly aid the development of free will….
Excellent view. The lack of gratitude and empathy in the USA is shameful. I do hope that the younger demographics are less surly and narrow minded.
Good perspective. I’ll tell this too my kids. Well, a watered down version, they’re only 9. Thanks for the read.
Humility is an important virtue
‘Exterminate the Brutes’……
My wife was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s 12 years before dying from the disease and probably had it for at least five years longer. All of this was certainly unlucky, for both of us, though it was somewhat inevitable; her father and 7 of his brothers also died from the disease. When my wife of 54 years finally entered full care five years before the end, she no longer knew my name or who I was. She had been a distinguished college professor for nearly 30 years, as well as my colleague and coauthor. So I had lost my best friend and intellectual companion long before the end. To try to get some help with that I was lucky to find a wonderful psych counselor with whom I spent a wondrous hour weekly for three years before he retired. That time was generally spent in self-assessment and discussions of ethics. I took copious notes through those sessions and what I came to learn was just how lucky I had been in my life. I have escaped almost certain death on five occasions, starting in the mid-1950s and extending to roughly eleven years ago. I was born to the right parents at the right time, learned from the right teachers and mentors, invested successfully during the longest bond bull market in history, married the right woman, lucked into the right job and been offered numerous other opportunities I was luckily prepared for and which I took advantage of. Recently, as a result of what I learned in my counselng sessions and also in the daily insights I get in this blog, I have fully realized just how lucky I am (hence the choice of my handle for my comments — also the name of one of my favorite movies). I believe in merit[ocracy] but I have watched as my brilliant and successful daughter has been long disrespected and economically cheated by our system that systematically deprives women, persons of color and unlucky ethnicity of their rightful due. While this has been painful to watch, she, too, has still been lucky and has worked very hard to get where she is, free to live the life she mostly craves with her family (a lucky second chance). She tells me regularly that we all tell ourselves, and others, our personal stories, as we see them. Many Asian cultures place great store in luck. Now that I reflect on the amount of luck I have enjoyed, I too believe in this wonderful happenstance and find that I want to share mine with others who have less. My mother believed sincerely in predestination. I do not, but I do believe in luck, good and bad.
Great comment mr. lucky.
Mr. L- your daughter is lucky to have you as her dad. ??
I recall a distinct incident in which I watched the gardener enter the yard with his lawnmower, efficiently cut the lawn, then move over and reprogram the irrigation system, test it out, and leave to his next job, all in the space of about 20 minutes. I remarked to myself how much better he was at his job than I am at mine, yet I am paid far more than he is. I mused on what he might have been able to achieve if he had been born in my place–and how I might struggle to find work had I been born in his.