this is my path

I've been thinking. It appears we humans might be a bacteria on the surface of the planet growing exponentially. We, a few billion fleshy bugs establishing and erecting crusty cities of concrete and mortar, causing almost irreversible transformation to the environmental landscape. "Almost irreversible" implying most of what we're up to can't/won't be reversed within our lifetime but will certainly be taken care of in some way within the next billion years. But I'm not thinking about the planet. It's much older than us and because it has already, it will no doubt live far beyond our years. I'm wondering what also we might be up to as humans. What's the deal with our genes; those that got passed down to us and those we will pass down to our children? Are we not mere vehicles for our genes to ride around in while they evolve through lifetimes, ultimately riding off into eternity towards a sun that never sets?

It is worth wondering why and how our genes get to live on through eternity while we do not. Or do we? Our features and characteristics were passed down to us through eons of evolution. Our genotype is the instructions for who/what we're born as, and we can't help that other than to live the best life we can with whatever tools and gifts we've been given. From the start our genes grant us access to certain parties in life, or they introduce us to great challenges.

Though through our brave and adventurous lives, we do evolve. We overcome and transform ideas to better ourselves and/or the population. Some generations seem to take steps backwards. Others like it just as it is and don't want to change anything. Ultimately by the time we pass on our genes to our kids, we will have affected our genotype and written a new set of instructions on our genes. Those that fought for freedom in the previous generations gave that freedom to us. They literally passed it onto us in our genetic make-up. Those who fought for women's rights and those who once declared independence passed along those gifts of strong will and determination. Through this kind of science we can see that our actions DO make a difference. Our ancestors who discovered fire, basic tools, language, hunting, all the necessary to-do's for survival through the ages, etc – gave US this opportunity to sit on our asses and read the internet.

And.. Also, if such awful ideas like slavery have been around since the beginning of civilization, isn't it possible we could overcome and eradicate them too? I know our current generation is up to big things. Random acts of kindness, the starting of non-profits, and general support of charities is IN. Materialism is Out. This strangely aligns with what the Mayans predicted 2012 would be about. The world won't end. But the world as we know it will. So, a new world is being re-invented everyday and it is through our consciousness and our conscious and careful actions that we are reshaping our reality.

Even if we're not having children, we can affect future generations by making the environment one that encourages and inspires, thus affecting a person's phenotype, that which is the accumulated characteristics of a person based on what they absorb through their life experiences. This is the basics of the science of natural selection. It is why we live much longer today. We now know how to avoid disease. We recently welcomed our 7 billionth family member. We are civilized beings with running water, electricity, digital music and stored food. This did not happen overnight. It appears to be the calculated accident of our genes telling our bodies what to do, how to live, how to thrive.

So what's my point? I don't know. I was just thinking out loud. Perhaps my point is to make a new years resolution to believe strongly in what you love and go for it. Even if all you do is sit and meditate on it, I believe it will affect your genes and make a difference. Future generations are already thanking your decomposing body for it.

january, 2nd 2012...

why do we have to travel around Indonesia?
because it is the funniest way to love this country. the problem is money and time. indeed, money is not the only constraint to the problem traveling.almost all problems in life is always grab connecting to money .in traveling, this problem can be overcome with traveling in groups,the cost will be cheaper because we share the cost with others. About the a matter of time, it depends how we seduce the HRD office where we work to get time off :)
traveling is important. if you continue to stay in your comfort zone which is already uncomfortably like jakarta, you can never understand just how beautiful your country, how wonderful it is. to live in Jakarta or other big cities, that you are facing only the routine work , the problem of traffic, crime news issues, problems of corruption news, celebrity news issues,and the other unimportant news.and you are there, in all of these problems.
you just try to go to remote areas far away. for example,rote island, the southest island in indonesia .there was no mall, no McD, no wifi, no cinema. there were only friendly people, a sincere smile, beautiful beaches, clean air. heart calm, clear mind, fresh.
or Belitong, which is only 1 hour from Jakarta by plane.
or Derawan, where benign jellyfish roam and we can swim with them.
or perhaps the island of Komodo and Wakatobi which has no doubt about its beauty
it's not necessarily the beach, come wrote to a remote location from the cities.interacting with nature and a lot of local wisdom.baduy, kampung naga, Dieng, bromo, pacitan, Sempu, Harau valley ,green canyon, etc. ....
yes all the places I mentioned above are just a small part hidden paradise in Indonesia. even many foreigners who are willing to leave family and settled in Indonesia because of his love for the beauty of this country. by traveling in Indonesia I am sure you will change your negative views about this country.
our country is great, man. country with endless of natural potential . Phuket beach in Thailand probably just the small pieces beauty of wakatobi or raja ampat.i am not hyperbolic, but it seems so did reality. the government does not seem fully aware of the potential tourist .but, it should not make us so backward to make traveling around Indonesia ..
I have yet to explore end to end, just south end of Indonesia .and I think it was more than enough to change my views about the country.Indonesia is amazing.

with loving ur country, you will also appreciate the environment around you. and more appreciative of your presence as citizens of this country.

traveling Jacks in Wakatobi