Stupid not to?

Hello all,

Before you get into today’s subject, I’d like to let you know about a couple of updates to the newsletter:

Future editions will include one primary subject, as opposed to what up until now has been two. My decision to enact this change came from my feeling about there being greater value in a deep dive than in two medium dives. In a world of fast action value via social media, this avenue of my work is going to be the anti-ADD lane.

Further, all editions of this newsletter will be available separately on my Substack. I like the lazy ability to turn these emails into an attractive blog format on their platform. The reason I’ve decided not to transition this email service over to the one Substack provides, is I want to maintain the ability to use the email list to promote future endeavors. Any email sent via a Substack account is inseparable from what forms the blog.

Finally, I will be changing the newsletter design sometime next month when I am back in the US of A. While I love the colors, I find myself mildly put off by them. Something simpler is on the way.

Should you wish to let me know your thoughts on any of the above, pray send me an email or direct message on Instagram (during the Victorian era, it was common for people to begin a sentence with “Pray...”, as a contraction of “I politely request.” - I’m feeling very English at the moment writing this to you from London).

Now you can move on to today’s subject, where I question if you are behaving stupidly.

Stupid not to?

“You’d be stupid not to.”

We’ve all heard that before.

If circumstances arise that an individual recognizes as advantageous to participate in, but would not normally do so based on a lack of natural interest - should that person will themselves into them?

For example:

My aunt and uncle are the only family outside of my parents and sister that I am particularly close with. They are intelligent, hardworking, funny, and honorable people. Now in their later years, their efforts have produced a life of plenty. Neither of them has almost any interest in travel, despite the conditions they - and everyone else - find themselves in.

There has never been an easier time to travel. You can plan an entire trip, anywhere in the world, from the palm of your hand.

Flights, accommodation, transportation, and activities - in your HAND.

Now in the case of my aunt and uncle, absent my guiding them around England or Israel (the only countries they’d consider) they are not going anywhere.

What then is it that bridges the gap between unique opportunity and action? The most obvious factor to me - effort. If my aunt and uncle could teleport to Hampstead Heath in London, or the Christian Quarter in Jerusalem, I bet they would.

How then might we predict how much effort someone would be willing to exert? Potential value.

Under the right circumstances, I truly believe my aunt and uncle would be glad they took a big trip. The potential value would be the experience.

Though, being in the later years of their lives, the potential value of experience is significantly less than someone in their twenties. Therefore, they are not interested in exerting the effort.

So what about you?

I can answer that with the quintessential answer to nearly all questions posed to lawyers, taught in any decent law school (thank you, University of Miami).

“It depends…”

On who you are, what you want, when you were born, where you live, how your mind works, and more.

An opportunity to push your boundaries, try something new, have a unique experience. For someone with a sound mind that contains a bit of openness, humility, and curiosity - it’s a no brainer.

But maybe not.

I say that because there’s something more important.

While it would be lovely if you decided to take advantage of situations you’re poised to, there are more important arenas for you to get involved in:

The one’s you truly want.

This is not me telling you not to travel. In fact, travel may be the catalyst that ignites your knowing of what it is you want.

Though, if you already know the thing you want, it should be first priority in where you focus your energy.

Know what makes me as happy as when I see people thriving on their travels?

People thriving - period.

A final frame:

The advantageous opportunity to take actions towards the thing you want may be your mere existence. When I decided I needed to do something that mattered to me in life, the initial motivation was just that - my life. I was healthy, young, and unencumbered by disease, poverty, or any other notable impediment. My actual life was (is) the opportunity to take advantage of.

Whether it’s booking the flight, or the commencement of your true desire - I hope this kicks you into action.

Time to set sail.

Sincerely,

Jacob

P.S. Across the street from me writing this in The Coffee Tree on Old Street in London, there is a woman stood on the sidewalk - dirty blonde hair, with two braids reaching down to her belly button. A unique look, and a nice one.