Genius is believed to arrive at birth. But contrary to popular belief, all of us have genius.
Or a better way to put it: all of us are bestowed genius at the time of our birth and it doesn’t really leave us until death. And even then, the gifts of our genius will keep giving in the cycle of eternity if properly nourished.
The modern definition of the word has come to mean a specific person with supreme intellectual ability or creative prowess—someone who achieves “new discoveries or advances in a domain of knowledge.”
But the word genius originates from Roman mythology, which means:
“the individual instance of a general divine nature that is present in every individual person, place, or thing. Much like a guardian angel, the genius would follow each man from the hour of his birth until the day he died.”
If genius then is present in everyone and not a select few, how do we unleash this genius?
The difference is whether we choose to cultivate that genius throughout our lifetime. But for us to even do that, we must first accept it, and for us to accept it, we must believe each of us have genius, and acknowledge it when we see it and feel it.
Genius thought of as something reserved for the few has become a reason why individual genius isn’t more cultivated in the way it deserves to be. That we can’t or won’t be Einsteins or Da Vincis or Marie Curies or Musks is said often and used as an excuse, but this only exemplifies the point: each of these people cultivated their genius to the utmost extreme and because they cultivated their own genius, by definition, there can only be one of them. More importantly, trying to be like them would only be running away from cultivating our own genius. We can be inspired by other people and their respective geniuses, but we cannot copy or achieve someone else’s genius—we can only cultivate their own.
Think of it like each of us have our own spiritual pet that we didn’t choose but chose us. This representation is prevalent in mythology, literature, and even in modern fiction: Dorothy’s terrier Toto, Luke Skywalker’s droid R2D2, Ash’s pokemon Pikachu, Jon Snow’s direworlf Ghost. These are not merely expendable sidekicks. They protect their owners and have deep similarities with them—they almost share one soul. Genius is similar: we cannot have someone else’s genius because each of us have our own, a spirit which we are one with, one whose lives depend on us, and reciprocally, our lives depend on them.
Genius is a gift we must accept. We must believe in its existence. And we must cultivate it—feed it—like we would spiritual companions and pets. Only by doing so will our own individual geniuses serve us in return. This process will take time because our geniuses need nourishment in order to grow to its full potential. But it will never get close unless we believe in our individual genius in the first place.
While it may take time for it to reveal its shape, its features, its ultimate final form, believing in it is the first step. And once we understand that it is an integral part of us, we must accept it for what it is, and nourish it as much as we can. We can’t let it die, because then, we may be physically alive, but would be spiritually dead.
And while many of us might feel spiritually dead in our day to day—an endemic of modern times, it is never too late. After all, our own individual geniuses are inside us just waiting to be nourished, and ultimately, be freed. It all starts by believing in our genius.
September 27, 2021
Creativity
Some argue the past is an illusion
And the future is already fixed
Some say the present is a singularity
Where we are watching our lives in a fabricated reality
I like to think of the future as an infinite pool of possibilities
But a finite pool of most likely probabilities
Where there is an associated future with every action we take
And the realm of possibilities go from endless to limited
At any given moment there are a few actions we can make
And the same can be said with every single person
Thus the vastness of the future lies on the collision of all these actions
So the future lies on a chain of events
Actions we take which are under our control
With actions of others which are not
We can strongly influence the realm of possibilities for ourselves
So long as we carefully structure the chain of actions we take
Just as the present is largely a chain of actions we took in the past
With a mix of luck, chance, and actions by others
But chain might it be, it is not linear
It is more like a maze
Where there is an associated exit with each path we take
But we are constructing where it goes
Just as we identify which direction to go to
We are both the architect and the participant of the maze
We pre-define what the realm of exits might be based on our current knowledge of what is possible for us
But we cannot construct the exit exactly as we would like it
The point is this: We influence the realm of possibilities
Infinite as it might feel, we have a role to play in expanding it and limiting it
Whether we think we have a choice in it or not
We expand when we are trying to discover what exits we might like to have
We limit based on how convinced we are of the exits available to us
We are constantly expanding and limiting within the scope of our present
Luck and the actions of others play a role in what is available to us at any given second
But the exercise is ours to wrestle with
One we have sole grasp of unless we choose to relinquish it
We are constructing the future every second
We are constantly expanding the possibilities and limiting the options
We are architecting the maze just as we are walking its walls
We are determining what exits we would like to have even if we can’t determine what the exit might actually be
There is power in this perspective of time
Where we are not just passive characters in the flow of reality
Where we have the greatest impact not just on its trajectory
But what the exits can be and who we will be like when we get there
We can bend the associated the future right in the present
Whatever you are doing, wherever you are
There is a already a distant future that is constructed based on what you are currently doing
The question is this: Is this the exit you want?
If yes, keep going within your chain of actions and continue to shape what your potential future might be
If no, continue to expand and then limit
We are merely going back and forth in this exercise
Even if we are conscious of it or not
The difference is in the belief that there is already a future for us
And that it is largely our choice what that can be
An extremely daunting realization
But a deeply empowering one
We are all architecting the future, individually and together
Time is not separate from us
We are time itself
September 1, 2021
Poetry
You have so much more to give
You have to enjoy giving it away
Your very being is a present to many
So never underestimate how much you matter
You are here because you are needed here
Because there is more work to be done by you
Things to do, people to help, places to see
Moments to experience that will forever change you
But what you barely notice amidst all the change inside you
Is that you will help change everything outside of you
You are a force in the space-time continuum
A molecule bouncing in the beautiful entropy of life
Everything that comes and has come in contact with you
Is changed forever, someway, somehow
The universe is moving this very second
Because your spirit is right there moving it
August 31, 2021
Poetry
Note: This is absolutely not addressed to or inspired by any specific person, nor am I thinking about marriage or looking to get married any time soon. I’ve never been married before so this isn’t marriage advice either. I am just answering an interesting writing prompt using a particular tone of voice. Enjoy.
ps. Thanks to the folks who gave feedback. You know who you are.
Dear wife,
Holy shit, you’re now my wife.
What have I done?!?! Jokes, I love you.
Wow, we’re really married. Not just symbolically but legally. The “till death do us part” kind.
What now?
From here on, it’s about growth at the maximum capacity. A kind of growth that cannot be done alone because marriage forces you to be completely naked in every literal and metaphorical way. It’s about creating as many peaks as possible in a lifetime guaranteed to have valleys. A promise to be emotionally present at a level no other person in the world can provide. A journey to endure a life together until one of us passes in the dust hopefully with the same longing affection as the very first day we fell in love but has crystallized into a quiet glowing intensity from a lifetime of partnership and visceral understanding forever etched in time.
The thing most people say is “I’m the luckiest man/woman on earth.” I will temper that high by saying: Honestly, I don’t know yet. Yes, I feel incredibly fortunate the stars aligned the way they did, but we both worked our asses off to be attractive enough to land a desirable partner, pursue a relationship together, and be able to take a bet on each other—the most important bet of our lives—together. Only time will tell and we are only at the beginning.
Marriage is basically saying: “In an infinite sea of possible futures, the one with you is the only one I want, because I see the best possible version of myself with you, and I don’t even want to imagine the alternative.” My jokes are funny but it’s your laughter I yearn for most. I’m extremely passionate in bed, but it’s only your body I crave. Hugs connect humans ever so briefly, but none would ever have the same warmth as yours. And take away all the extraordinary moments, sitting next to you doing absolutely nothing is the most exciting version of mundane I can think of.
In that sense, maybe I am lucky. But so are you with me. We’re in day one and marriage is more akin to tending to a garden constantly exposed to the harsh elements of life than a dish once prepared then consumed with delicious satisfaction. A dish has defined ingredients with the final form crafted with precision both in flavor and appearance. A garden has none of those things. There will be sunny days, there will be stormy ones. The soil won’t always be fertile, the flowers won’t always bloom. But as long as we plant seeds to cultivate it, get rid of the weeds and snakes that threaten the beauty of our oasis, and prune out old leaves that no longer serve the greenery, then we’ll bear plentiful fruit and wonderful shrubbery enough to give us joy for the rest of our days. But I can’t nor will I do it alone. And neither can you. The day that one of us quits on caring for this joint garden, we risk it wilting into a sad slow death. I am not, was never, and will never be a quitter. I
married you because I assume that neither are you. I married you because I thought you’d be a great gardener yourself, that we’d make a damn good garden together, and we’d make little versions of us who will eventually grow to become great gardeners of their own, hopefully even better than we were. And of course, because of your fine ass that I just can’t keep my hands off, you sexy thing you. Get over here so daddy can have a bite.
Wait, I was writing a letter. Sorry I got sidetracked.
Anyway the point of this is to list out expectations of our life together as a married couple. Sorry to burst your bubble, but I have none. I only have expectations of myself: I will do my best to be there for you emotionally, to listen to you compassionately, to communicate with you honestly, to love you fiercely, and to continue to find ways to want you and for you to want me. I can also expect these things from you, but expectations kill relationships. I’d rather us always talk about what we want and how we can do better, than sulk in silence and develop silent resentment overtime. Communication with the intent of understanding is the lifeblood of relationships and exponentially more so in a marriage. There’s no games anymore like when we were younger because we will both suffer. I’d rather both of us win.
There will obviously be concessions from both sides, and the people we are today will not be who we are in a year’s time, in five years’ time, or a whole decade’s time. This comes with the territory of marriage: two ever-changing individuals entering matrimony to infinitely learn from each other and contribute to their personhood. They must develop an endless curiosity for each other, be intimate with their quirks, accept them for their flaws, and help each other get better as people, as spouses, as parents—if applicable.
The whole concept of “But he/she is my husband/wife, he/she is supposed to just get me!” is stupid, outrageous, and nonsensical. Neither of us have telepathic powers (it would be terrible if either of us had it actually; part of what makes it fun is there’s so much we still have to figure out about ourselves and each other). If I did something stupid, tell me so I know it bothers you. If I did something good, also tell me so I can do more of that for you. Expressing gratitude says, “I see the little things that you do and I appreciate you for them.” It’s crazy how simple things like “thank you,” “sorry,” and “please” do wonders for any relationship. Know that I will do the same for you: I will never hesitate to call you out on your bullshit, but I will always do it politely and with love. If I didn’t like something you did, I will look at and criticize the action performed and not immediately judge your character. If there is something you did that I liked, I will thank you, praise
you, kiss you in return, and I will do this abundantly, generously, and exuberantly.
At the end of the day, all anyone ever wants is to be seen, to be heard, to be felt, to be held. I will do all of those things for you, even on your worst days. I trust you will do the same for me on mine. I will do everything in my power and God-given abilities to hold us down. You are my wife because I know you will hold me down.
Honestly, I don’t want to glamorize marriage too much. We are now in the greatest challenge of our lives and there will be a million trying times (on top of the thousands of trying times we had while we were dating) and we will endlessly annoy, frustrate, and anger the living shit out of each other. But so long as we choose to keep coming back to each other, we’ll be fine. I don’t believe in “Don’t sleep mad.” Whoever said that has never been in an argument where both sides were seething and want to choke each other out. I’d rather we sleep it off if we can’t stand each other’s guts, but wake up next to each other thinking how blessed we both are because it means we must care that much for each other to have been that mad. And then we can figure it out rationally without the burden of heightened emotion, without the risk of blurting out words we wish we could take back, and instead find a way to truly listen to each other’s grievances and fix it together. Of course, this is
all easier said than done. Like everything else in a marriage.
As far as plans, those too are premature. Marriage is a day-to-day thing, heck, even an hour-to-hour thing. There may be things we want to do right now, but life is a moving target with absolutely no certainties. Goals may be renewed, careers can change, children may come, struggle can arise. All I can promise you is this: You will never be bored, because I would rather die than be boring. I’m not saying every moment of our lives will be this exhilarating ride because it won’t. What I’m saying is, as we build a life together, I will never stop playing with you as if we’re the little boy and the little girl on the sandbox building a castle together, or like two teens chasing each other on the grass laughing our butts off rolling in each other’s sweat, or two elderly people slow dancing at a wedding as if it was our first dance as a married couple. You see, people grow old and lose their youth. I’m telling you that we don’t have to. I’m telling you that I won’t allow
it so long as I’m on your side. I’m telling you that I am in this to grow old with you, but more importantly, to grow young with you.
All this said, I do hope you feel that you’re the luckiest woman in the world today on the first day of our marriage. But it would mean a whole lot more to me if you feel that on our very last day together, when death eventually does us part.
Love,
Your husband
August 1, 2019
The quality of our lives depends so much on the quality of people we allow into our lives.
As I get older, I’m more convinced life is ultimately about spending time with amazing people.
This was not so obvious to me growing up and is still unnatural for me as someone who loves spending much of his time alone.
But being around amazing people who make you better makes life better. Life is more likely to be average or mediocre if you’re around average or mediocre people, but we can increase the likelihood of our lives being amazing if we’re around amazing people.
Humanity is about connection, building memories, and triumphing against worthwhile challenges. You can only do that by being around great people and being a great person to be around with.
As the saying goes: “If you want to go fast go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
If the quality of our lives depend on who we spend time with, it makes perfect sense that we should aim to have a high standard for people (family, friends, colleagues, partners, etc.) we surround ourselves with. We absolutely need to be picky about it and should expect others to do the same.
It’s only right that we should seek the absolute best people given that life is finite and because our lives get exponentially better the more amazing people we surround ourselves with. It is truly one of those things where the returns increase with more inputs and compound on each other on a long time horizon.
But what is “great” or “amazing”? That depends on what purpose that other person serves in your life. And make no mistake that you, too, serve a purpose in other people’s lives, thus being high value is imperative if we want to be surrounded with other high value people.
If it’s your friends, do they truly support you in your endeavors? Do they raise your ambition? Do they make you want to be better? Do they keep it real with you and tell you things straight? Do they have your back when you’re down? Do they make you feel you belong? Do you have them for life?
If it’s your colleagues, do they challenge your thinking? Do they help you grow in your career? Do they make you want to bring your A-game? Do you trust their judgment? Do they truly want what’s best for the team and company? Do they want to win as bad as you do?
If it’s your partner, do they inspire you? Do they make you want to be a better person? Do they make life sweeter and more meaningful? Do they make you feel fortunate they chose you? Do they seem like good role models? Do they exemplify traits you wish your children would have? Does their existence alone make life worth living?
Life is meant to be lived in the company of amazing people.
If you can’t find any, ask yourself why, or go find them. It starts with doing your best to an amazing person yourself.
This is one of those challenges worth a lifetime to get right.
May 25, 2018
Life
