In March this year, the mega transport Ever Given, ran aground and caused shipping problems, with some estimates costing it at around 400 million dollars an hour in lost trade and of course the knock-on effects this had on shipping and deliveries globally. But that pales in comparison to the 300 billion debt and the knock on effects of the Chinese construction giant, Evergrande. This is going to have massive ramifications globally as it collapses. But - will there be a third Ever?
They say that bad things come in threes, and while this is more likely a confirmation bias that makes order out of chaos, it still carries some weight when a couple of large, negative things fall across our path. For me so far this year, there have been two major events, and I am hoping that there won't be a third - though, there always will be, because that is how our mind works. But, what is the time line for these kinds of events anyway - is it a month, a year, a decade? How related do they have to be?
I don't know, but we tend to have unit bias, so a year is a good amount of time for three bad personal events to happen, a month paycheck cycle for three unusual costs to arise, a day for three minor issues to ruin it. A decade? A lot can happen in a decade... We tend to cherrypick our results of course and as negatives weight twice as heavy on us as positives, they are the easiest to find. But I wonder, if some people are just born unlucky and, am I one of them?
Like all things though, this is relative. For example, the average salary for a developer or coder in India is supposedly around 190 US dollars a month. That is 165€, which is a nice meal for two at a decent restaurant that isn't too fancy, with a glass of wine each, in Finland. It is around 1/20th of the Finnish average salary.
Now, this isn't about "bad things" per se, but things are relative. For example, when I had a stroke a few months ago, my hospital stay and treatment was around 200€ in total, including ultrasounds and an MRI - and I have no health insurance. If I was in the US and happened to be in the same predicament, what would it cost me? Maybe my life I guess. I haven't had a lot of luck with my health since I was a teen, but I am lucky that I have lived places where treatment is possible and reasonable, because taxes cover it. In the event of a zombie apocalypse when all services are gone however, I am not surviving - I will be after your brains.
Lucky me? Sure, but that is cherrypicking too, and it is kind of like eating spicy food - it is an acquired taste and also, something that can be forgotten. I had some Thai noodles for dinner tonight and there was some fresh chili in there - when did they become so hot? Well, since coming to Finland, I haven't eaten so much hot food and the Indian genetics don't seem to carry immunity markers for spiciness.
Jenny might be from the block, but I wonder if she had to go back there into the conditions she was living as a kid, would she be able to handle the heat? This is the same for most things, whether physical or mental, as our bodies and minds adjust to comfort very quickly, which is also why salary increases might change our standards of living, but they don't keep us motivated at work once we get accustomed to them - in typically two months. Once we have the "new normal" as the baseline, anything either side is going to be noticed, with the negatives only having to be a little negative to outshine a larger positive.
A lot of us will compare our conditions to those of others, without recognizing that the comparison might be impossible, depending on how far apart other factors are. For example, I heard a story today where someone was commenting on an article mentioning how difficult it is for dark people in Finland to get jobs that match their qualifications and the author asked among other things, do they really need Finnish? The commenter said something like, "I am foreign, have lived in Finland for years and don't speak Finnish - and have had no trouble finding work". This is true - but they are also white. Having the other things in common, doesn't take into account the impact of the key difference factor the article was pointing toward.
Is skin color "bad luck"? - I don't think so. But, I am also grateful to the way I was treated as a kid at school, because it taught me a lot about the behavior of people, conditioning, social fears and among many other valuable lessons, my own strengths, and weaknesses. People want to stop bullying in schools - but what about all the amazingly talented and valuable people in our society who were bullied as children? What if for them, being bullied was a critical success factor required to bring out their best, to realize their potential?
While "bad things come in threes" might be a confirmation bias, the origin story of overcoming a difficult childhood seems to be quite pervasive for those who have changed our world. Yes, bad experiences harm people too, but artificially engineering an environment that limits our ability to learn the spectrum of who we are and what we are capable of, is probably more harmful to the advancement of our species and our ability to improve our conditions.
Some people look back at a hard childhood with bitterness, but I barely look back at all, because I have far too much to look forward toward, that needs my attention. It is not that reflection isn't important, as it is very, very important for me, but I do not need to dwell in the past, I can learn the lessons, carry the skills, revisit points when I need and, get the fuck on with approaching the next hurdle.
Bad things happen all the time to me, you, them, they and everyone else, but a lot of good things happen too, they are just harder to recall. And, when we live in a world that broadcasts the negatives through the news and encourages the broadcasting of drama and victimhood on the media platforms for attention, it is easy to surround ourselves with a lot of material to confirm our biases. We have created a symphonic society to accompany our individual miseries in such a way, that we can cherrypick the one thing that pulls us together to form a group around, and then pretend that we are all the same because of it - just to feel like we belong for a moment.
It is funny at times when people talk about how grateful they are for things in their lives, but fail to be grateful for the things that have likely shaped them the most, the negative experiences. Think about what has shaped your greatest strengths, ask those you admire what has shaped theirs, read any biography on a world changer, and see what is in common. Skill is built by overcoming challenge - not having obstacles swept out of the way.
If the third bad doesn't kill me....
Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]
I had no idea that
I was a Saiyaneveryone is a Saiyan...😜 But I guess anime has some wisdom...lol - Anime knows all!
You would be paying that off till the day you died, and then after you died predatory lawyers would try to convince your heirs to pay off the balance, even though that's illegal… 200€, really?? The American "healthcare" system is a joke.
And yet despite all its flaws, the American "healthcare" system is also responsible for giving me one of my most negative life moments, which I have turned into a positive shaping force.
Funny how that turned out.
!PIZZA and !BEER
I think it was 211. And yes, the "greatest country in the world" should probably do a lot better for its population.
Did I miss something?
Yeah sorry, I was rambling about a personal experience I had. Bad healthcare, but in the end it turned out to be something that improved my character.
I have a really big broom for sweeping things under the carpet and out of the way. Not!! bad things do happen throughout our lives, we overcome them or we sink into the abyss of woe-is-me syndrome. I'm pretty good at treading the rough waters.
As for Hospital cost: Lung Surgery, then 10 days in the hospital, just the Hospital stay, not the surgery, over $200,000 dollars. Fortunately health insurance covered all of that because at the time I had already reached the catastrophic coverage level of out of pocket expense of $15,000. Not cheap, but still kicking so no real complaints about the cost. it all becomes relative after awhile. It took over three years to pay the majority that I personally owed, but it did get paid.
Enough practice and it becomes second-nature.
Talking with a friend in the US, I was surprised to find that they were paying more tax than I am here. It is crazy that people think more universal coverage is too expensive. I believe that the reason they keep it the way it is there, is because it makes a few people obscene amounts of money.
America is pretty much the land of greed.
It is spreading.
Survive and move on with more skills, gotcha!
Would you like your brains spicy?
I can do medium.
Curry sounds good for tomorrow, it's been at least 2 weeks :(
I've been reading and listening a bit on the topic of projecting what you want to happen in the future, but the sort of stuff that's gone on for you this year seems outside of scope. I hope you can keep powering through and showing the way :)
I have the understanding that projecting into the future can hinder our progress too, as it makes us feel like we already have got what we want, so why do the work to actually get it? I have no idea about that stuff though - I just keep plodding.
Yelling, "don't follow me - there are spiders!"
I think that's part of the reasoning behind it, feeling positive, as to attract more positive energy. Dunno.
There is some science behind it but quantum physics/mechanics is tough to grasp.
https://www.scienceabc.com/pure-sciences/observer-effect-quantum-mechanics.html
If observing influences/changes actions of the stuff we are made of, why not go ahead of time and send some good vibes?
I'm off to practice! :D
A trip to a US hospital and you would have received aggressive and adequate treatment. (At least in my area.) The problem would have been your life after.
I think one thing that causes the US healthcare system troubles as far as the numbers game goes is that sometimes they’re too careful. People who need immediate action can’t afford a thousand tests before treatment. The doctors are so noncommittal because they’re scared of lawsuits. I’ve seen plenty of people turned down for surgery because the doctor is unwilling to take on the liability.
This I guess works in the favor of those with time.
Part of the problem with having so many lawyers. :)
The US medical and pharma business is enormously profitable, the incentives are not aligned for good treatment for all, it is for the best treatment for a few.
India produce 1.5 Million Software Engineer Every year and out of them 80% is not find there desired salary. The Average salary is $190 US Dollars a month is something one of the worst evaluation of ones career and hard work That is why Majority immigrant to first and second world country so there life atleast get better living standard and earning.
I don't blame indian administration for all because India is 2nd largest population after China and providing every one a attractive salary might need to fuel up indian economy more faster.
The Indian economy and salaries are supposedly rising quickly, but it is also interesting. A lot of programmers in the world are immigrants to first world countries for the reasons you mentioned and I tihnk that in the coming years, there will be more entrepreneurship in this area too.
I've always fancied my chances in the event of a zombie apocalypse. Good runner with Great stamina, low appetite and a penchant for staying indoors...my brain Won't be eaten anytime soon🙂
I used to fancy myself, but now I have resigned myself to having to stake myself in the head, earlier than I had planned.
165€ for a nice meal for 2? Sounds awfully expensive ... what kind of wine are you adding? I thought I was living in one of the most expensive countries on the continent ... and still, a nice meal for 2 with a glass of wine (10€ the glass) will normally set you back 100 - 120€, rarely more... Is Finland so expensive ? Good to know ...
Finland is expensive.
Decent restaurant, starter 10-15€, mid-sized steak is 35€, dessert 10-15€, wine 12-16€
Of course, there is up from there and well down from there too - but if my wife and I go out (rarely) for a decent meal together, there is unlikely change from 150. A few weeks back we went for s friends birthday and we were quite early, so had a drink each. The gin and tonic was 14€, wife's cocktail 16€.
A lot in my opinion.
Very nice post as always, this is eminently quotable: "I barely look back at all, because I have far too much to look forward to"!
Beautiful!
And yes, clearly, negative experiences contribute much more to one's life trajectory than successes. Life is about overcoming challenges.
Just imagine how boring life would be if all we ever did, was easy.
Basically don't name anything "ever" something because that's tempting fate? XD
That is my take on it! :)
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STOPI think it would cost more than 200 € in my country if you were not working or didn't have health insurace. If you are unemployed, then you have to pay some amount to get health service from the goverment. How to pay if you don't have income? I can't even think of the private hospitals.
Greetings @tarazkp, thanks for sharing your writing. Forward always.
Venezuela.