“Choose Your Own Adventure” was a book series in the 80’s.
You’re an explorer with a research team descending into a cavern. Your torch dims indicating oxygen is getting thinner as you go deeper. You pause and your team turns to you for direction. Turning back isn’t an option. Curiosity pushes you forward.
To find out the consequences of choosing to put one foot in front of the other- turn to page 78.
And on 78…When you and your team are captured by cannibals and sacrificed after making wrong but sexy decisions you learn what NOT to do the next go around.
It was a hit!
Fast forward to 2024. Google, Apple, Elon and Lucifer have harnessed and mastered the “if/then” algorithm and you are now, involuntarily, a possessed “doom scroller.”
Don’t believe me? Look at your screen time. Listen to what you and your friends bring up in conversation and believe it’s what you’re really interested about.
I’ve been held hostage by Bitcoin lectures, news that Ben and Jlo are splitting up, again, and that World War III is imminent.
In “Choose Your Own Adventure” spirit, if you find yourself numb to media, wish to restore microns of dopamine and step off the conveyer belt of mindless scrolling – READ THE NEXT SENTENCE.
Within our recorded history existed a Greek Philosopher named Diogenes. An infamous interaction occurred when he and Alexander the Great, not only the most historic Alpha of all Alphas, but also a devout admirer of philosophy, crossed paths. This time, he travelled not to conquer another land but to sidequest and meet one of the best of his time.
Alexander located and approached Diogenes with uncharacteristic fanboy giddiness. Diogenes was sprawled out when Alexander’s shadow startled him.
Diogenes slurred, “Move to the right. You’re blocking my sun.”
Even more impressed, Alexander saluted, “If I were not Alexander, I would wish to be Diogenes.”
(I don’t refer to myself in third person enough. I’ve heard boxers in post-fight interviews do that. But they just got hit in the head for 12 rounds. Let’s plant a flag here but move on.)
And, it is with those two, we have the two approaches to our existence. Alexander represents accumulation of wealth, knowledge, status, sexual partners, views, likes and paid subscribers.
Diogenes didn’t give a fuck.
He lived in a barrel.
His philosophy, Cynicism, emphasized living in accordance with nature, rejecting societal conventions and material possessions, and seeking virtue and self-sufficiency. Diogenes believed that true happiness and freedom came from living a simple life, free from titles and status and shit like that. He aimed to live authentically.
I visualized a stinky homeless person yelling at passing cars.
Stay with me. We’re still talking about the same thing.
GRWM.
Get ready with me.
It’s a Tiktok trend where an already pretty girl gets ready and dolled up.
Thousands of views. Sometimes hundreds of thousands. The Hollywood Bowl can hold over 17,000 people. That’s how many click to ogle at people putting on make-up and an outfit.
I’ve bled on my pages, ugly cried and paced before I posted my articles.
I haven’t broken 20 likes. (I laughed, too)
I’ve lived long enough and made choices to try to be like Alexander. Chasing. Accumulating.
Restarting my adventure and taking the Substack route feels right.
Enter The Council of Substackers (and growing)
My Appointed Council (they don’t know they have that title) reinforce my instinct that focusing on my voice will attract “like hearted” writers. And, that’s PRECISELY what’s been happening. They told me so. I see it. I feel I’ve moved people as I’ve been moved by the talent here.
(Shot out to the Director of “Tiny Hearts” and multi-hyphenate Chris Dela Cruz at
www.floatentertainment.com
for coining “like hearted.”)
Norm chooses to flip open his laptop, log onto Substack and be authentic in front of you while ignoring metrics. Norm is incredibly grateful for any one who carves out time of their busy day to read his musings.
Together, let’s not let anyone block out our sun.
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