Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water, after enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.
– Zen Proverb
I dislike writing about myself, because I feel it’s impossible to really summarize any human being into a few paragraphs, but I’ll try give you a tiny glimpse of who I am.
I’d describe myself as a student of both life and myself, on a journey along the road least traveled. In the words of Mark Twain, I think the majority is almost always wrong, and the minority is sometimes right. As a result, I tend to have unorthodox views on just about everything. Not because it makes me different, but rather because that’s just who I am. I try my best to always be true to myself, and go with what I think makes practical sense, rather than what some authority figure thinks I should be doing.
I’m an autodidact who loves reading and learning new things. I’ve recently taught myself hand-balancing after being inspired by the movement community. I continue to expand my physical movement ability. My long-term goal is the one-arm handstand. The only reason you have a brain, is because you needed to move.
I think meditation is the key to truly understanding myself, and that having less things makes me happier.
I have a strong interest in health and wellness, which I believe is holistic. I’m a big fan of Ray Peat’s work in this area.
I’m a fan of both nature and technology, and believe that it’s possible to combine them in ways where everyone wins. I’m a systems thinker, and generalist at heart, who happens to write software for a living. I feel lucky to have programming in my toolbox, and I think it needs to become a more widespread skill.
In my opinion, virtually all formal education institutions, including the elite universities, have forgotten the origin of the word educate, namely to ‘draw out’. In general, these institutions are more focused on filling empty vessels, rather than drawing out of full ones. Worthless grading systems, become more important than fostering curiosity, and creativity. Such institutions are better at producing excellent sheep rather than true free thinkers. There are of course exceptions.
I dream of a post-scarcity economy, where human potential can be freed up, and where people can spend their days creating things they love, and sharing them with the world, without worrying about how they are going to pay rent, or eat.
Recently I have been following the ideas of the handmade software community, and enjoying the paradigm shift.
You can email me at oliverpowell84@gmail.com