Writing

The following line graphs show tax rates on 1m CHF in income of all Swiss Municipalities over time (1997-2017).

In distant space, where stars align,
A party formed in Babel's shrine,
Invites were sent through cosmos wide,
For every being to join the ride.

From galaxies near and far they came,
Each creature unique, not one the same,
With Babelfish snug in every ear,
They'd chat and laugh, devoid of fear.

The Covid-19 pandemic is not the first time that global events have necessitated a rethink of the state of the world. Market-driven capitalism has been the greatest engine of wealth creation in the history of the planet, and yet, it has become increasingly clear that some part of our system is broken. Conflict and violence are on the rise and democracy is retreating globally. We are living in a world in transition from the unipolar system present since the fall of the Soviet Union, to a complex multi-polar world where liberal democracy is falling out of favor.

It might surprise you to notice that self-worth isn’t a feeling or experience. Upon reflection it seems rather like a lack of a specific feeling or experience. A lack of self-doubt, confusion, and self-judgement.

If you aren’t careful, you might confuse self-worth with that feeling of wholeness, presence and connectedness that appears when we fully accept ourselves. But careful analysis will reveal that in those moments no valuation of oneself is going on. There is no “worth” being assessed for there to be any self-worth. There is no “esteem” or “confidence” that allows you to hold your head up high and think highly of yourself. Indeed, when you experience what we call self-worth, you aren’t thinking of yourself at all.

One of the greatest threats we all suffer from is comfort.

If that sounds wrong to you, consider these facts:

1. Keeping your honest opinions to yourself is more comfortable than telling the truth

2. Staying warm is more comfortable than going out into the cold

3. Hanging out with friends you have grown apart from is more comfortable than saying no

4. Being passive is more comfortable than doing sports

5. Staying in a job you don't like is more comfortable than quitting and trying to freelance

More than 10 years ago, a few months after turning 18, I travelled by myself, from New Zealand to Spain, to take an intensive Spanish language course in Sevilla.

I remember having a short stopover in Amsterdam and running by an info-robot on wheels, with no time to satisfy my curiosity.

In Madrid I was greeted by the old Europe of 4-storey grey buildings…

Finding this picture among my photos from years ago put a huge smile on my face.

This is a discarded part of the Large Hadron Collider.

I doubt, criticise and am generally pretty hard on myself like most people…

I am a Business Designer.

The same month I started my Masters in this field, it was the cover story of the Harvard Business Review.

For me, the epiphany came when I visited California College of the Arts and the University of San Francisco on the same day in March 2015...