I just finished reading Kurt Vonnegut’s Timequake
It had a great premise: there was a “timequake” and we had to relive the past 10 years. Everything you did last time, you had to do this time (no free will). You know exactly what’s going to happen but have to say and do it all over.
People got used to being on autopilot, and disaster struck when the timequake ended and free will returned. People just sat in their cars as they crashed into walls, not knowing they were in control. Everyone had to be “woken up” from their daze and start living.
I’m always amazed at how many people are living their lives as a timequake. They have the exact same weekly schedule, never seeking randomness or new experiences. If a timequake hit, they wouldn’t know because they are already on autopilot.
2008 was a great year for me because of randomness. My friend Todd Huffman inspired me to be more open to randomness, and so much good has come from it. When I’m traveling, I post to twitter “I’m in [some city], anyone want to meet up?” – and I’ve met so many interesting people this way. I’ve also increased my traveling; any time I’m not in school (and sometimes when I should be) I’m usually flying or driving somewhere.
I encourage everyone to give randomness a try. If you’re invited to some event or gathering, don’t find a reason not to go; find a way to fit it in your schedule. You never know what great things will happen.
(By the way, the above photo was from a Robot fight put on by Cody Marx Bailey to launch Youth Inspired Robots. These are the kind of random events I’m always looking for.)
Bill Erickson is a WordPress Consultant who builds custom websites using WordPress as a CMS and Thesis as a framework. He’s a cofounder and resident of The Creative Space, and a cofounder of the BIL Conference (the open analog to the TED Conference).
