E is for experimenting.

The way by which Humans shape their future.

When you consider the ways in which Human talents and passions come together, the resources they have, and the ways and means they invent to experiment and express (habits, practices, and behaviours), you may conclude Humans are by essence, future-shapers.

Future, though isn’t the F word.

Right at this moment, in different places around the world, there are people who are shaping your future, your children’s future, and your children’s children’s future.  They know the future is not fixed, and, for good or ill, they are grabbing their opportunity make some kind of difference.

If we’re awake to how we’re all capable of shaping the future – through our art in small ways or in larger ways – then we can begin experimenting, proto-trying our thoughts and ideas and dreams in the laboratory for research each day offers: whether it be someone we help or we give extra at work or peruse and pursue an idea or bake a cake for someone or offer a kind word with someone or … (you know where this is going).

Here’s the F word.

Failure.

When we experiment we fail faster, which also means we learn faster and cleverer.

I know we’ve been brought up that to fail is not an option.  Wrong.  Not to try is not an option.

Maybe it started with education.  You failed or passed an assignment, then an exam, then you failed to get the grades you you needed.  Many education systems appear to set us up to fail, whilst failing to recognise they could all be figuring out how to connect education with how to make life better on earth: taking on the challenges of poverty, crime, and human rights, or energy conservation, space exploration, and genetic technologies, or cancer, AIDs, and Parkinsons.

The good news is, we live in a world where we get another opportunity, because the barriers to education and expression are breaking down.  E and F are waiting to be added to our daily alphabets.