The Northern 📍

  The Future of Optimism        Peter Thiel talks about the future, and the optimistic or pessimistic view each group holds, in his book Zero to One. It’s an incredible way to view and understand the world, in a light which we often miss when living within our homeland.        The idea that each country, and by extension its people, view the future with a different lens, is unique. Although it may seem sheltered, most individuals seem to not differentiate between how each region has a different opinion on what lays ahead for humanity. Growing up in Canada, I’ve always simply believed that the world held similar beliefs or goals towards what they wished to accomplish in the not-so-distant future. About how we all wish to achieve abundance and wealth, through medicine and technology, to build a better world. How we all share a common belief that the future which lays ahead is one where prosperity for all is possible. Where we as human beings ca...

Man Plans & God Laughs      So much time, wasted away with worrying. Hours, days, months, years, lost to the constant debate of what the future holds. The constant calculations, the constant internal debates. The arguments between man and his true nature, to decide which action to best take course. The overwhelming energy, being completely dispersed, into a completely hypothetical trap.      The old saying of “Man Plans & God Laughs” is the great reminder that we never are truly in control. Although our ego wishes to believe that we’ve got it all mapped out- the giant rock tossed from the hands of God is a violent, yet gentle reminder. To constantly believe that the eternal cycle which we find ourselves within, is meant to continue forever, is comically ignorant to say the least.      Today, a young man jumped into his vehicle, rushing to get to a job he did not love. He drove as fast as he could, to arrive to a destination, that anot...

  Back In The Game.      After a short time-out, we’re officially back. The shoes have been laced up. The horn has been raised. The time keeper has been alerted. Lo and behold, the game carries on.      Finally being back in the race is a bag full of mixed feelings. On one hand, the ability to eventually rejoin society sounds like a blast. The ability to get out of the same old, same old, in exchange for something new- that excites me. However, the need to return to the race, where every step is the same as the last, where every second is used against you- that part sounds dreadful.      In reality, we must learn to accept the good and the bad, and the ugly. We must become comfortable understanding that in order to achieve what we wish, we must sometimes be willing to do things we do not. We must be comfortable in accepting the means to an end. To use these stepping stones to propel us forward, so that we may rise and claim our destiny. ...

  Progress.      Progress is never a straight line. No matter how much we wish it to be. Progress is not a walk in the park, leading towards so insane goal we have drawn out before us. It is not the desire to embark upon an incline path, leading towards a finish line.      Progress is a much more complex subject. It is a spiralling staircase, slowly but surely leading us towards whatever it is we want. We constantly walk these stairs, whether we know it or not. The never-ending ladder of chaos, which we must continue to climb in order to grow. Progress is something which cannot be simply drawn out on a paper, and executed without a second thought.      One of the more challenging aspects of progress is the highs and lows which come with it. The mountains we climb, only to fall back into the valleys. The great success which comes with accomplishing something meaningful- followed by the horrid lows after we realize there is still so much m...

  What’s Your Value?      Sounds like a simple question. In reality, it is. Simply put, what is your value that you bring to the table? What is it that you offer, which separates you from the pack? Being able to answer this simple question is the first, most basic step of truly becoming who you are meant to be.      Understanding what it is we both enjoy and are good at, will help us move downstream towards creating a specific product or service. Being able to identify the things which make us tick, which make us interested, helps provide the fuel for the path we intend on walking. Once we are able to identify said path, the practice of our skills and interests will help you develop into something greater.      How many people do you know, who seem to be naturally talented? How many individuals have you met, which have a specific art, and are simply leagues ahead? For myself personally, I have met plenty. From playing hockey, to hanging ...