Today is the 20th of May in the year of 2024 and it marks my 41st birthday, and the start of a new chapter in “The Book of James.” Life is fleeting and it moves like a jet soaring through the sky, sometimes moving so swiftly it breaks the barrier of sound. We take all these little moments for granted and don’t slow down to enjoy life often enough. Our routine is always work, sleep, eat, and repeat, punctuated by brief respites in between to make it all bearable. It’s in these pauses where time seems to stand still and prompting us to contemplate the true meaning of life. After a grueling day of work, I cherish the time I spend with my family and tucking my son into bed. Even though those moments are always fleeting, I could linger in them forever. The sweet innocent smile of my youngest son when he runs to me, the big hug attack from my oldest son and the gentle touch of my wife’s hand on my face, that is what life is truly about. In these moments, trivial concerns about bills, bank balances, or the impending dread of another workday fade into insignificance. The only thing that matters is the warm embrace of love and a feeling of tranquility.
So, why can’t more moments be like that? Why do we have to live such fast-paced lives? Jumping from one stress to another, counting down the seconds to the next free moment. I’ve pondered this all my life and concluded that it is part of human nature. But it doesn’t have to be, we possess free will and the ability to change. In the famous words of YouTube show hosts Rhett & Link “Let’s talk about that.”
About a year ago I was talking to ChatGPT about ideas for a mascot for a YouTube channel that I was brainstorming ideas for. It would be inspired by another one of my favorite YouTube Channels, Lofi Girl, but I wanted to create a new character that embodied the lofi music vibe. After several funny and weird ideas, it gave me a sloth character that I felt really captured the essence of my vision for the channel. Something about the sloth really ignited a light bulb for me, for something better than just another lofi YouTube channel. It grew into what I had started to call “The Slothiverse”, a universe where mindfulness is the way.
I have long been fascinated by the philosophy of Taoism and Buddhism, and the lessons they teach about harmony, simplicity, mindfulness and the natural impermanence of life. While I may never be a Zen master or Buddhist monk, there are invaluable lessons to be learned from these basic principles. To follow the true path of these religions in the 21st century is next to impossible. But if you take the best of these and other philosophies you can have your own personal code of honor to live a happy, ethical, and mindful life. The idea of living a life of mindfulness and simplicity is tough for most humans, but not for the sloth. In many ways the sloth is the antithesis of human nature. Every movement they make is deliberate and with purpose, every moment is savored and not rushed. Daily activities include eating, sleeping and occasionally moving to a different branch. These are not acts of laziness but of mindfulness and purpose. The sloth is inherently mindful and inspires individuals to be more present, savor each moment and not rush the future. This is the way of the sloth, so maybe humanity should take a leaf from the sloth’s playbook and change our way of living. One lesson that is shared among many philosophies and religions is that we must give up our attachments and desires to achieve inner peace or Zen. Again, this is against human nature, so instead I believe we should learn to properly embrace them and learn to find balance. We can enjoy our iPhones, AI chatbots, Marvel Movies and a world of geek fandom, while still finding balance and achieving inner peace. It doesn’t have to be one or the other, we can have our cake and eat it too.
Each day presents us with a new lesson, a new technology to bewilder us as well as enrich our lives and a new fantastic story to enjoy. To truly embrace life and live in the moment, we must first slow down and find the power of stillness and wonder. This philosophy is integral all to the vision that I have for the Slothiverse. Embrace the way of the sloth while still taking time to enjoy the little things that fuel us to make a better world for ourselves and our children. In the past 300 years we have went from the Industrial Revolution which changed the way we manufactured goods to the Digital Revolution which changed the way we communicate and interact with each other. The rapid development of artificial intelligence could represent the next step in human evolution and yet again change the way we live, work and communicate. It’s possible it could have an even larger impact on our society and economy. AI is not here to replace humans; it is here to free us to live the mindful lives that we yearn for. It’s hard to discuss AI without acknowledging the science fiction inspirations that have become embedded in geek ephemera. From the almost human like Star Trek’s Mr. Data to the self-aware Skynet of Terminator that attempts to exterminate humanity. The technological marvels man has created and the geek icons that have become household names can both teach us and guide us on the path to a better way of life.
As I start this next chapter of my life, I invite you to join me on my path to the Slothiverse and live a life of mindfulness, harmony and wonderment. Regardless or creed, nationality, or religion we all need our own personal code to live by and our sanctuary where we can find peace. The eclectic music group “They Might Be Giants” have a quirky song titled “Birdhouse in Your Soul” that encourages listeners to build a sanctuary within themselves. That is what I want from the Slothiverse, to build a digital sanctuary for anyone who wants to this path with me to find a better way of life. Join me here as I start this journey to be more mindful, live harmoniously and embrace the wonder of the world.
This is such an incredible article, which gives light to the many facets of our lives that we fail to challenge. There is so much out there, in the universe, that we don’t see, nor do we take time to understand it. You have such an incredible mind, and I thank you for sharing your perspective on our world and our potential for a greater life, with more meaning.
I cannot wait to read your next article.