Throwing caution to the wind isn't my thing, I generally play pretty safe which has both its upsides and downsides. I generally survive but, I generally don't have opportunities for large gains. There is a modicum of security without the possibility of uncertainty. It is a trade off.
Lately, I have been looking to embrace the uncertainty more openly as I start to understand that where I want to be in this world cannot be accomplished through the illusion that is the security. And it is an illusion, there is no such thing as guaranteed, foolproof or certain. The only guarantee in this world is not helpful to living a full life for it is life ending.
A few years back when i started my company, it was one of the largest risks I had taken as it meant zero financial certainty. Even the small amounts I was earning as a freelancer were somewhat reliable due to the relationships I had built. Striking out alone was risky. However, it was time for I was growing, miserable in what I did even though I quite enjoyed most of the work. There was nothing extra and it was hand to mouth for over ten years which meant, if something went awry as it often did, there was nothing to fallback on. This is a position no one should really be in or, be forced to be in.
I was talking with 
I am lucky to have both been born into and now live in another country that does offer high levels of social services that cover a great deal of the basic needs like healthcare but, this comes with its own risks. The lack of taking risks. Having that safety net provided by others can lead to complacency and an entitlement mindset. They call them entitlements after all.
This happens on Steem when people rely on the support they receive, whether at the highest levels of autovoting whales or, the lowest with small amounts. In my view, this place is unreliable in too many ways to trust its current incomes. This will change though and the plan for me is to be part of the change.
Like I mentioned in the conversation last night, it is my aim to support as many people as I can while growing. The plan is to be able to have enough stake help in SP that I can provide small amounts for people however, I also need to work at my own position so I do not have to rely on the charity of other or, the liability of governments to cover me if everything goes south, if I face hardship. Living in Finland, that is going to take more than living in a cheaper country. Yes, I could move somewhere else with my family but, it is not an option at this time.
There are plenty of resources in this world, plenty of possibility for all upon it to have at least their basic requirements met but, there is a great deal of inequalities between points. It seems, what some people think is necessary for a fallback position to 'survive' is a great deal higher than the next. Some are never finished padding the cushion and this generally comes at the expense of others.
The way the world and people operate however, does mean that people have to create some padding as the communities rarely organise themselves well enough to look after all, even at the basic level. For the lowest reaches to be supported, it takes those with more to lend a hand when required but, they have to have more, otherwise they become useless. At least, in the current world.
One day all of this might be replaced by an AI that works out a fundamentally better distribution of resources and argues the point with such clarity that all accept it. It is possible that if none had to worry about resources, we could then focus on living life better or, as is likely, it is possible we become complacent and entitled and expect to receive without action. This is high level enslavement.
The world we have currently is a complicated mess that is difficult to navigate and find balance as there are so many conflicted positions. Help here is to harm there, which is a damned if you do, damned if you don't position. This is part of the reason that so many take an individualist approach as they cannot rely on others but, it also tends to lead to forgetting that those others are also key components of being an individual in this world. Another conflict that requires balance. One day things might be different but until then, we all have to work if we want opportunity and that always comes at a cost.
Sacrifice.
Taraz
[ a Steem original ]