We often talk about “thinking outside the box.” It is a cute idea that we repeat without thinking about it. It is another post-modern sillyism that we throw around without thinking about what we are saying. Cultural gurus have been recommending thinking outside the box for years. It isn’t working.
Maybe we need to start thinking inside the box. There are many options inside the box we are not considering. To be honest, the box is the limit of where we can go. We can be as creative as we want outside the box. We are not hindered by reality, the laws of physics or morality. It is called fantasy. We can come up with clever captions that are heart warming but meaningless. If I think outside the box I can mold all kinds of foolish options that will destroy my life financially, morally and physically.
I don’t think we are even considering all the options inside the box. We need to carefully consider what the resources are and what our options are and make a creative suggestion based on reality. You can only make more or spend less if your budget doesn’t balance. Take that literally or figuratively.
Or maybe we just need to start thinking, period. I am not sure that most of us are too creative, logical or even intelligent. The number of people who have come up with truly original ideas is very small. Who thought up the bow and arrow? How about the zipper? How would anyone figure out that mixing charcoal, saltpeter and sulfur together could make an explosive? After the original thinking is done everyone else just expands on the idea. That is easy.
So let’s quit trying to do the impossible until we have used up the options that are possible.
It is worth a try.
homo unius libri
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Comments are welcome. Feel free to agree or disagree but keep it clean, courteous and short. I heard some shorthand on a podcast: TLDR, Too long, didn't read.