I often write about the big picture, the serious issues facing society and how "ordinary" people can see the world in order to impact it. It's all very serious stuff. 🙂 And while I do think about these things constantly, and am driven by the mission of TAV, I also partake in good old hedonistic fun. We're not monks after all. We're here to fulfill our purpose, yes, but also to live our life. My urging for a paradigm shift, my plea for any small action on the part of the individual, that has always come within the context of living a "normal" life. The world doesn't need martyrs; it needs considerate people.

And so we arrive at today, a very auspicious day for Bay Area locals. Today is Super Bowl Sunday, and the San Francisco 49ers are playing the Kansas City Chiefs to decide this season's NFL champion. I've been obsessing about this game most of the past two weeks. I'm nervous--the last 2 Super Bowls didn't go very well for the 49ers--but also confident, as I think they are the league's best team this year, and that they'll play well. And while their foe today will certainly be formidable, past performance does not guarantee future success, as they say. Diehard Niner fans like me have been waiting 29 years for another Super Bowl championship. There is a lot of anticipation and emotion pouring into today.

And I've wondered throughout the week if my heart has been misplaced. Should I care this much about a 3 hour football game? How much will this game really impact my life? (I've always argued that cost of living and property values are affected by a big market sports team's fate). If I want to change the world through TAV, is analyzing football really the best use of my time? It's been a sincere struggle. And I'm not writing this to defend myself, or justify my fandom in some grandiose argument. I simply think it's important to indulge in what we enjoy, barring it doesn't hurt anyone or isn't too unhealthy. Of course there is balance, "balance is key," as they also say in life. But I believe one can enjoy hobbies, passions, and good old debauchery that isn't directly tied to one's purpose. We are complex creatures, capable of multiple interests and multiple channels of which to put our energy.

We don't have to be saints. We have to treat others well, and understand our place on this planet, in this universe, and be kind and considerate. And laugh: there should always be lots of laughter. Go Niners, and happy Super Bowl Sunday.