What Do You Want To Pass On?

Today, April 22, is Earth Day. It’s a day to think about how we treat the Earth and take care of it.

One of my favourite video creators, Prince Ea, released a new video today called “I Talked To KIDS Around the World, Here's What They're DYING to tell their Parents” and I really encourage you to watch it.

Prince Ea has been a huge inspiration to me over the years with how he creatively and poetically talks about the issues of society. You’ll see how influential he’s been to me when I release a new video of my own next month.

In his new video he puts parents on the spot and questions them about what they are doing to ensure a better future for the 2.2 billion children of the world.

Like he said, “You did not inherit this Earth from your ancestors. You’re borrowing it from your children.”

One day we will be gone, but if we want to keep the world going for future generations then we have to make the choices today that will nurture the world beyond our own time.

What do you want to pass on to the next generation before you go?

Are we going to pass on an impoverished world or a prosperous world?

Are we going to pass on a sick world or a healthy world?

Are we going to pass on a peaceful world or a world that rages with war?

What ideas and beliefs do you want to pass on?

On my journey of curiosity I have come upon many people who have inspired me. Prince Ea is one of them. Another big one is Sir Ken Robinson.

Robinson was a strong voice advocating for the crucial changing of the school system. I was sad to hear when he passed away in 2020. A champion had died.

His TED Talk “Do Schools Kill Creativity?” is the most watched TED talk of all time. But have you watched it?

There are so many people alive and dead who have been inspirations.

They are the people who have made us believe that the world can be a better place.

But not enough people know the remarkable story of Daryl Davis.

Not enough people have learned from the ancient stoics such as Marcus Aurelius.

Not enough people have heard that when Albert Einstein was asked if he believed in God, he replied “I believe in Spinoza’s God.”

What else are we missing? What might be lost to the next generation if we don’t pass it on?

They are not enough. The people who inspire us are not enough.

We are all part of a relay race. Those who inspire us pass on to us a torch of light.

At the end of the newest Spiderman movie Now Way Home, there was a scene that really hit me. It’s a graveyard scene and one of the characters says, “It hurts because they’re gone and then it hurts all over again because you remember what they stood for… and you wonder is all of that gone too?”

Peter Parker replies, “No it’s not gone. Everyone that she helped, they’ll keep it going.”

I’m sure you had someone who inspired you. Maybe it was a historical figure. Maybe it was your parents. It might even be a fictional character from the mind of an artist.

They passed something on to you. A torch has been passed to you.

Will you keep it going?

Stay curious,

-Zach

Question of the Day: Who has inspired you and what is it that you want to pass on?

Movie of the Week: I watched “Everything Everywhere All At Once” on Tuesday. It was an astounding film! It might not be everyone’s cup of tea and I will warn that there is some pretty twisted humour, but it is a heartfelt thought-provoking visual masterpiece that needs to be seen in theatres!