Something Old And Something New

It seems that nothing is ever left to be these days. It is either create something new and unique, or die a slow and painful death while the future pushes forward. Kaizen is an interesting word that most would look upon with a curious eye. To some its a goal, its a purpose, its something worth striving for! To others it sits quietly right beside the word "whatchamacallit" in their vocabulary. But what about the rest who see it as an endless quest that bowls over history with little to no regard.

To enlighten those who do not have knowledge of this word, it means continuous improvement. Its a Japanese thought process; also seen as a conscious being that shares the steering wheel with the invisible hand. This philosophy has one goal in mind: perfection, although it knows this is an impossible task. Regardless of its potential or current success in the business world, it has its side effects that seem to go unquestioned in the name of progress.

If business drives our economy, and our economy drives our society, then would it not be fair to say that the way we do business has become the way we run our lives. Constantly seeking improvement despite the costs associated with visions of progress. Taking for granted the joys of past creations because they are seen as out-dated or obsolete. Most importantly not allowing the time to savor the moment because your already obsessed about what is going to be next. With this mind-set we will run in one and only one pattern, circular.

Not to say that becoming stagnate is a positive situation, or that the future looks dismal. On the contrary, the sheer pleasure of completing that task you set some time ago can not be matched. And becoming "satisfied" with no future goals or aspirations will leave you clinging to something that will never come again. However, in the delicate balance of past, present, and future it is not hard to see which one wins in a world dominated by the thirst for power.

This thought can be applied to just about any aspect of life, but what is on the forefront of my mind is the beauty and nostalgia of the past and present. In order to have a past to remember we need to start preserving our heritage. When all we have left is the future we will become lost in the endless search for something that was never meant to be achieved...

It has been said to stop changing is to die.
Might it also be noted that changing to quickly without direction will bring about a similar fate.
Smell the roses for fuck sakes....