meaningfuel

I am a child of the 90’s.

I locked the Butler in the freezer on Tomb Raider II. I’ve conducted my share of atrocities on the citizens of GTA’s Liberty City, Vice City and San Andreas.I’ve stormed Omaha Beach with the first wave on Medal of Honor Allied Assault.

Each experience has been enhanced by the NPC’s (Non-Playable-Characters) who are programmed to occupy, attack, defend or respond to the world I am playing through. It is a simple existence, it has one purpose. As technology advances, their performance can be more polished, responsive or entertaining but they will always be an algorithm.

It is easier than ever to fall in to an existence of relinquished control.

Expand the Map: It is the easiest time to be alive. If we choose to, we can spend most of our existence at home. We live in a world of online food, shopping, relationships and work. While this isn’t necessarily a negative advance, it can put people at risk of shrinking their lives into a cycle of inactivity. Push the boundaries of your safety net and be open to activities and opportunities that take you further out into the world.

Difficulty – Hard: When we repeat the same activities, we get better. Naturally, we become more proficient and the tasks are less challenging than they once were. Again, not necessarily a negative in isolated incidents. If your entire life is unchallenged it stops being a story. Always review your goals, chase success and ensure you are challenged.

Tear up the Script: When we are comfortable, the self preservation option looks great. We can find ourselves in an echo chamber of excuses and declined invitations. I’ve made it habitual to say yes once a week to something different. This can be at work or home and it’s surprising how quickly you can find new opportunities or experiences.

NPC’s have a role to play. Their purpose is to enhance the experience of one person playing a game. It is sometimes tempting to imagine a world where our responsibilities are relinquished to nothing though sadly, we live in a world that will leave us behind. If you recognise yourself, take back some control.

You are Player One. Always.