Information has no scent.
Anon.

Life only receives its brilliance from inactivity, writes Byung-Chul Han, who, according to many in the know, is the most renowned contemporary philosopher today and one of the most widely read in the world. His writings are pretty dense and to fully understand how he a at that conclusion you might want to read his “Contemplative Life” or, at least, the CC article about it.

True happiness is due to beautiful gestures that serve no purpose, is another one of his quotes.

He explores the widely used concept of information has not scent from a whole new perspective.

How do I connect these ideas?

I cannot be creative when I am in a panic trying to meet deadlines. I need calmness and a clear head.

I am most happy when I let go, leave the world with its worries behind, and aimlessly drift without any purpose in the universe, carefree.

What is really important is less determined by gold standard randomised double-blind placebo control (RDBPC) studies, nor by hard statistics and solid, cold information. These provide knowledge but lack depth, they don’t last, and, above all, they are never creative. They are based on what already exists. As does AI.

To change what is already there requires scent, creativity, hope, feelings, longings, curiosity, ambition.

Last week was Pádraig’s 35th birthday. It was busy with little time for reflection.

Friends called over to celebrate with him, and – for the first time in a long time – family was over from as far away as the US and Australia. Together perhaps for the last time in this life.

It was a very happy day.

His birthday, 12 years ago, was also the last day we were with Pádraig prior to his accident. We went off to Germany the next day and he took off on his J1 to Boston.

Being with the ones you love and living with them is what is important. It is never always easy. Never always pure happiness. But there are moments, depths, scents, and love you will never forget, those that count.

The rat race of our society where you have to be non-stop busy, ruthless but ready to agree to foul compromises, devoid of ethics and morals, where only success, not the means, counts, — does not allow us to live that kind of life.

Filling in forms. Resending the same emails a dozen times. Expecting decency and common sense from people whose world is dominated by the desire for a bigger car, a bigger TV, a bigger house, the next promotion, and more instagram followers. – Is all that not futile and a waste of the little time we have here together?

How can I be myself instead of allowing others to define me?

Is Pádraig providing guidance for the way we should live? I know few who have moved and inspired more by doing “nothing”. Just by being himself in his gentle way, brilliance, and genius.