How Does A Child See The World?
How does a child see the world? As a place to play. As a place of discoveries. As a place of fun. Then the child grows up. Encounters bullies, criticism, stress. But. Before that. Everything is a wonder. A bouncing ball is a wonder. An eagle floating in the sky is a wonder. Running is a wonder. Splashing in rain puddles is a wonder.
Lunch is a wonder. Having a bath is a wonder. Waking up is a wonder. Most everything is a source of play. Learning is play. Being with others is play. Work does not start until school. The happiest adults retain the importance of play. They may be good or bad, but they are happy.
Arnold wondered how adults could relearn childhood wonder. He was only nineteen but already felt the sheer joy slipping from him. He studied history, found the powerful people who retained childhood wonder were often patrons of the arts. And the arts, indeed, often celebrated wonder, presented the fabulous.
Arnold was a tech billionaire, and if he could transform adults, was willing to spend. He started with the arts, pouring money into reliable broadcasters and streamers who sought the truth. He thought he could work behind the scenes but nothing in the internet age is secret, for long. Soon the world knew what he was doing, and suddenly Arnold was controversial. He was accused of being woke, of supporting diversifying, of being part of a larger conspiracy. The more projects he funded, the greater some folks’ anger.
Arnold regarded the anger with wonder. He thought people so getting worked up about words and politics was marvellous. It made his day.