CozyNet Blog

Re-think the things you value

It wasn't until these last few years that I've really been re-thinking about the things in my life that I value and if any of it's worth anything at all. Sometimes I like to imagine that if I were to someday become a father, what things I would like to pass on and share with my children. It wasn't that long ago when I would have imagined passing down my hobbies and interests in computers, science fiction, and video games, but I've reconsidered these things in retrospect because I don't see very many positive values in any of it.

I'll admit that I don't have a complete picture of the world in how things came to be or where things are headed, but much of what I've garnered as treasures thru my life were accumulated knick-knacks and litter from an artificial material culture defined by marketing trends and propaganda. Video games and computers were cool because I knew of nothing else as engaging and entertaining - it was all I had, and so I adopted them. I liked cartoons, comic books, toys, and other things growing up too, but to think any of this as having a value I should share with my hypothetical family would be pitifully laughable because I see nothing in these things that could ever sustain a life of peace, joy, and love. It's actually embarrassing to me now to think that any of these hyper consumerist pastimes and activities were once something I identified with.

This isn't something I usually write about, but I saw a video recently suggested by YouTube in their recommended sidebar which caught my attention. The title was "How Did We Get Here?" I try to stay away from doom and gloom stuff on the internet because I believe it's made to capitalize off of disenfranchised people seeking to vicariously project their personal faults and failings onto an imperfect world rather than fix anything in themselves. I skipped thru most of it because I wanted to hear their conclusion, which I made into the following snippet because I think it highlights a particular compromising sentiment among people that have good-intentions but are burried so deep under a consumer culture blinded by distractions they don't even yet realize.

Comic books, arcade games, Chuck-E-Cheese, and Ninja Turtles; what's the value in holding onto these things? This nostalgic notion isn't just a counter culture protest to prevailing trends, it's yet further more demoralization among a society that's completely lost its vision. While some people choose to wallow on trash in the streets, which is highlighted in the beginning of the original video, wallowing on trash in your mind isn't that so different. You have to go all the way in removing yourself and your family, if you have one, from these worldly influences and to tell them why instead of lying about it. Holding on to childish memories as if to say "things were once good but now they're not, I keep you in this bubble for your own good" isn't going to help anyone. At best, it would just rewind the time a few decades back for a moment of bliss before shortly picking back up with a grim reality.

There's nothing of this world that'll preserve you or your family. If you want to return to something, then return to the roots of family and start from there. Aim higher for real and honest relationships rooted in unconditional love for one another. What's needed right now isn't more freedom of expression, but a revival of faith and family. Look out for one another and give lasting gifts that won't spoil or errode away.

Thanks for reading my blog!

Date: 2025-12-02