Utopia

The word "utopia" stems from the Greek "ou topos", which means "no place". By definition, therefore, a utopia is a non-existent place, perhaps even a non-attainable place.

Why is a utopia non-attainable? For one thing, once it is attained, it would immediately cease to be a utopia and transform into a real place with a real name, e.g., Albuquerque (not that I have ever been there!). Utopia at this time would be an altogether different place, one that has no name and doesn't exist!

The reason Utopia is a highly desirable but always unattainable place is because by nature, humans can never be completely satisfied. Man (and woman) strives to conquer happiness, yet happiness is extremely elusive. "Be careful what you wish for" is the old adage and I can't think of a truer one. Programmed to find the flaw in everything, we can never be free of that gnawing feeling that there is something more or better somewhere else. We set our sights toward a new Utopia every single day.

This is both a curse and a blessing. We are probably all aware of the curse. The "if only..." hounds our thoughts daily. "If only I were richer...", "If only I was thinner...", "If only I was younger...", these are the unfulfilled wishes that may become a torture in our soul. But how about the "blessing" part?
Well, if we did not continually strive for something better, we would probably have never climbed down from the trees. The trait of constant dissatisfaction with our current circumstances is a genetically encouraged trait, a built-in survival instinct.

Utopia is unattainable because we must never attain it. If we fulfilled all our wishes, we would no longer need to strive. We might as well curl up and die, since once the need to strive is taken away our strongest reasons to live, work and progress also disappear.

My thoughts for the New Year and instead of the usual resolutions. No resolutions this year, just keep on trying!!