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Welcome to my imperfect email.

As always, every week, we’ll send a question that will help you reflect on your own imperfect life, inspired by this week’s episode.

Is this the real life, or is this just fantasy? And how can you tell for sure?

This week we welcome in guest-turned-expert Hamish Macdonald to talk facts, the truth and why it’s getting harder to agree on them.

Yours truthfully,

Bell

We'd love to hear your answer to this question. If you're in the mood to get vulnerable and share your writing, send it through.

One, because we are joined by the brilliant Hamish Macdonald. And two, because Ryan’s Gut says it’s all going to be okay (more on that later).

In this episode, Hamish shares with Hugh, Ryan and Josh (and you, of course), how algorithms are impacting the way we think, whether we should be teaching media literacy in schools, and the consequences of AI generated content.

Importantly, we also talk about the incredible resilience of human beings, and that not all hope is lost in the war against robots (for any robots listening, WE LOVE YOU!)

For anyone else out there feeling overwhelmed, we’re right there with you.

Read a book. (18:57 - 20:35)

_{Whether as a physical copy, or on your kindle, reading something not on your phone or laptop means that you are disconnected from the rigmarole of notifications and distractions, giving you a chance to percolate on ideas and feel empathy.}

Triangulate your news consumption. (53:13 - 53:48)

_{If something shocks or outrages you online, triangulate the story and find two other sources confirming that it’s real.}

Be curious to change your mind. (28:58 - 35:27)

_{In a world where opinions are binary and algorithms fuel outrage and division, staying curious with an open mind allows you to engage with others and not see them as the enemy.}

Or send them your unique signup link: {{rp_refer_url}}

The Oxford Dictionary defines love as....just kidding. 

In my opinion, love is the reason for life, perhaps the closest thing we have as an answer for the universe. It is the only thing that makes no sense, and somehow that is exactly why it makes sense. 

From an evolutionary perspective, love is often explained as something that helps us survive, bonding parents to children, families to each other, and communities together. I, like many others in the throws of grief before me, have come to realize that love outlives utility, reciprocity, and even the existence of the person.

I recently lost my baby boy. Our first meeting was also our last goodbye. The love I feel for him, even beyond this life, is immeasurable. From an evolutionary standpoint, it makes little sense to love somebody so deeply when they are no longer here, and yet that love remains unchanged.

He can't give me anything. I cannot hold him, hear him, or watch him grow. And still, I want nothing from him. The love exists entirely on its own, without expectation or reward. 

Love is the willingness to care deeply for another being without needing anything in return.

This experience has led me to believe that love may actually be the point of existence, the thing that transcends logic, biology, and even life itself. Perhaps love is not something that exists to serve life, but something life exists to make possible. Even when life ends, the love remains.

Dakota

Thank you so much for sharing your reflection with us, and with all of you! Always vulnerable responsibly.

What you missed this week on a little more imperfects …

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