May you live in boring times

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We live in unprecedented times. This got me thinking. Whoever said “May you live in interesting times" didn’t know what they were talking about! Interesting is just a euphemism.

I googled it. It sounds like a blessing but is normally used ironically. Life is often better in uninteresting times. Times of peace and tranquility. Times without millions of people infected by a brand new virus that preys on the elderly and vulnerable.

Vladimir Ulyanov was born in 1870 and certainly lived through some interesting times. His friends called him Lenin and history tells us he caused most of the drama he lived through. But that’s a story for another day. For now, what strikes me is something he said about 100 years ago that applies to our time:

There are decades when nothing happens and weeks when decades happen.”

Our current digital revolution would have gotten a young Lenin very excited. Zoom and Teams usage is through the roof. E-commerce took 10 years to increase 10 points to 16%. Then it jumped to 27%. That’s 11 points in 8 weeks. A decade in the blink of an eye.

Interesting times can bring dramatic change and trouble. Let’s hope by this time next year we’ve clawed our way back to a less interesting world.

Let’s hope our kids live in precedented times.