The 2026 Book Title is The Answer to Life, The Universe, and Everything and don’t worry… my ego is not that ridiculous nor are my hopes for 2026 that aggressively optimistic.
When May comes around, I will be turning 42. As anyone who is anyone knows Forty Two is the answer to Live, the Universe, and Everything. As a fun science fiction reference- that’s a nice title. But the more I thought about it? The more the entire scheme referenced by 42 makes sense for our modern existence. There was a technologically advanced universe that wanted someone or something else to give them the answer so they programmed a computer to give them the answer. But when the computer DID give them the answer? They didn’t understand it. AT ALL. They couldn’t comprehend it on any level. They lacked the curiosity to ponder the question themselves; then they lacked the creativity to ponder the answer. So they had to start an entirely different process to have someone or something else to give them the QUESTION! But the heart of it, I maintain, is even if they ever did receive THE QUESTION… they wouldn’t have understood it. And they wouldn’t have been able to reconcile why THE QUESTION’s answer was FORTY TWO. Extrapolating all of that to our current era? I see scores of people inputting their questions into Generative A.I. and acting as though Generative AI thought about the question and gave them an answer.... which is actually NOT how Generative AI works. Generative AI is not thinking. It is not thinking at all. It’s essentially a language model. But as we discover students and professionals and scores of people accepting the Generative AI responses without an ounce of critical thinking, review, or research.... we escalate our descent into turning humanity into an unthinking mass. To the point where we won’t even ask the questions because we lack the creativity, intelligence, and curiosity. Teachers will have Generative AI asking “Using citations from the work, explain the importance of Romeo & Juliet Act 5 and give your analysis in modern language” and the Students will simply feed that prompt back into Generative AI and hand it in. Generative AI giving the answers and the questions; with the humans getting dumber, less creative, less intelligent, less inquisitive… ultimately becoming LESSER in every way. Simply because we had AI shoved down our throats by billionaires who didn’t care if they were destroying the planet in their attempt to replace all actual humans because they don’t want human beings to muck up their selfishness and money hoarding.
SO…
The Answer to Life, The Universe, and Everything
I don’t always do resolutions but I thought this year would be a good one for it. Essentially, list things I want to do and give myself something realistic to connect it back to. Abstracts can be argued. Connect it to something real and hold yourself accountable.
(1) Address and complete at least 12 things from the House List
That’s essentially saying “I want to make sure I complete one house thing per month.” Now, for some things? That’s too aggressive. It is unlikely that I will be able to “complete an entire room in one month”. But the intelligently “breaking things down” and taking things in chunks? I can and should get at least 12 of those things taken care of this year. And I’m phrasing it as 12 Things This Year as opposed to One Thing A Month to show realistic understanding and self-empathy regarding schedules. Like January? It would be difficult to get a full thing done with my schedule for January! Like June? When I’m out of state for two weeks? It would be difficult to get solid completion for that month. But taking care of multiple things in a month where I don’t have a show and will be in state? Makes sense that I can get more than one thing done!
(2) I will not purchase alcohol while I am working on a show
This one has caveats, of course, and specifics to it… but if I am doing theater for my emotional wellbeing? If I need my brain to work so that I can make fun decisions, really enjoy the process, and memorize my lines? Then lowering the alcohol intake should be a basic expectation! NOW… there are caveats. I’m not playing “Rules Lawyer” by saying that if I have alcohol at home, I can still drink it if I want. I just can’t replace it if I’m in a show. So… if I have, for example, wine and have a glass of wine with dinner.... if I kill that bottle, I can’t replace it until the show is over. SO, it will also make me more intentional with my alcohol intake during the show. Because… do I want a glass of wine with diet Mac & Cheese tonight or do I want a glass of wine with soup next week… or do I want to save the wine for a future night where I might POSSIBLY have someone over?! An additional caveat? In CFCT shows, they are now living up to the Theater Myths of Old in some small way. We didn’t hit the bar at all prior… but we are now hitting the bar after a successful opening night. NOW even this has defined rules. Because in the show I am currently working… the Director is living at the Hotel connected to the bar. SO… if we go during the show that isn’t Opening Night? I’ll get non-alcoholic drinks, if available (I only say if available because it is a unique bespoke bar with a strict limited menu). The reason I’m not doing that with Opening Night? Tradition and the Spirit of the Event. If you drink to a successful night with hopes of continued success… be authentic.
(3) Record what I read and aim for 12
So… I used to be an avid and passionate reader! I would rip through several books a week! Law School gutted that from me. Too much reading too often and… burned out! But it’s a little hypocritical of me to be so critical of the Illiterate Public when I’m barely any better. True, my hobby requires me to memorize a new play anywhere from 2 to 3 times a year. And I shouldn’t ignore that such an activity not only counts as reading, but counts as an advanced form of reading as it requires understanding the material, reading and re-reading until memorization, discussing and embodying what I am reading several times a week, and being able to understand/recite/perform the material enough that people watching can understand the story, the characters, and the material. SO as a way of encouraging additional reading while giving myself credit for the Theater reading? I will be keeping track via Prosebox on “Works Read” with a target of at least 12 NEW items. So… for example, credit for The Cottage but it counts as 1. IF I CAN do Shakespeare this summer, credit for Richard III but it counts as 1. Adding to this, I am seriously hoping I can force myself to make time to work on some of my To Be Read Pile because I’ve wanted to read those books for a while. And if I do a monthly check-in (or so), I can do a better job of discovering whether I am taking proper reading time or not.
(4) EARNEST ATTEMPTS AT SOCIALIZATION
This is… not a resolution per se. But recently, I was out on my deck and thought to myself- If you don’t count my parents… and you don’t count friends/family of Hermia… and you don’t count the cleaners that I am paying.... no one has visited this house! This brand new deck, the new yard landscaping… the work I am continuing to do on this house.... nobody has seen it! Not that I’m doing it for other people but… truly… consider. Do you have people that come to your house? Friends? Co Workers? Siblings? Nieces and Nephews? Neighbors? Do people visit you? Maybe that’s an outdated concept but… it is a little depressing to me. Like the house is just becoming a sarcophagus, a tomb… sealing things in. I want to change that. Somehow.
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