I love burgers. For years, McDonald’s was my weekly indulgence. Similarly, I enjoy pizza—thin crust from Pizza Hut is my favorite. I spend hours watching documentaries and shows on Netflix and creating short films for YouTube. As a programmer, I find fulfillment in coding, weaving ideas into digital reality. My life feels full of activities—but here’s the catch: they are all tied to things created by others.
Now imagine this: What if McDonald’s didn’t exist? What if Pizza Hut was never founded? What if no one invented the camera? Without it, there would be no Netflix, no YouTube. And what if screens weren’t invented? Computers wouldn’t exist, and neither would my job.
If we stop and reflect, we see how much of our lives are shaped by choices made long before us. Our preferences, routines, and even passions are often inherited, rather than discovered. This raises a crucial question: Are we truly living, or are we just assembling our lives from pre-existing pieces?
This thought experiment isn’t just philosophical; it’s a lens to uncover the truth—or rather, to peel back the layers of untruth. Living as if you are the first person on this planet forces you to question what is real and what is merely inherited. It compels you to confront the systems, habits, and conveniences that shape your existence.
Imagine Being the First
What if you were the first human on Earth? There are no societies, no corporations, no currency. The only givens are nature’s basics: hunger, sleep, the raw materials of the earth. There’s no one to dictate your choices. No ready-made systems to follow. What would you do? What would you create?
This thought experiment is powerful because it strips away the external influences. It forces you to confront yourself—your raw desires, capabilities, and creativity. Living as if you are the first doesn’t mean rejecting modern life. It means questioning it. It means uncovering the layers of influence to see what’s real for you.
Layers of Untruth
Think about it: much of what we do feels natural, but is it? Take the modern work-life system. We wake up, work jobs that sustain the systems we live in, and rarely stop to ask, Does this serve me? Or is it just the default path?
Society has become a massive marketplace where every interaction is transactional. We are so deeply embedded in it that we rarely consider an alternative. We’re like fish in a bucket, unaware of the ocean beyond. Yes, the ocean is risky—full of unknowns and predators—but it offers boundless freedom.
How to Live as the First
The next time you face a decision, pause. Ask yourself: What if I were the first person on the planet? Would you still make the same choice? Or would you create something entirely new?
This shift in perspective can transform how you live. You begin to see which parts of your life are authentic and which are inherited or imposed. You may discover that much of what you considered essential is just noise.
For instance, do you truly love pizza, or is it a convenient default? Do you work the job you want, or are you fulfilling a role the system expects of you? These questions aren’t meant to make you reject everything. They’re meant to help you see clearly.
The Truth Behind the Layers
By questioning the layers of influence, you start to uncover your truth. You recognize what truly serves you and what doesn’t. You gain the power to craft a life that’s uniquely yours, not just a mosaic of others’ choices.
So, the next time you pick up a burger, binge-watch Netflix, or follow a routine, pause. Reflect. Ask yourself: Am I choosing this? Or was this chosen for me?
Living as if you are the first isn’t about rejecting the world—it’s about seeing it clearly. It’s about stripping away the layers of untruth to find the essence of who you are and what you truly want.
The truth is out there, but it starts with you. Are you ready to uncover it?
