The Bitcoin time perspective is wild. Reflecting on it has been profoundly eye-opening, and once it has been seen— there is no returning to our prior ways.

Ever since venturing down the rabbit hole that we call Bitcoin, I’ve started making significant life decisions and forming nuanced opinions on polarizing topics based on the implications of multi-generational timeframes. Before Bitcoin, I spent money recklessly, leading a fast-paced and impulsive lifestyle. Even in my early days of learning about Bitcoin, I hadn’t fully seen the light. I would still blow the occasional $500 bar tab or buy some flashy gadget I didn’t need. Living in the moment has its merits, but so does considering the time beyond our own lives. Now, I pause before purchases and decisions, always reflecting on how they might impact the future.

When your money isn’t constantly being devalued before your eyes, you start seeing the world differently. You begin saving for the future with confidence, knowing that no central authority can endlessly print away your hard-earned time and energy. Inflation doesn’t just erode purchasing power; it steals time. It destroys the hours, days, and years of effort represented by a lifetime of savings. When governments print money to prop up failing banks or fund inefficient ventures, the impact ripples through generations. Those at the bottom of the ladder are hit the hardest, their ability to save and plan for the future undermined by forces beyond their control. Decisions become focused on surviving today instead of thriving tomorrow, leaving little room to consider the long-term implications of our choices. This system creates a mindset where we are incentivized to spend now, instead of save for later—an unnatural phenomenon that most of us have accepted as normal.

For individuals who simply want to put away money for a rainy day, inflation is a relentless adversary. A dollar in 1900 has lost over 96% of its value. The countless hours of labor behind those savings have been stolen. Not only did the expansion of money destroy what they could buy, it stole our time and energy. Years of our lives—blood, sweat, and tears—washed away.

This isn’t just a historical problem—it’s a recurring one that occurs every decade or so and is accelerating. At an average inflation rate of 3%, the value of cash halves roughly every 23 years. This means that even modest inflation rates gradually diminish purchasing power over time, forcing individuals to chase speculative assets like stocks, real estate, and gold—not because they want to, but because they have no choice. Personal inflation rates differ depending on consumer habits, but a glance at rising prices reveals they often outpace the 2% annual rate reported by the government, which poses a significant problem for individua;s, as highlighted in the table below:

Corporations like McDonald’s understand this. Sitting on a prime corner lot in every major city is far smarter than stacking a pile of cash losing value. Even if the franchise is losing money, the building it operates in is guaranteed to “rise” in value over time. This mindset trickles down to everyday people. To protect themselves, they’re compelled to invest in assets—with real estate being the pinnacle savings instrument of our time. The financial system we’ve accepted as normal turns shelter into an investment vehicle and savings into a gamble.

But here’s the irony: real estate is a lousy store of value—which is what we are all truly seeking. Properties require constant maintenance. Without care, assets deteriorate. We’ve all seen abandoned theme parks and overgrown cities. We’ve all dealt with broken pipes and creaky floorboards. Why should saving our hard-earned wealth require us to become housing market experts, landlords, or property managers? Why should we pay financial advisors to manage stock portfolios full of companies whose values or practices we might not even believe in, just to beat inflation?

A flawed monetary system inflates bubbles in real estate and stocks, redirecting resources into speculative markets instead of productive investments. Imagine a world where people don’t have to read quarterly earnings reports after a long day of work to ensure their cash retains value. If the incentives driving these bubbles were removed, the financial landscape would dramatically shift. Inflation wouldn’t push people into markets like real estate or zombie companies; instead, they could focus on building or supporting businesses they genuinely care about. They could plan for the long term and make well-thought-out, rational decisions about their future.

Bitcoin takes this entire dynamic and flips it on its head. It isn’t a tool for speculation as often misunderstood. It is the best form of saving humanity has ever seen. Unlike fiat currencies, Bitcoin’s fixed supply ensures scarcity, making it a refuge from the erosion of wealth caused by inflation. As weak currencies flow into stronger ones (a concept known as Gresham’s Law), Bitcoin’s role as a store of value becomes clearer. It’s not that Bitcoin has “gone up 19,000%”—it’s that people are exchanging weaker money for stronger money.

The implications of a world on a Bitcoin standard extend far beyond monetary policy. It offers something unprecedented: a tool for transferring the value of labor and energy across time and space. Unlike fiat, Bitcoin allows time to be preserved across generations. It isn’t just a hedge against inflation—it reintroduces the idea of saving with confidence, of being able to store wealth in a form of money that cannot be manipulated or devalued.

By saving in Bitcoin, individuals are no longer tethered to the uncertainties of fiat systems. The Bitcoin time perspective is about aligning our actions today with the future we want to build tomorrow. It’s about prioritizing long-term impact over short-term gains. When you embrace Bitcoin, you embrace a mindset that values time, energy, and the well-being of future generations. It’s not just a currency; it’s a revolution in thinking that will change you forever. The past, present, and future converge in this new paradigm, offering hope in an otherwise uncertain world.

Bitcoin isn’t a bubble; it’s a beacon.

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The Earth Lens series is a harmonious fusion of art and nature, inviting unknowing viewers to step beyond the ordinary and immerse themselves in the lost intricacies of the surrounding landscape. These interactive earthworks serve as portals to the natural world, drawing us into a deeper connection with land around us; while forcing us to consider the impermanence of the world around.

Each unique Earth Lens is meticulously crafted and placed with an eye for perspective. The choice of location is deliberate, aligning with a prominent or unique feature of the land chosen to highlight. Whether perched atop a hill, nestled within a forest, or overlooking a serene lake, every lens captures a unique viewpoint. The curvature of the frame guides our gaze, emphasizing certain elements—a distant mountain peak, a winding river, or a cluster of wildflowers.

Accompanying each Earth Lens lies a small bench, providing the viewer with an invitation to linger. Positioned precisely where the lens frames its most captivating view, the bench beckons viewers to sit and absorb the work. Take a seat, and time slows down.

Where did this work came from? How long it has been standing? Who built it? The bench becomes a vessel for contemplation, a place to savor the beauty before us and question the permanence of time.

As the sun traverses the sky, Earth Lenses orchestrate a symphony of light. Through this interplay, we discover that art and nature are not separate entities but interconnected threads in the grand tapestry of existence. In the quietude of an Earth Lens, we rediscover wonder. These humble yet profound installations remind us that beauty lies not only in the grand vistas but also in the delicate details—the curve of a petal, the ripple on water, the whisper of wind through grass. So, take a seat, peer through the lens, and let the Earth reveal its magic.

Impermanence

As an artist, I am drawn to the ephemeral nature of the natural world and the impermanence of the structures that inhabit it. My Earth Lens series is a reflection of this fascination, as each installation is intentionally designed to be temporary, existing for only a brief period of time before being reclaimed by the natural world.

This impermanence is a deliberate choice, as I believe it allows the work to become an integral part of the landscape itself, rather than simply a static monument. By placing the lenses in unique and dynamic locations, I aim to create a sense of continuity and connection between the art and the environment, even as the art itself is in a state of flux. In this sense, the Earth Lens series is not a fixed or static entity, but rather a dynamic and evolving process.

It is a reminder that beauty and meaning are not fixed, but rather are constantly being reinterpreted and recontextualized. By embracing the impermanence of the natural world, and the impermanence of the art itself, I hope to create a sense of wonder and awe, and to inspire viewers to slow down, observe, and appreciate the beauty that's all around us, even as it's constantly changing.

List of works in the series:

001- 'Looking Glass'. Boulder, USA [2016]

002- 'Folsom'. Boulder, USA [2016]

003- 'Sanctuary'. Castle Pines, USA [2016]

004- 'Platte'. Littleton, USA. [2017]

005- 'Grandfather'. Dawei, Myanmar [2020]

006- 'Chongming'. Shanghai, China [2021]

Originally published in 2016 by Hes.

Republished to habla.news/u/hes@nostrplebs.com on 11/27/2024 with slight edits.

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