Since the time of the Greek philosophers, many have pondered what makes us truly human. Passion, free will, intelligence, complex social lives—these are the elements of humanity.

However, I believe there's another crucial aspect that deserves attention: our ability to engage with the world, interact with it, and ultimately influence it. By nature, we are tinkerers and explorers. But a great malaise of our current times, in my opinion, is the atrophy of our exploratory and tinkering instincts, owing to our sedentary lifestyles.

Look at it this way: the ultimate modern lifestyle often involves having a desk job, working out in a closed gym, and reading theories in college that don't always translate into practical knowledge. There’s a deeply passive element even to our entertainment, as we consume it rather than engage with it. It is no longer “recreation”.

We've designed a world where we emulate conditions that we believe are beneficial, yet in reality, we become increasingly disconnected from the actual world. The digital realm has made more barriers between us and others, preventing the kind of direct interaction that fosters genuine relationships and meaningful impact on the world.

Today, we seem to have more technological tools, safer travel, and more secure lives compared to rest of the human history. Yet, we remain confined to our comfort zones. The consumerist system only exacerbates this, distracting us from venturing out and exploring.

But one might ask, is exploration and experimentation really necessary? Why is it important to create an impact on the world? I contend that this ability is fundamental to our humanity, as I claimed earlier. It is precisely due to such daring that we get the systems we cherish today. These are the products of daring individuals who ventured beyond their comfort zones.

Interestingly, such risk-taking or exploration need not be carefully planned. If it is too planned, it ceases to be true risk or exploration, and that kills the spirit of it. This brings us to the concept of serendipity—the occurrence of events by chance in a beneficial way.

Serendipity is luck in action, where effort intersects with opportunity. The discovery of penicillin is one instance. Another is the invention of the microwave oven by Percy Spencer, who noticed a chocolate bar melting in his pocket while working with radar technology. These moments of discovery are not mere accidents but the results of being open to possibilities and actively engaging with our environment. This reminds me of these words by Steve Jobs: “Everything around you that you call life was made up by people that were no smarter than you. And you can change it, you can influence it, you can build your own things that other people can use.” (This interview can still be found on YouTube).

Serendipity extends beyond technological advancements to political and social movements. The suffragette movement, civil rights activism, and the environmental movement all emerged from a mix of intentional action and unforeseen opportunities.

When people interact with their world and each other, they create some really fertile ground for change. These movements often start with small, seemingly insignificant actions that, when combined with the right circumstances, lead to profound societal shifts.

Nassim Taleb, a great thinker on risk and uncertainty, argues that action leads to mental clarity. In his book "Antifragile," Taleb suggests that engaging with challenges and uncertainties makes us stronger and more resilient. It sounds like common sense, but our daily lives suggest otherwise. Taking action, even amid uncertainty, provides insights and clarity that remain hidden when we are simply being passive. Tinkering is greater than mere knowledge.

Ultimately, understanding our ability to play with the world and influence it is extremely transformative. It transforms both the external world and our internal nature. It encourages us to take risks and engage in activities that might lead to unexpected but beneficial outcomes. This mindset shift can lead to personal fulfilment and broader societal progress—the kind of progress which cannot be planned in a mere policy meeting.