Munro Stewart

I'm very intrigued by what a future society might look like, and what will keep those who are currently lucky enough to be smarter or stronger than others motivated, instead of profiting from others to get rich, when we make a better system than capitalism that benefits everyone.

I think we should create a full class in secondary schools and a subject of classes in universities called Life, which teaches and simplifies life improvement and wellbeing skills to help make all people's lives and society as a whole better and happier.

What

• Productivity and Tasks - Getting Things Done, 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People
• Improvement and Goals - Think And Grow Rich, The Magic Of Thinking Big, Mindset
• Positivity and Happiness - The Power Of Positive Thinking, As A Man Thinketh
• Simplicity and Peace - Don't Sweat The Small Stuff, The Untethered Soul
• Routine and Habits - The Power Of Habit, Atomic Habits, Meditations
• Mindfulness and Focus - The Power Of Now, Flow, Wherever You Go There You Are
• Social and Relationships - How To Talk To Anyone, How To Win Friends And...
• Health and Fitness - Fitness For Dummies, Eat Drink And Be Healthy, Why We Sleep

June 8th, 2026

Some of the people I find most fascinating have publicly straddled the line or gone back and forth between trying to improve work or productivity and life or wellbeing. I innately admire this kind of person, and I applaud anyone who wants to do things to makes our lives better.

• Leo Babauta - Created Zen Habits website and blog where he writes and teaches about productivity, improvement, and personal development, but also about being healthy, achieving happiness, and simplifying your life. (Zen Habits)
• Gina Trapani - Created LifeHacker website and blog where she straddled the line between writing about useful tips and tools to make life and work better, and works as a software developer and designer creating tools to make work and life better. (Note To Self)
• Derek Sivers - Created CD Baby business by following his technical interests after working as a musician following his artistic interests. Created Derek Sivers website blog and books to help people improve their life, work, music, and technology. (Derek Sivers)
• Belle Cooper - Created Hello Code business and works as a software developer making apps that help with journaling, logging, and keeping track of life and work. Writes and journals about life and work at various websites and her blog. (Belle B. Cooper)
• Tim Ferriss - Created The 4-Hour Workweek and Tools of Titans books focused on work and productivity, and The 4-Hour Body and 4-Hour Chef focused on life and health. Created and invests in businesses, and created educational podcast. (Tim Ferriss)
• Penelope Trunk - Created Penelope Trunk website and blog to write candidly and openly about all aspects of careers, education, life, and struggles. Teaches, coaches, and provides courses to help people with careers, education, life, and writing. (Penelope Trunk)
• Bill Gates - Created Microsoft business to improve work and productivity technology and software which made him a lot of money, and created a foundation to improve life and health resources and research which made him a lot of money. (Gates Notes)
• Oprah Winfrey - Created The Oprah Winfrey Show and subsequent media network that entertained people, but made the choice to also educate people with positive information and stories to make your life better, which made her rich and famous. (Oprah)

June 7th, 2026

It may not be that striving for goals, improving ourselves, finding a purpose, thinking positively, or getting better is necessarily important for us to be content, but that if we aren't striving to be better we may turn to negative actions and thoughts that make us unhappier.

If Buddha was content doing nothing, then "Why is Buddha so famous?"

• If Buddha thought that living a life in which you don't need to do anything, make any improvements, or strive for any purpose was most rewarding or the best way to live, then why is he so famous and how did he produce many teachings which are so well-known?
• Could it be because he followed his passions, sometimes strived to make things better with his ideas, found ways to potentially be of service for others, spent time doing and working on things he enjoyed, and even gained recognition from others for his work?
• If Buddha was truly happy and content with just existing, meditating, and sitting in nature all of the time, then I wonder if we would not know him at all, let alone recognize him as such a famous and great writer, teacher, and philosopher.
• I wonder if he may have really enjoyed his purpose or role as a teacher and philosopher, and spent a good deal of time learning and teaching how to live a better life, which resulted in him creating and writing many teachings on enlightenment and other ideas.
• I admit my ignorance that I am not a master scholar of Buddha's teachings. Of course I understand he taught many different ideas including the Middle Way of finding a balance, and I know that he didn't actually teach everyone to just "sit in nature all day".
• This was simply inspired by my ignorant image of him sitting in nature all day being content, and wondering if he might not be so famous if he did not follow his own passions and get some enjoyment from or even attachment to the purposes, roles, practices, or habits he did in his life.

February 18th, 2026

I wonder if the world might be better and happier if people had much more physical affection and sexual experiences in a safe and caring way without going long without any, possibly with women choosing this and lowering their expectations without pressures like money or marriage.

What does it cost and what must be lost?

To buy gifts just for show?
To buy flowers from a store?
To buy clothes they just stow?
To buy jewels for ever more?

What does it cost and what must be lost?

To be walking in a park?
To be talking on a bench?
To be swimming in a lake?
To be kissing on a couch?

January 7th, 2026