Sapien Prime: A State of Being

My name is Nicholas Howell, and I am eternally hopeful about who we can be as human beings.

There is a sentiment that I find far too prevalent among our species, one I have observed toxically relayed across generations: “the ends justify the means.” I could not be in greater conflict with such a mindset, and have tried to war against it the whole of my life. To my core, I believe that the “means” are far more important than the outcomes, that the truest measure of human is not what we achieve in life, but how we go about our journey.

Too many believe that the path to life’s success is learning to “play the game,” submitting to the idea that the world cannot change – I hope I am never resigned to such cynicism. For decades I have been told that my view on this makes me naïve, and I will no doubt continue to hear such easy responses. When it comes to this, I am intransigent. Rightfully so, history’s lasting memory of us will not be about what we built or accumulated – it will be about who we were as people, how we lived, the measure of our honor, the strength of our morality, the expanse of our kindness, the vulnerability of our courage, the pursuit of our excellence, and whether we gave more than we took.

Are you living a life that consistently, holistically, pursues the potential of human excellence across body, mind and soul? Do you nurture your physical state? Do you seek knowledge, reason and wisdom? Do you choose curiosity over assumption? Do you value truth? Do you acknowledge that we are one community and practice kindness? Do you develop temperance? Do you embrace humility and fear the downsides of ego? Do you exercise courage? Do you put honor above all other things? Such are the important questions.

I am proud to be a human being and I seek only to increase that pride. I believe that the true capacity of human extends well beyond what any can fully imagine, an apex potential that cannot be reached, only pursued. It is my belief that a life well-lived embraces this pursuit, and does so wholly and intentionally across the spectrum of human capability. While embodying our ultimate capacity cannot be achieved by any of us, choosing to seek it is achievable for all of us. Imagine a state, a mindset, that is dedicated to constant evolution. Pushing and pushing and pushing to discover where the limits truly are. Over the years and in my mind, I have conceptualized such a state, and I call it Sapien Prime, one that pursues a higher state of being. Such a state does not seek tribal excellence, but seeks human excellence. I strive to constantly embody this approach to life, and I am not always successful. I am human, and so I err, and struggle, and fall, but also know that I am always capable of realigning with the drive to push further, growing and rising stronger as I continue through this mysterious construct we call existence.

I desire to engage you, fellow Sapiens, with my opinions, perspectives, experiences and philosophies. I am an intentional generalist, and as such the topics I will cover in the works to come shall vary greatly. The body, the mind, the soul. I wish you to join me on this journey.

Is this an endeavor in which I seek some sort of success? The question itself is an oversimplification. I am compelled to do this. All my life, since early childhood, many of my ways have been considered unorthodox. My nature is one that constantly challenges the status quo, that relentlessly ideates about new paths – these instincts have led both to success and failure alike. I do not submit that this is the right or wrong way to be, I simply am this way. Further, my psychology is not one to choose a tribe, or a specialty. This can, at times, make one feel like a stranger to society. Perhaps even my words here seem strange to you. But rest assured, none of us are estranged. I, like you, have a role to play in our common story. We are all connected on the canvas of fate. As far as my role, perhaps from time to time it is an unorthodox viewpoint that can free a mind. I can promise you that I will not always be right, and I implore you to challenge me so that I can grow. If any part of these works opens a single person to a different way of thinking, then I will regard my efforts here as a worthwhile contribution, and when I am finished, I sincerely hope I have learned much from you.

For temporal reference, it is the year 2026 and much about our world as of late seems to be on a disturbing arc. With certainty, I know I am not alone in this feeling. You know of what I speak. It feels like there is a steady abandonment of reason and morality, and this sort of perceived societal spiraling can dishearten the best of us as we are threatened with the prospect of some sort of post-truth apocalyptic world. I know you are out there, silently feeling or saying out loud, “Has the whole world gone mad?” I tell you this now and plead that you do not forget – you are not alone in this feeling, we are in great numbers, we are legion. Our existence as humans is one that requires constant and unavoidable recalibration, an existence that can never escape times of adversity but can always overcome. So, speak up, stand fast, live genuinely, be hopeful. I believe our brightest days can still be ahead.

With all humility, and without compromise, I conclude this missive by asserting this to you…

As individuals we can be more, as a people we can be more, and the world can change.

Evolve.