10,000 km Up, Looking Down on Humanity
Sitting on a plane, 10,000 km above the earth, eating Häagen-Dazs, I can’t help but think about the contradictions of modern life. The fact that we’ve built machines capable of transporting us across continents in hours, with internet access, fine dining, and even lie-flat beds, is a testament to human progress.
Yet, this same experience also reflects the extreme inequality that defines the world today. Air travel is a perfect example of how unequal the world is. On the same flight, some people are in private suites with fine dining and lie-flat beds, while others are squeezed into tight seats for hours, just trying to get some rest. And then there are the billions of people who will never even set foot on a plane.
It’s a reminder of the different realities people live in—some experiencing complete comfort, others just getting by, and many who aren’t even in the picture.
The Growing Divide Between Hope and Reality
This pattern isn’t just limited to flights. It plays out everywhere. In cities like Hong Kong, younger generations are losing hope. The cost of living keeps rising while wages remain stagnant. Owning a home is out of reach for most, and career progression feels meaningless when salaries don’t match inflation.
The result? Many people stop planning for the future altogether. When there’s no clear way forward, why even try? Instead of saving, they spend on short-term pleasures—holidays, collectibles, or whatever makes the present moment feel bearable. It’s not reckless spending. It’s just that, for many, the future no longer feels like something worth sacrificing for.
At the same time, technology is moving faster than ever. AI is automating jobs. Robotics is replacing physical labor. The industries that once provided stable career paths are being wiped out, and new opportunities aren’t appearing at the same rate. The wealthy continue to live in a separate world, untouched by these concerns, while the rest are left to wonder where they fit in a rapidly changing landscape.
The Real Crisis Isn’t Just Economic—It’s Belief
The biggest problem isn’t just the cost of living or job automation—it’s the loss of belief. If people don’t believe in a better future, they won’t build for it. And if they don’t build for it, that future never materializes.
This is how societies fall into stagnation. When people lose faith in long-term progress, they shift their focus to whatever is easiest in the moment. Instead of investing in themselves, they consume. Instead of working toward a goal, they scroll endlessly. Instead of thinking ahead, they react to whatever feels urgent right now.
Not because they’re lazy. Not because they’re irresponsible. But because they don’t see the point in anything else.
This isn’t just an individual mindset—it’s a self-reinforcing cycle. The more people believe that nothing changes, the more their actions reflect that belief. And the more their actions reinforce that belief, the more it becomes reality.
Where Do We Go From Here?
Maybe the first step isn’t about fixing the system overnight. Maybe it’s about changing what we believe.
What if the people around us need belief more than they need solutions? What if change happens in small, personal ways before it happens at scale?
The world won’t fix itself. But we can change how we interact with it. We can consume less and create more. We can invest in meaningful relationships instead of distractions. We can believe in ourselves—and help others believe in themselves too.
Small shifts add up.
10,000 km up, the world looks small. But the problems feel impossible to change. Maybe the first step isn’t fixing everything. Maybe it’s just choosing to believe in something different.
That’s where it all starts.
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This opinion piece was originally written in January 2025