The Pendulum of Progress

As a gay, slightly melancholic man navigating my late twenties in 2025, I often find myself wrestling with big questions about culture, politics, and humanity itself. Recent examples are: What are the building blocks of an ideal society? In a thousand years, if humans are still here, what will they think of our current system of borders and nations? Why, after all this time, are we still divided over something as simple and natural as sexuality? Why can’t we all agree on climate change? It’s already too hot!!

I had the benefit of growing up in Canada in the 2010s, where the pendulum of society seemed to have swung fully to the left. I remember my optimism of that time, with the roar of Lady Gaga’s advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community, or the moment Dave Franco’s character in 21 Jump Street casually said, “You don’t care about the environment? That's kind of fucked up, man." I was confident that the world was changing for the better every day, while being naive in thinking that there would be no possibility of going back. In the years since, the pendulum of political opinions feels like it’s swinging in the opposite direction, faster and further than I ever imagined. I’m shocked, almost daily, by how far it continues to go.

My father was a political journalist in Ottawa, the capital of Canada, where I grew up. From him, I think I inherited a curiosity about how political decisions impact the world, and a need to write down my thoughts before they cause my Apple Watch to ask if I’m okay due to a “heightened heart rate.” This is why I’m starting the Pendulum of Progress. I want a space where I can analyze, reflect, and make sense of the world as it tilts between hope and despair. I want to create a place that feels accessible for people like me, people who want to push for ideals rooted in personal freedom, cooperation, and the pursuit of humanity’s full potential.

Here’s what I believe to my core: when people are free to be themselves and unshackled from outdated societal pressures (unburdened by what has been, if you will), they’re able to reach their highest potential. And when individuals thrive, society thrives. This, to me, is the ultimate goal of humanity: a world where each person’s pursuit of happiness is intertwined with the collective work of building something better for everyone.

I am hopeful that the Pendulum of Progress will become more than just my personal outlet; it will be a place where ideas meet action. Through News and Updates, Opinions and Editorials, Blueprints, and Data and Analysis, I want to explore the world as it is, while imagining the world it could be. My hope is that by sharing my thoughts and inviting others to do the same, we can build a community that feels both curious and courageous, a space that reminds us that progress isn’t a straight line, but a pendulum. And every swing, no matter how far back it goes, can be pushed forward again. Let’s come together with hope, compassion, and a stubborn belief in humanity’s potential.

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