First World and Billion Person Problems (FWP and BPPs)

Today, I went to one of those big box stores, and I racked up the single biggest bill I have ever managed to put in one cart.  I've had some doozies, but this was one for the record books.  As I was feeling just a little bit sorry for myself, I realized that I'd just run smack into a classic first world problem (FWP).  This bill, and more importantly the items listed that add up to that bottom line, are if anything a very good problem to have.

This is a good problem to have

Believe it or not, I was saved from my own pity party associated with the bottom line of this receipt from a conversation I had with Rory Conlan this morning during the course of my walk.  As I've noted recently, the days are getting shorter which means that I'm finishing my morning walk in advance of the sun rising to a sufficiently high altitude to take reasonably good photos.  My rule set for the last month or so has been to only allow myself to use contemporary photos in these little missives of mine, and I've stuck to that practice without fail.  That's one of the reasons you've been treated to multiple pictures of the area around the Capitol.  It's moderately interesting, and the sun is up high enough to facilitate photography.

This morning I was talking to Rory and thinking about how to solve this dilemma.  I suggested that later in the day we should talk about solving billion person problems.  I was first introduced to the concept within the last week or so by an interview on NPR with a Google executive.  It's a great concept, and there is a pretty good description of using the concept of solving Billion Person Problems (BPPs) to frame an approach to useful living linked here.

The problem that I used as an example to explain the concept of BPPs to Rory was the problem of providing access to optimal footwear to each individual on planet earth.  I'm not really sure if this is truly a BPP or not, but I know that eleven months ago I had this problem myself.  What's really fascinating to me is that until I started putting some miles of asphalt underneath my own two feet, I didn't even realize this problem existed for me on an individual level.

If I had photos of the number of times my walking has resulted in feet taking on a consistency similar to ground hamburger, I'd be able to more adequately illustrate my point.  I have addressed the issue once before on this blog in the early days, but suffice it to say I can actually look back on this matched set of big but not particularly terrible blisters with feelings of warm nostalgia.  After this little experience, I've had some that would make your teeth hurt just looking at them.

Since I live in the first world and almost exclusively have FWPs, I strongly suspect that  at least 15% of the world's population (about a billion people) are at least as poorly off when it comes to having access to optimal if not adequate footwear.

I like the way that my journey so far has allowed me to expand my horizons one small step at a time and bring some much needed perspective to my incredibly rich and blessed existence.  There are problems all around us just waiting to be solved, and the awareness that has come with my pilgrimage in six mile segments has made me grateful for the things that have been entrusted to me.