What if popcorn were currency??

Have you ever wondered how far our beliefs have come to define the very beings that we’ve become and how absurd and questionable it would have been for us to believe something that we currently don’t?

Let’s, for a second, consider that the words in our vocabulary were believed to mean something different than what is currently accepted. What if “thank you” meant “I love you,” or if “shit” meant “ice cream” (at least the emoji resembles a soft serve), or if “yellow” meant “black” or vice versa? Why did we come to believe a belt goes with the waist while a shoe goes with the feet? Come to think of it, “shoe” is just a sound, why and how did all of us come to associate this with feet? Why is an animal that woofs called a dog, and not a wolf, which definitely sounds closer? And why on earth do the sound made by a dog and the outermost layer of a tree trunk share the same name? I doubt they are similar in any regard. Imagine what would happen if we were to question why and how we’ve come to believe the word “question” correlates with “??????.”

Looking at this absolute control of beliefs from yet another perspective: pardon me for my absurdity, but why is it that the mint notes we often exchange are so dauntingly valuable while the other notes remain just that, mere notes? Would it be far-fetched to state that currency notes are considered money only and only because we believe so? What would happen if tomorrow the higher-ups got us to accept the notion that popcorn is to replace notes as currency? Wouldn’t it be absurdly yummy to believe for a second that probably the classic popcorn was equivalent to a $1 bill, butter popcorn to $10, caramel popcorn to $50, and cheese popcorn to a $100 bill (apologies, I’m biased towards cheese)? Would this actually be this absurd, or is it my belief that makes the idea too absurd to think?

Most of our beliefs, though, are centered around societal values. Since it is an established value that an adult with a youthful appearance signifies sexual vitality, we believe it is alright to spend thousands on maintaining our appearance to adhere to this value. You may believe that crafting something ingenious and different is the way to leave your mark on this world, but isn’t the underlying value there creativity? Loyalty is the value that shapes our belief in making and maintaining friends. Freedom is the value that pushes us towards our belief in independence. While most of these values are set in stone by society, these values, if adhered to, are believed to craft an ideal society—a society without crime, pollution, accidents, discrimination. But that would also mean there wouldn’t be much for our police, doctors, lawmakers, and diversity advocates to do.

From among the tons of values instilled into us and the beliefs thus cultivated, my dears, dare I say, it is perfectly alright to question a few that don’t sit well with you. It is entirely natural to pick and choose the values that are a part of your core. And it is absolutely essential to shape the beliefs that YOU intend to live by, beliefs that YOU stand to defend, and beliefs that YOU are content with, deep down. For it is these very beliefs that cultivate us into the beautiful or brilliant, eccentric or adamant, and intelligent or courageous people that we are.

On a serious note, wouldn’t it be delicious to replace currency with popcorn??? xD