Things I want

My take on a @dcurtis blog post of the same title and topic.

The best way to predict the future is to think about desire. The problem with desire is that it tends to be bounded by what’s actually possible; as we grow older, our imaginations seem to develop artificial caps that limit our ideas to things that are reasonably achievable in the short term. But who cares about what is reasonable? Here’s what I want.

I want clean air to stop being a luxury. Everyone should be able to step outside and take a deep breath without worrying about what it’s doing to their lungs.

I want healthcare to feel like care. Not a confusing system of bills, apps, and hold music. Just someone helping you feel better when you need it most.

I want war to stop being something we get used to. It’s terrifying how quickly we scroll past headlines about people losing their homes, their families, their futures.

I want climate change to be treated like the emergency it is. Not a side note, not a campaign promise, but something we confront with urgency and real action.

I want safety to be universal. No one should have to earn the right to feel safe because of how they look, who they love, or where they come from.

I want refugee stories to be met with compassion, not suspicion. These are people doing what any of us would do if we had to choose between danger and survival.

I want mental health to be part of everyday conversations, not just something we whisper about when things fall apart.

I want us to think twice about convenience. Just because something’s fast or easy doesn’t mean it’s good for us or for the world.

I want education that actually prepares people for life. Not just exams or jobs, but empathy, adaptability, and knowing how to ask better questions.

I want justice that repairs, not just punishes. Real justice looks like healing, accountability, and change — not just checking a box or assigning blame.

I want tech that respects people more than profits. We can’t keep building tools that ignore the harm they cause just because they scale well.

I want leaders who actually listen. Not just nodding along in meetings or issuing statements, but listening with the intent to change.

I want land to be treated with respect. That means acknowledging the harm done and doing the work to return power and ownership to Indigenous communities.

I want food systems that don’t exploit the planet or the people growing what we eat. Fairness should be baked in, not added on later.

I want people to stop blaming themselves for burnout. We’re living in systems designed to exhaust us. Let’s fix the system, not just the symptoms.

I want cities that are built for people, not just cars or condos. More parks, more public space, more moments that make you smile on your way to work.

I want us to stop tying our worth to how productive we are. You don’t need to earn your rest. You’re allowed to just exist.