One Wish Willow

The other day, two friends and I finished watching the movie Obsession. Afterwards, one of them asked what we’d wish for with the willow, a wish-granting object from the movie.

I said, “maybe world peace.”

they laughed

My other friend said he would wish to “always be content,” so he would never have to experience bad things in life.

The friend who raised the question, thought this wish was wildly flawed. He argued life would be boring without highs and lows, I get that, no rain without shine right?

But can’t you just have plain cloudy days without thunder, and still enjoy the sun when it comes out?

That was our objection.

My friend then adjusted his wish. Not to be in a state of constant contentment, but to “lower the bar” for terrible things in life. Keep the sunny days, and cloudy ones too. But replace hurricanes with plain grey skies and some light rain.

Our friend wouldn't hook himself up to an experience machine, removing all the bad and replacing it with some simulation of pure bliss. Instead, he would carve out another version of our universe—one where, for example, children don't get bone cancer, no treatment is ever invented, and no one experiences the joy of a cure.

I don’t think we need that experience.

I’d wish it never existed.