h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

According to the UN, the 7 billionth inhabitant of Planet Earth was born yesterday and the Guardian asked people to write a letter to them. Rather than do it for the Guardian, I thought I’d have it as my first proper post for NaJoPoMo.

Dear Stormageddon, Dark Lord of All (trust me, it’s a good name),

Hopefully right now you’re fit and healthy, cradled in the arms of people who love you very much. Welcome to the world – we’ve been waiting for you for quite some time. Some people say your birth represents mankind’s greatest crisis, an every expanding population using up ever decreasing resources, whilst others say you represent hope: that mankind will find a way to make sure you grow up will all you ever need because, thanks to our inventiveness and perseverance, we always do find a way. My advice is to ignore them all and focus on you, don’t let your significant birth detract from the miracle that is your life: don’t think that you’re special because you are the 7 billionth human, know that you’re special because you were born.

So what advice does this humble 4 billion and something-th human have to give? You’re in a world that’s facing a lot of challenges and we’re crying out for heroes – we really need you and the other quarter of a million people who share your birthday to be heroes. That sounds like a big task, but hear me out: it doesn’t take much to be a hero and you’ve definitely got it in you. There’s really not much to ask from you for the first few years – laugh a lot, smile a lot, enjoy being a child. Try to hold on to that sense of anything being possible – that’ll come in really handy later on – and remember what it’s like to be universally adored. Be scared, be weak, rely on others from time to time – it’s all part of being human and people will help if you ask for it. Never be afraid of it, if you never feel that you’ve got to prove your strength to others, people will recognise it on their own.

Knowledge is everything – as soon as you can, start devouring knowledge. It makes things so much easier and, as a child of the information revolution, hopefully it’ll all be readily available when you want it. Don’t forget about stories – stories tell us how other people see the world and how they react to it – a story is one of the greatest gifts you can be given as it’s someone showing you their world and, trust me, every world is worth seeing. Be able to share other peoples worlds and you’re halfway to being that hero I talked about. The other half is knowing you: know what you like, what you don’t like and don’t let anyone take that knowledge away from you or tell you it’s wrong. As you get older, love and friendships will come in to it and this is where the knowledge becomes really important. Love often and with all your heart and don’t let anyone stand in your way. Know your potential, just what you’re capable of and what you want to do and go for it. Do this and you won’t go far wrong.

You will mess up, hopefully spectacularly. Don’t worry about: in the end the only bad experience is the one you don’t learn from, and the biggest mistakes can be the biggest lessons. Never forget that if you’re breathing, you can change. Every day until your last will be a day you can change, learn or grow.

Good luck, hopefully you won’t need too much of it. If you do figure it all out, let me know because I’d love to know how you did it.

Iago

Thank you for this journal. Life itself is a gift and should be appreciated. I understand there were 367,000 births yesterday. Wouldn't it be wonderful if all of them could grow up to lead fulfilling lives?

What a lovely idea, and what a great letter.

There's a novel idea, a letter a day. Although in fairness, me typing 'A' on Tues, 'B' on weds etc ain't much of a journal is it?

Those are good words for a newborn. Very good words.

I wonder when the 6th billionth child was born? Or when the 8th billionth on will be.

Nice journal, Iago.

I do feel old, though - the world's population has doubled in my lifetime... and I'm only 40. Heck. I'm doing my bit to slow things down.

But yes - for all the new arrivals, I do wish them health and happiness and peace of mind. And I hope they make a better showing of running things than our generations have done.

Sol, the 6 billionth person to be born was Adnan Nevic who was born in Sarajevo on October 12th 1999 and he was asked what he wanted for the 7th billionth child. His answer was simple and elegant:

"I wish that the birth of the seven billionth child brings peace to the planet."

According to estimates the 8 billionth person will be born between 2024 and 2027.