Introduction
One of the most mind-blowing aspects of the world today is the realization that our founding fathers—those who created the foundations of modern society—had a blank slate. They could have designed anything, yet they chose to create systems like taxes, student loans, and the rigid 9-to-5 workday. The lack of creativity and vision in shaping a better, more inclusive, and sustainable world is astonishing, especially when we consider the individualistic nature of society today. What would the world look like if, instead of competition and control, our systems were built on community, sustainability, and care?

1. Missed Opportunities: Creating Systems That Limit Rather Than Liberate
The founders of modern society had the opportunity to create something revolutionary—systems that could foster innovation, freedom, and community. Instead, they built frameworks that prioritize profit and productivity over the well-being of people and the planet. Taxes, student loans, and the 9-to-5 work structure feel like mechanisms of control, limiting people’s potential and creativity. What’s worse, many of these structures emphasize individualism and competition, reinforcing the idea that the “strongest” must thrive while others are left behind.

2. The Eradication of Female Trees: Symbol of a Lost Connection to Nature
One fascinating and overlooked example of this is the removal of female trees from urban environments. Female trees bear fruit, which could provide free food to communities. But rather than allowing people access to this natural resource, male trees—those that do not produce fruit—are more commonly planted. This speaks volumes about a society that prioritizes cleanliness and control over communal benefit and sustainability. It symbolizes a disconnection from nature and a lost opportunity for people to live in harmony with the natural world.

3. A World Shaped by Competition, Not Community
The systems we’ve inherited promote individualism and a survival-of-the-fittest mentality. In this world, success is measured by personal gain, often at the expense of others. This disregard for community and collective well-being creates vast inequalities, alienating people from one another and from the planet itself. Our environmental crisis is a direct result of this mindset, as we exploit natural resources without regard for future generations, expecting the earth to continuously produce and thrive despite the harm we inflict on it.

4. Imagining a Different Future: What If Women Had Built the Systems?
One powerful thought experiment is imagining how different the world would look if women—mothers, caregivers, and nurturers—had been equally involved in shaping the structures of modern society. A society built with more female voices at the table might prioritize care, community, and sustainability. It would likely value the well-being of people and the planet over profit and productivity. The structures that support us today—education, work, health care—could be designed to nurture, rather than constrain, human potential.

5. The Need for a New Vision
The challenges we face today require creativity, collaboration, and a commitment to the collective good. We must rethink the systems we’ve inherited and ask ourselves how we can build a world that prioritizes community, equity, and sustainability. This isn’t just a call for more female leadership, but a call for diverse perspectives and voices to reshape the way we live, work, and interact with each other and the planet.

Conclusion: Reimagining Society Through the Lens of Care
The world we live in reflects the choices of those who came before us, but that doesn’t mean we can’t choose differently moving forward. If we allow ourselves to imagine what could have been—and what could still be—we open the door to a future built on care, creativity, and community. A future where competition gives way to collaboration, and where the strongest aren’t the ones who exploit others, but the ones who uplift them.