The Threefold Nature of Modern Life: Navigating Our Lives Through “Threesomes”

Modern life has an uncanny knack for compartmentalizing itself into sets of three. From the choices we make daily to the societal structures we move through, the rule of threes is everywhere, silently shaping how we navigate the world. Whether it’s the subtle hierarchy of airline classes, the way we categorize our food choices, or the structure of our day, life offers a constant refrain of “first, second, third.”

Let’s begin with a familiar modern metaphor — air travel. In our jet-set culture, First Class, Business Class, and Economy Class represent more than just the seats on a plane. These three tiers embody social status, aspirations, and the unspoken divisions between privilege, comfort, and necessity. First Class whispers of luxury, exclusivity, and a life unburdened by the constraints of space. Business Class, often the realm of the professional elite, serves as a liminal space — comfort balanced with practicality. Economy Class, the most populated and least luxurious, becomes a symbol for the masses — those who get from point A to point B with little fanfare.

But the rule of three doesn’t stop in the skies. It finds its way into the mundane details of life, often dictating the way we consume. Take milk, for example. In the age of dietary choices and food labels, we are given yet another triad: Fat, Low-Fat, and No-Fat. These options are presented to us not just as choices, but as markers of identity. Do you embrace the full-fat indulgence of tradition? Opt for the compromise of low-fat, walking the tightrope between pleasure and restraint? Or, do you go all the way to no-fat, sacrificing taste for the promise of purity?

These three choices, like the airplane classes, represent more than their functional differences. They are symbols of the tug-of-war between indulgence and discipline that defines modern life. Each option offers a version of yourself — how you want to consume, and, more importantly, how you want to be perceived. The act of choosing between fat, low-fat, and no-fat becomes a cultural performance, an act of self-branding that extends far beyond the grocery store.

And then there’s time. Morning, Noon, and Afternoon — the three acts of our day. Our lives move in rhythm with the clock, and each segment of the day holds distinct roles, expectations, and moods. Morning is the sacred realm of productivity, the hours when we are most optimistic and driven. Noon, the fulcrum, represents balance, often punctuated by a meal that bridges the gap between morning focus and afternoon fatigue. And the afternoon, that slippery slope toward evening, becomes a period of diminishing energy, of reflection, perhaps even regret for the day’s unfinished business.

This tripartite structure is nothing new. The Greeks had the three fates, Christianity has the Holy Trinity, and storytelling follows the rule of three acts: setup, conflict, resolution. Our modern-day versions of these threesomes — First Class, Business Class, Economy Class; Fat, Low-Fat, No-Fat; Morning, Noon, Afternoon — are the echoes of an ancient need to order the world into manageable, relatable parts. Three is the perfect number: not too few to oversimplify, not too many to overwhelm.

In a world that seems to offer endless choices, these recurring triads offer a framework, a way to define ourselves by the categories we align with. Whether we’re seated in Business Class sipping low-fat milk at noon, or buckling up in Economy with a full-fat latte at dawn, our lives are woven into these cycles of three. The power of this trinity — the constant sorting of the world into threes — offers comfort, a semblance of control in a world that can feel overwhelmingly complex.

So, the next time you’re presented with a trio of choices, pause for a moment. These seemingly mundane sets of three might just hold the key to understanding how we move through modern life. After all, life isn’t just about the big choices; it’s about the threesomes that guide us, silently shaping our experience in ways we rarely stop to consider.