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Partners
She was struck by the simple truth that sometimes the most ordinary things could be made extraordinary, simply by doing them with the right people… -Nicholas Sparks Accountability partners are a relatively new invention. At least, that term for them is. The concept is not new. People have benefitted from the mutual commitment to assist one another in achieving their goals for as long as there have been people with goals. Nonetheless, the concept has come into vogue in the last couple decades. Business magazines, health journals, and religious publications all tout the benefits of having an accountability partner. There are even phone apps for the less socially inclined. It’s an interesting…
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The Perfect Age
We do not grow absolutely, chronologically. We grow sometimes in one dimension, and not in another; unevenly. We grow partially. We are relative. We are mature in one realm, childish in another. The past, present, and future mingle and pull us backward, forward, or fix us in the present. We are made up of layers, cells, constellations. – Anais Nin At 46 years old, I have no way of knowing what percentage of my life has passed and what is yet before me. I like to believe I’ll live to be more than 100 years old. Some people say it’s crazy to want to live that long. “What happens when your body doesn’t work anymore?…
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Energizer
A friend recently asked whether I believed time and energy were finite. My immediate and admittedly non-scientific response was yes and no–in that order. I have written here before about the finite nature of time in our daily lives comparing it to the limitations of a pie. But is energy different? The language we use around energy is certainly different. Like batteries, we can feel energized or drained. Each conversation or even wordless exchange has a plus or minus effect on our energy level. There are people we seek out and people we avoid. We do this instinctively based on how we feel during and after engaging with them. Interacting with certain humans charges us up. They bring us stories and ideas.…
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Bug Days
“Sometimes you’re the windshield and sometimes you’re the bug.” – Mary Chapin Carpenter Try as we might, there are some things you can’t prepare for or change…life altering events that catch you off guard like a well-aimed snow ball. Everyone’s windshields are different. It would be nice to say that you only get one in life; but on some days they come hourly. Bug days. I would also like to report that I handle these moments with transcendent grace and aplomb, displaying a Zen-like acceptance of my new windshield circumstances. That has not been my experience. My first reaction is usually denial, followed closely with a desire to flee. After several moments of internal negotiation, I…
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Short Cuts
“Genius is one percent inspiration and 99% perspiration.” – Thomas A. Edison Both humble and profound, Edison’s quote contains a daunting universal truth about what it takes for a person to be remarkable. There are no short cuts to greatness. The poet or musician first internalizes the rules of their craft in order to artfully break them. Professional athletes work tirelessly to build the endurance and muscle memory that allow them to perform effortlessly under extreme conditions. Scientists painstakingly repeat experiments to prove their hypotheses. Yet in the face of countless examples, there appears a corollary to Edison’s truth…or maybe it’s just human nature. We look for short cuts. Why? For one thing, sometimes it works. Sort of. That’s why there are…
