7 for Sunday

How much of my life is shaped by choice—and how much is an illusion of control? Twice I didn’t act upon his invitation. I had no idea the second time was my last chance. Then he died. We make countless decisions every day. Some seem trivial and some seem important, but often it’s only clear…

When even flexibility wears you out, what’s left? With the power of hindsight I can see there was an age of fire. There was a long period—too long, probably—of trying to carve a path through the world. A period of trying to make a dent in the universe. Making my mark. I think it’s telling…

Is this tension serving me? If you’re just reacting to whatever life throws at you, then any armchair philosophizing about life’s purpose or finding your Life’s Work is, frankly, pointless. I’m not criticizing going through life in reacting mode; if one is crushed by situation or station, then you necessarily have your work cut out…

Can we invite insight instead of chasing it? I’m struck often by interesting relationships between how words are spelled and their meaning. Taken literally, the meaning of “sight” is what our eyes normally do, and things which can be seen are “in sight.” Now consider “insight,” which is about apprehending some new (to us) idea.…

How does acceptance transform us? In today’s world, rarely is anyone actually listening. Everything is intentionally distracting. Everything clamors for our attention. That makes what should be the “simple” act of listening into something profound. The results of fully listening are profound and couldn’t be more relevant today in times of immense distractions and a…

What makes a fulfilling life? It’s a mistake to continue doing something solely to extend the streak of doing. Longevity can be a sign of value, but it isn’t inherently valuable. I’m more interested in noticing that it was only just a year ago that I moved all of this to its own web site,…

Where does real progress begin? So much is written and discussed about history: recording it, studying it, learning (or not) from it, does it repeat or rhyme, etc. But why don’t more people talk about each of our personal histories? If progress is real despite our whining, it is not because we are born any healthier, better,…

Can we simply wait? There’s something wonderful in the moments we don’t understand. It can be a bit of conversation, a moving image, or even just a thought. This week, I’ve been thinking about waiting—waiting for something to happen, for understanding, for serenity. I always feel a tension to hurry through the waiting, as if…

Can we choose attentiveness? I’ve spent my lifetime seeking: knowledge, control, achievement, clarity. Finally, I began to wonder—and have subsequently become convinced—that life is not about seeking. It’s about noticing what’s already here, and being honest about the tradeoffs I’m making with my time, attention, and effort. ‘Dagon’ has all the elements of a classic…

Can we create meaning through language, learning, and daily practice? The search for meaning is clearly universal. It may take us a few decades before we begin, but we do eventually take that first step in our search. And one of my goals as the communicator is to make it as easy as possible for…