1.26.2011

Moments

There are moments, in all of our lives and all of our days, where things could go drastically different had our timing been slightly different. Or so I think when random things cause my schedule to change. Like this morning when I left unnecessarily early for work. Even though I knew the commute would be messy and slow, I left too early. And while I was driving I was wondering if by leaving that extra-extra 10 minutes had prevented me from some kind of catastrophic event. Or put me in the path for some terrific and life-altering event.

If fact, I think about this a lot. After 9-11 these stories were common. People who had had business meetings in the towers but their alarms never went off so they were running late and never got there. It is easier to connect the dots after some tragic event like 9-11, but what about in everyday life? Chances are, the differences small things like waking up late make are minimal. But does one minimal thing after another add up over time? Sure! All of life tends to be one cause and effect strand after another. So why wouldn't the last minute change of plans to take the back-roads instead of the main highway somehow, even if minimally, effect the outcome of the rest of your day? Or your life?

Pax.

1 comment:

  1. The butterfly effect, huh? Interesting.
    To really throw you a curve, what if I told you that the conscious mind can only decide a split second after your subconscious has responded to the physiological? In short, free will, as we know it, doesn't exist.

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