Posted by Ryan
March 7, 2009
I started reading Perelandra by C.S. Lewis today. In the second chapter the character Ransom says something I find extremely interesting.
Haven’t you noticed how in our own little war here on earth, there are different phases, and while any one phase is going on people get into the habit of thinking and behaving as if it was going to be permanent? But really the thing is changing under your hands all the time, and neither your assets nor your dangers this year are the same as the year before.
– Perelanda, C.S. Lewis
Then, I read this post, How far away is your emergency? by Seth Godin, and marveled (mainly because I wanted to use the word) that Godin illustrates exactly the point Lewis was talking about.
It’s amazing that people have so much time to fret about today’s emergency but almost no time at all to avoid tomorrow’s.
A glimpse at the TV and internets shows one talking head after another angsting about today’s economy. These are the same people who needed to devote entire hours to mindless trivia nine months ago when they could have done an enormous amount of education about avoiding this mess in the first place.
…
They say the best time to look for a job is when you don’t need one. And the best time to invest in a new Purple Cow is when you’re still milking the old one. Move your emergency back in time and you’ll be amazed at how far your money goes.
– Seth Godin
It’s important to remember that our present circumstances are not permanent. Tomorrow’s emergencies will be different from today’s and we ought to keep that in mind so as not to be surprised and, more importantly, so that we’ll be prepared when the changes occur.
Posted by Ryan
June 22, 2007
You’ve probably noticed that sometimes, it’s really hard to want to work. You may really struggle with wanting to work on Fridays and Mondays. But then once you start to work you find that work really is, in fact, as painful as you thought it was going to be so you go to the water cooler to drink more water (or just to stand around). Because, if you drink lots of water you’ll eventually have another excuse to postpone working! Whoo hoo!
Why is it hard to start working? Actually, it’s hard to start just about anything.
For example, it’s really hard to start an automobile these days with a hand crank.
Stopping things, on the other hand, is often easier. But it depends on what you’re stopping. I’m told that it’s really easy to stop mowing the lawn to go watch some sports game. Stopping a bad habit though, is hard.
So why are some things hard, and others really easy?
Because continuing what we start is what makes it easy or hard. It’s really easy to stop mowing the lawn to go watch a game because watching the game is easy. If watching the game was hard, we’d keep mowing the lawn.
I wasn’t kidding at all when I said “once you start to work you find that work really is, in fact, as painful as you thought it was going to be.” It’s funny, yes, but it’s funny because it’s true.
It’s easier to change when you have a realistic view of what it actually means to do it; which is to understand that it’s going to be hard and that you’re in it for the long run.
The tasks themselves never become easier, it’s only our ability to perform the tasks that gets better. That sounds like a quote I’ve heard.
So let’s say, for fun, that you’re the Colorado River (see? you can tell this is going to be fun already!). The above picture isn’t of the Colorado River, but it is a river! Anyway, let’s pretend you’re the Colorado River before the Grand Canyon existed. You are looking ahead at your life, not wanting to try to carve out the Grand Canyon because, really, that would be really hard. But, you eventually start and your suspicions are confirmed. It is really hard, but you keep at it. You keep at it for about 6 million years. Is it still hard to carve out the Grand Canyon? Yes. Has your ability to complete the task improved? Yep, you really have no other choice at this point.
So understand that, no matter who you are or where you live, life is going to be hard. Don’t let that hold you back. Who knows, maybe 6 million years from now you’ll be famous too!
Oh one other thing, rivers tend to take the path of least resistance, which means they go off cliffs. And for some reason they are okay with that. But cliffs are not okay for people. Unless of, course, you’re attached to something like this.
Posted by Ryan
June 2, 2005
It’s time to put the goal aside until further notice. I have decided that I like getting up early, but going to bed at 10 is not going to work. Going to bed when I’m tired and waking up early will work though and I’m planning on sticking with it. Checking my e-mail and staying away from forums until 7PM is a little extreme when I wake up so early. Not checking until 2-4 PM is a bit better.
I never thought I’d say it, but it actually is possible for me to be a morning person. I still doubt it’ll ever be easy, but it IS worth it and it IS possible.
If I can do it, anyone can. Seriously.
