So much that could be done
But that would require you and me to make space in our lives to do it. And that unfortunately requires trade offs. Trade off's suck because, well . . . you have to trade off something else of value. So in the end it is a triage of value. I live on this razor's edge all the time. I actually have come to the place where I count how many weeks a year I am in this physical location over that physical location. It is the sharpest kind of trade off, where the values are so close together that it is nearly impossible to find a difference in them some days. And you thought this was going to be an easy task??
It is easy you argue, you just need to see the big picture and which value you choose becomes clear. If only. The big picture makes a number of assumptions that may or may not happen. If you were as old as me and you were certain that I had 20 more years to live this out and share this life with this person or affect that series of events, then agreed, the big picture could make it easy to have clarity. But since neither I nor the individuals in question have any such certainties, that big picture is only one of many other possible futures. And yes, you can get completely and utterly lost in these kinds of equations and unknowns. So don't.
Instead, plan as if the big picture was knowable and doable and reasonably certain. But live as if all you have was this moment for this is true and certain. And I for one make plans within plans and live moments within moments - regularly adjusting to the new moments I yet have because there is so much that could be done, to change the world in meaningfully better ways. Don't allow the trade offs nor the unknowable future paralyze you into inaction.
But that would require you and me to make space in our lives to do it. And that unfortunately requires trade offs. Trade off's suck because, well . . . you have to trade off something else of value. So in the end it is a triage of value. I live on this razor's edge all the time. I actually have come to the place where I count how many weeks a year I am in this physical location over that physical location. It is the sharpest kind of trade off, where the values are so close together that it is nearly impossible to find a difference in them some days. And you thought this was going to be an easy task??
It is easy you argue, you just need to see the big picture and which value you choose becomes clear. If only. The big picture makes a number of assumptions that may or may not happen. If you were as old as me and you were certain that I had 20 more years to live this out and share this life with this person or affect that series of events, then agreed, the big picture could make it easy to have clarity. But since neither I nor the individuals in question have any such certainties, that big picture is only one of many other possible futures. And yes, you can get completely and utterly lost in these kinds of equations and unknowns. So don't.
Instead, plan as if the big picture was knowable and doable and reasonably certain. But live as if all you have was this moment for this is true and certain. And I for one make plans within plans and live moments within moments - regularly adjusting to the new moments I yet have because there is so much that could be done, to change the world in meaningfully better ways. Don't allow the trade offs nor the unknowable future paralyze you into inaction.
