And for Darjeeling, because I drink a cup of tea every day when I transition into my afternoon writing time. And Differential, as in the infinitesimally small change described in calculus, dx/dt, a moment so small that it might be described as a snapshot in time along the curve of a function. Daily, because I do things every day that seemingly have no long-term effect until I look back.
For instance, I do ten minutes of mindfulness meditation every morning. Nothing happens during that time, and yet I see how my moods are calmer and more stable over time. I have less negative self-talk, and I’m less irritable.
Daily Reading
The fact that I’m re-reading Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five is influencing my thoughts today. The first sentence of the second chapter has stayed with me ever since I first read the book back in the 70s.
“Listen: Billy Pilgrim has come unstuck in time.”
The main character, Billy, travels through time constantly. His worldview is influenced by contact with beings from the planet Tralfamadore, who see in four dimensions. To them, humans look like centipedes. “All moments, past, present, and future, always have existed, always will exist.” This philosophy is what allows Billy to shrug when anyone (or anything) dies, and say “So it goes.”
Self Reflection
As I look along my centipede and see my former selves, I see growth and change. I see transformations, all of which began with snapshots in time, in choices made along the way. Without judgment, I see the effects of the choice to do Morning Pages, the choice to stop doing yoga, the choice to meditate, the choice to stop going to the gym, and the choice to take a daily walk. I am the result of micro transformations.
I completely agree that the small things we do each day influence our life in a big way. I find that having taken at least one walk everyday for the past seven months, helped me a lot too. Am not that good with other things, like Morning Pages or meditating. Visiting from the #AtoZChallenge, by the way, but late to the party.
Astrid, You’re not late, you’re here at the perfect time. Thanks for your comments.
It’s time I re-read Slaughterhouse Five – Vonnegut is one of my favourite authors both for his books, his advice on writing – “Always start as near the end as possible.” (not that he was an obeyer of rules!) and as the Honorary President of the American Humanist Association.