Big And Small

Why do we spend so much of our time worrying about the big decisions? About broad spectrum or global issues that we have little to know actual impact on, particularly if we’re distracted by thinking and talking.

There are smarter, more passionate, more educated and more connected people and groups out there that not only have the means but the experience to make and worry about the big changes and impacts. So, let them handle the big stuff. We can get there too but first we need to put in the work.

The role we play is ground-level or just above, fluttering in the middle, underneath the surface. We holding up the parachute and keeping it progressing bit by bit, drip by drip. (Thanks Seth)

And we ought to appreciate and find motivated purpose in this role because fluttering underneath keeps things interesting. We get to curiously experiment by making a ruckus, thinking interesting ideas and creating work that push the edges and limitations of what’s possible.

The top is boring. Sure, it’s glamorous with big audiences, big words, big ideas and big cheques but the essence is in the millions of little connections, successes and failures along the way, underneath the surface that people like us get to make and play with.

We all have the power to shape the direction of the big stuff but only if we keep from letting ourselves distract ourselves, only if we keep from getting in our way of doing the work the exposes the flaws and opportunities along the way. Without us, it fails.

Be small. Flutter underneath the surface and stay curious. Let the worriers worry, let the talkers talk and enjoy the ride. Invite other to join too because its the only one we’ve got. Make it yours.

Bonus: Here’s one of the best commencement speeches ever written, by none other than David Foster Wallace (no immediate relation but I’m optimistic)..

[excerpt] “This Is Water” Much of life is water to us — we are swimming in it and can’t see or feel it because we’re either in a hurry or not awake to our context. Feel the water and context around you, as you move through a shift it; working with the reality of where you are.

But what if they’re wrong? What if, I was right?

What if what we know, what we’ve always done, what they say is wrong?

What if what we see and feel, what we sense, what we’ve always avoided, what’s never asked is right?

What if what we fear most is not failure but success? What if all the resistance we feel internally is self-created? What if we are the cause of our own suffering, insecurities and uncertainties? What if we’re not the cause for our own happiness, joy and fulfillment?

What if we don’t have freewill? What if it’s an illusion, that we’re irrational and that the decision we make are made before we think about making them?

What if every thing we’ve ever wanted or needed was available through our own acceptance and awareness? What if everything we think we want and need we don’t? What if what we think we need if just what we know?

What if the most important parts of life are in the process, not the product? What if the answers we seek are simply the actions we take? What if the craft is more meaningful than the art? What if our labour, our time, our attention is our impact, is our opportunity? What if what we create, is less than?

What if all we had to do was ask and act? Was to ask interesting unfiltered questions, driven by our curious nature and experiment with exposing it and ourselves to a variety of factors?

What if what we have, who we are, where is are is simply what we’ve accepted as our reality? What we’ve grown comfortable and complacent with? What we’ve decided is our safe bet that looks and feels like everyone says it should and doesn’t rock the boat?

What if we asked ourselves, “why”? What if we got back to thinking like a child, like a careless teenager, like a driven young adult without any direction that’s passionate about everything going on in their world?

What if we took a moment to ask ourselves, “What if?”

What if they’re wrong? What if, I’m right? What would you do?

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