I just finished the book,
The Art of Learning, by the world chess and tai chi champion that the movie
"Searching for Bobby Fisher" was about. While reading this book, I
also attended a lecture by the physicist Lisa Randall. Both the book author and the physicist seemed
brilliant to me. It's difficult not to
compare myself with these people and others and feel like I’m not making enough
of a difference in this world. Yet, I remind
myself that we are all part of the same organism. We are like swirling particles within a
larger consciousness, and we can trade places, collide, unite, come apart
again, etc. We are each a tiny cell of a
large universe which is trying to know itself, evolving and learning THROUGH
US. Most everyone makes a difference in
this grand process even if it's difficult to realize at times. Like a butterfly whose fluttering wings can
cause a hurricane on the other side of the world, our choices can affect the
course of history. This thought takes
some of the pressure off. I've always
felt a restlessness to do something significant with my life, and been stressed
that time was running out. But this restlessness, this struggle, is actually
counterproductive. I have a negative
impact on the world through this brooding.
Recently, a friend of mine told me that I make a huge impact in his
life. Making a difference in the lives
of friends and loved ones is more than enough.
It's only my ego that wants more.
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