Erosion can be subtle…

The Grand Canyon wasn’t created by an earthquake!

While it’s tempting to imagine that

• the world changes via sudden shocks,
• our culture is shifted by dramatic changes in leadership,
• grand gestures make all the difference..

it turns out that is usually

• our daily practice,
• the piling up of regular actions,
• the cultural practices and biases that we each choose

that makes change happen.

The things that break all at once aren’t really a problem. You note that they’ve broken, and then you fix them.

And often, because we notice the breakage, we more than “fix” them, we enhance them and make them stronger.

The Japanese art of Kintsugi repairs broken pottery with lacquer mixed with gold.

It is also a philosophy that treats breakage and repair as part of the history of the object.

So too, we might have lost the job. We then went and got more education. And now we’ve got a better job and are stronger for it.

 

The challenge is not the earthquake.

It is the erosion and corrosion. Things in our lives slowly fade, and eventually become a hassle. It takes effort and judgment to decide when it’s time to refurbish them. Noticing and then making the effort to improve requires awareness and action.

It’s been said that:

• there is no standing still,
• we are either growing or shrinking.
• and we can’t step into the same river twice.

What’s true for physical things is also true

• for habits,
• for values,
• for relationships.

 As John Lennon said…

What will YOU look after and nurture before it’s gone?