The Modest Miracle

          These days, so much emphasis is placed on celebrating individual uniqueness that conformity itself has become the unique thing.   Amid the clatter of all of us marching to the beat of our own drums, the few coordinated rhythms among us really stand out.   It's easy to think of a conforming person as a blind follower, or someone who us unwilling to think for themselves, but there are reasons why you might sometimes want to opt for uniformity over miscellany even when you could choose to blaze your own trail.   The purpose of this article is to suggest a few. Conformity Brings Organization           Have you ever played volleyball or tennis with people who don't really know what they're doing?   I have (not that I'm particularly good at either myself).   Often the games devolve into "jungle ball" sessions where no one cares how many times the ball bounces or how many times you have to hit it to get it over the net.   The idea seems t

Let me ask you something:   When was the last time you experienced something that was truly indescribable?  By indescribable, I don't mean something that's extraordinarily intense but that you could honestly sketch out in words if you really had to.   I mean something that is somehow beyond words completely, beyond literary devices, beyond what you could ever define in exact terms. I have a theory about that. You see, when we were children, we literally didn't have the words to describe our experiences.   We weren't that great at expression, so a lot of times we just didn't bother, or we only ventured out far enough to outline the basics of what we were feeling. Wasn't there a magic in the air, sometimes, during those moments?   And then in school we learned to think about the world in a whole new way.   Instead of just living life, now we actually had to think about it.   There was a name for everything, from the way light shatters into colors w

How far would you go to help someone in need? To the end of the street? To the end of the world? How far should you go? As frustration drips from your fingers or your brows furrow as your arms grow weak.   The best you give is only the best you can. Step toward them with your heart wide open and keys jangling in the ignition.   Now or never.   You or no one.   Let's ride. More critical than the NBA title, but less publicized than the new McDonald's grill buzzer. A crystallized droplet of life hangs suspended before you.   Long time, no see. You brush against it with a thumb as you pass, a subtle salutation. But your destination lies beyond it, far beyond the edge where harsh reality tumbles down into the waters below, crashing against rocks.   There is no sun or rain or anger or dingy therapists' offices.   There is only an outstretched hand. It's all you can offer. Yet you stand firmly.   Your shoulders are square as

Yes, you should settle for less than perfection.   In fact, the farther from it, the better. Did that get a rise out of you?   Or at least catch your attention long enough to give the rest of this post a shot?   Don't worry, I didn't mean that in a moral sense.   Complete honesty and integrity are always the best policy.   But there are other ways we seek perfection, ways that can be a real pain. Have you ever been annoyed that you had to stand in line? Upset that things took longer than they should? Riled up by another's comment that wasn't phrased sensitively? Distressed by procedures that increase hassle and minimize effectiveness? Disappointed that you had to give more than your share? If so, you're probably relatively normal.   You're also probably a bit of a perfectionist, in a completely different way than how people normally use the term.   Rather than imposing perfect standards on yourself, you try to do it to t