Doing All The Things: Mediocre Ramblings About Stuff

  Evening, Subheading: I just took a DNA test, turns out... As children, most of us look to our parents or caretakers for guidance. We study the way they move, think, interact, and survive. We begin life instinctually mimicking those behaviors. As we grow, we believe that by doing so, we will learn how to venture into the world successfully. It’s also a form of bonding with our parents, the nurture side of nature vs nurture. Our voice sometimes takes on their inflection, we pick up their mannerisms, and we learn how to communicate. Of course, some of this is nature. One argument is that nature endows us with inborn abilities and traits, while nurture takes these traits and cultivates them as we learn and mature. For example, you may be born with musical inclinations, but you won’t become a skilled musician without practice. Perhaps it will take less effort and practice for you than others, though. It will feel easier, like having a cheat code. It seems like it would be easier to de...

Evening, Subheading: I'm Paying Attention.  Today at work I met a person who was shot five times, run over purposefully by a car, lost their sight, and lived to tell the tale. I learned this as I was checking them in and asking them to verify if this visit was being billed to an auto insurance, or just their normal policy. They looked confused for a second when I asked, and I said, "If this was due to an auto accident, they may be paying..." etc etc. They laughed and told me that what happened to them was definitely not an accident. After getting them checked in, I asked if they wanted help finding a seat in the lobby. They said, "Thank you for not asking if I needed help, but if I wanted it. That's really thoughtful. Also yes, I both want and need help." We laughed. I walked them to the end of the lobby and not very gracefully helped them find a seat. We chatted for a few minutes, mostly laughing, and I was struck by how much joy they still managed to find ...