Gradualism

Anything can happen GRADUALLY.

I was on a running through Doheney this afternoon with my dad and we were discussing how learning to surf is just something that takes time. (We had gone out earlier in the day and I had stood up a few times on the longboard, nothing amazing, but progress nonetheless) I mentioned how I was comfortable in the little waves but was definitely not ready for bigger waves yet and he said that it is something that just takes time and experience. Over time one of two things happen, you either get really excited and jump right into the bigger waves, or you get so bored from riding the little waves that you decide to step it up a notch.

The same principle of gradualism holds up in running as well. The first few days you get back into it, you may have to throw in some walks every 5-10minutes, maybe the first few weeks you are only running one mile or so, the next few months you feel comfortable running 3-5 miles at an easy pace, and then you start picking up the pace. No one should expect to be at their tip top form and speed in the first few weeks, it’s something that gradually happens, so gradual that you barely notice it.

This principle of gradualism is true for the environment, for relationships, for almost anything in life, I think the one place where it can really speak to is politics. My personal opinion of politics is it is symbolized by punctuated equilibrium, like evolution is, there are years and years of slow or hardly any progress, and then, when the cues are right, rapid change. However, when you throw the principle of punctuated equilibrium at the general public (those who’s world is driven by the principle of gradualism), it doesn’t go over so well. People don’t like “change”, it’s too fast, it’s unpredictable, it’s hard to understand and keep track of. People like things to happen over time, slow enough so they understand the impact etc.

This where I think that government officials and politicians could learn a real lesson, and I think it is especially important with the nations underlying issues with health care, quality, affordability, and coverage. I think we have to introduce the new ideas in a more gradual fashion to the American public, we can’t have national health insurance over night, it’s not going to happen, but we can start tuning people to the idea that America citizens deserve quality health care. This means ALL citizens, deserve equitable health care. I think we need to start giving real life examples of the difference between Person A with BlueCross, Person B with Kaiser, and Person C without insurance when it comes to something like discovering a malignant lump in your breast. I think if we use real life examples of the cost of care, the quality of care, and the impact on quality of life, we can frame the health care problems in a way that is understandable, and relatable for the American public. If we could sell the theme that in America, health care is not a privledge, but a right, then I think the political landscape could be a lot easier to deal with.

Inner Fire, thoughts that came up:
“It’s important to develop a sense that you are important because you exist”
Self worth.
What are my goals in life? Are there specific things I want to achieve? What is my passion in life? What do I live for everyday?

A happy person is a passionate person –Julia Pederson