Running In a Hall of Mirrors
The fair coming to town is something that stood out in most people’s childhood.
The rides, the smells (the good and the bad), the kettle corn, the bright lights.
The fair brought it all.
One of the most interesting experiences at the fair (at least at the one that came to my hometown) was the Maze of Mirrors.
On the surface, it seems so simple.
All you have to do is get to the end.
But, it is much harder than it looks.
While you are waiting your turn to enter the maze, you can peer in and see those in the maze. You can see them scurrying around like little mice in a science lab. Struggling. Bumping into the walls. Just trying not to smush their face against the glass that has been touched by 1000s of dirty hands.
For those that have been in a Mirror Maze, you know how disorienting it is.
There is a brief moment of panic when you look around and each direction seems like the right direction.
But your eyes are deceiving you. 2 of the options ahead of you will result in you slamming your face against the glass. Only 1 option gets you to the next stage.
But, how can you find it?
There are a few options.
You can run like these kids and slam your face into the mirror:
You can keep your right hand against the wall (boring/predictable)
Just quit. Refuse to run in the maze
Run fast and break through the glass.
The thing about these mazes is that they are designed to make you fail. They were created to make it as difficult as possible to see which path is the correct path.
The important part is that you identify that you are in the maze.
Until you see that the world around you is a hall of mirrors you will never escape it.
What we are reading this week: Sapiens: A Brief History of Mankind
Still chugging along on this book. You can see all the notes I take when I read here: https://notforhire.notion.site/Book-notes-490b1f61c4a847a6a33711b49a22fc6d
Quote of the week:
There is one, and only one, form of voluntary servitude which brings with it no dishonor, and that is servitudes which has for its object the acquisition of excelence.
-Seneca