of starting afresh

"Everyday is another chance for you to decide who you want to be. A chance to challenge yourself. To be a different version of you, a braver version. A person who isn’t afraid to grab joy and take it for a spin."
- Marin Frist, Men in Trees

Men in Trees is the story of Marin, a successful relationship advice guru, who discovers that her fiance has been cheating on her - and decides to stay in a small town in Alaska, the most recent stop on her book tour. The ratio of men to women in the town is about ten to one, hence the title of the series. ...I had to copy this synopsis from IMDb, because I never actually knew the plot of the series. Neither did I follow it religiously. Channel 5 used to show  strange, unexpected shows like this at the odd hours after midnight and I would stay up to watch.

I remember liking the few episodes I watched, although I don't remember much of the characters or the story. But this quote happens to be one that strikes a chord with me every time I read it. Ever since I got back from London, I haven't been able to stop myself from staying up. What a calming contrast it is to the hustle and bustle of the day, the reasons for happiness but also disappointment. I almost feel myself Processing the deletion of Temporary Data, the wiping the slate clean, etc - in preparation for the new day.

Yes, if anything, I believe in the above. That if you're unsatisfied with yourself today you can try again tomorrow, and the day after that, and the day after that. And I do believe that you do change, in tiny little increments that will only be visible on a grand scale on the day you depart this earth. So -- take heart. 

of great and small

"The chief proof of man's real greatness lies in his perception of his own smallness."

-- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is a Scottish writer born in 1859. He was trained as a physician but turned to writing when his practice did not prove to be successful. Although Sir Arthur (or do I call him Sir Doyle?) is most well-known as the creator of Sherlock Holmes, arguably the best detective of all time albeit in fiction, he did also write a number of other works such as historical novels, science fiction, plays and non-fiction. In fact it was because he wanted more attention on his other works that he famously 'killed off' Holmes at Reichenbach Falls (although Holmes was resurrected shortly after an uproar from the fans, no worries).

I came across this quote by Sir Doyle during a period when I was absolutely mad about Holmes (I still am a huge fan, although the obsession level has thankfully dropped a little). It is interesting I guess, because Holmes himself shows little to no sign of humility. But for the rest of us mortal beings with ordinary powers of perception, perhaps we can do with a little less flair and a little more modesty, and perceive ourselves as the small particles that we are in this great wide universe.