The Infinite Loop of Our Influence
I got to watch some television last night and I like to study the characters and the personalities the writers give those characters. I love the show Bones. The protagonist of the series is Dr. Temperance Brennan (Emily Deschanel), also known as “Bones,” is a highly intelligent and socially awkward forensic anthropologist who works at the Jeffersonian Institute in Washington, D.C. She is known for her dedication to her work, keen attention to detail, and ability to solve complex cases through the analysis of human remains. Despite her rational and scientific approach to life, she also struggles with interpersonal relationships and often comes across as blunt or insensitive. Overall, Temperance Brennan is a fascinating and multi-dimensional character who is at the top of her field in forensic anthropology.
In the episode I was watching she made a comment to another character, Angela Montenegro (Michaela Conlin) to console her after worrying that she would never find true love again. Bones said, “Of course you will. Infinity goes in both directions. There are no unique moments. Nothing happens just once.” This was one of those highly intellectual and philosophical comments that most of us have trouble understanding. Those that know me know I love to think and ponder on comments like these. First, I had to decide if I believed what she said to be true. Bones was suggesting that time is infinite and cyclical, with events and moments repeating themselves in an endless loop. It implies that there is no such thing as a truly unique moment or experience, as everything is interconnected and part of a larger pattern. It also highlights the idea that nothing is ever truly isolated or one-off, as everything is part of the greater whole of existence.
Whether time is finite, infinite, or cyclical are philosophical questions that are still debated. I do believe there is interconnected, though. What we do affects the lives of others. Without certain people having been a part of my life, both personal and professional, my life would be very different. We need to stay cognizant of the fact that everything is part of a greater whole of existence. What we do today will affect not only those in our inner circle and those we serve, but others on a global level. C. S. Lewis taught us, “It is a law of the natural universe that no being can exist on its own resources. Everyone, everything, is hopelessly indebted to everyone and everything else” (Lewis, God In The Dock, p. 85). As my mom taught me, “Byron, your actions have consequences and will impact others, not just yourself.” Boy was she wise! Whose existence will you impact today? Make it a positive impact.
Pushing Our Strengths
As always with a book by one of my favorite authors, Amor Towles there were several phrases that made me go into deep thought mode. One, in the great book, You Have Arrived At Your Destination was, “Pushing our personalities uphill” (Towles, p. 21). This was referring to struggling or exerting a lot of effort change or improve one’s own personality traits behaviors. It suggested that it may be difficult or challenging to make personal changes, but the effort is worth it the long run. Sometimes our context changes or we need to make a change in context.
Another phrase in that same book that gave me pause was “But our strengths don’t serve us well in every circumstance at every phase of our lives. As we grow and enter new contexts, our longer-term strengths can suddenly hamper our worldly progress” (Towles, p. 20). This phrase highlights the importance of being adaptable and open to change. Our strengths may not always be beneficial in every situation, and as we grow and experience new phases of life, we must be willing to reassess and potentially adjust our approach. It emphasizes the need to constantly learn and evolve in order to continue progressing in our personal and professional lives.
Our strengths can sometimes hinder us if we rely on them too and are not willing to adapt or learn new skills. This can lead to stagnation and missed opportunities for growth. To avoid this hinderance, it’s important to regularly reassess our strengths and weaknesses, be open to feedback and constructive criticism, and continue learning and developing new skills. Being flexible and willing to step out of our comfort zone can also help prevent our strengths from becoming obstacles in our personal and professional lives.
Byron's Babbles 
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