Meatballs and Airplanes

And other unlikely connections

Hey.

I wrote a story pondering whether or not car racing is safer than cycling these days.

I think it's a universal truth that there is an intimate connection between the attention we pay to the world around us and the connections we make between things that seem unrelated. That's where figurative language comes from, I guess. Taking two things whose similarities aren't readily apparent and finding a way to tie them together. It's what gives writing color and character. It's one thing to say, for example, "habits develop over time," and quite another to say, "the path between urge and behavior is well-worn, a rut formed by countless passages over the same terrain."

I find this happening in real life all the time. For example, I was talking with a friend this morning about setting goals for our children. My friend's perspective is much like mine: When you're an adult, you can choose whether or not you want to do certain things: public speaking; working with others, etc., depending on the situation you're in. But you've got to learn how to do these things and practice doing them. That way, when you're an adult, you can make a choice based on what you know and are comfortable with - not because you don't have the ability because you've never practiced.

Of course, I related this conversation to math. One of the big arguments about the way we are teaching math these days is that there are many different ways to accomplish the same task and kids have to learn them all. But that's exactly the point. When we learn multiple ways of approaching the problem (multiple ways to exist in the world), we can assess the situation and decide which tool to use based on the situation. Maybe I don't like to use my calculator (yeah, right!) but sometimes it's the best tool for the job (when I'm multiplying decimals, when, after a long night with a teething 18-month-old, my brain is too tired to hold digits in it, and so on).

So, making connections. The more I'm out in the world, the more I observe and talk to the people around me, the more connections I make. Like in the cycling story linked above. Take a read and let me know what you think. I've still got some work to do if I'm going to connect meatballs and airplanes, but I bet I'll think of something. Or maybe you will. If you do, let me know by replying to this email.

Also, this: I was hoping I'd have some good news to share with you today, as the winners of the contest I was working on back in July and August were announced yesterday. Alas, my essays did not win any of the category prizes. If you're interested in reading the essays that *did* win, you can do that right here. I haven't gotten a chance to finish any of them yet, but I'm excited to dig into them. And honorable mentions will be announced Friday; crossing my fingers I'll be on that list. I'll let you know next time we talk, or you can check out the Medium blog if the suspense is killing you.

Until then,

P.S. If you know anyone who would enjoy reading these perspectives, send them my way.