We just decided to go

ByHeather

From now on, we live in a world where man has walked on the moon. And it’s not a miracle, we just decided to go.

— Jim Lovell

There is a scene in the movie Apollo 13 in which astronaut Jim Lovell is hosting a dinner party at his house. At some point in the evening he escapes the hubbub of his guests and takes a seat in a lawn chair in the back yard. When someone comes out to join him he utters the phrase above.

The moon landings were the culmination of a gargantuan series of tasks. Thousands of people invested hundreds of thousands of hours coordinating and delivering on thousands of tasks. It wasn’t a miracle that we landed on the moon. We just set our minds to it and decided to go.

Theme of the week: Just decide to go.

Similar Posts

  • Time without attention is worthless

    ByHeather

    The worst of states is when you experience neither relaxation nor productivity. Be focused on work or focused on something else, never in-betweeen. Time without attention is worthless, so value attention over time.

    — Timothy Ferriss, 4-Hour Work Week.

    I am on the final chapters of 4-Hour Work Week. As hard as it is for me to imagine enjoying his company, Ferriss is nailing it.

  • Flattery is the Cinnabon of Human Interaction

    ByHeather

    Rob Long is a brilliant television writer who offers a weekly five minute commentary on KCRW. He outdid himself this week.

    The very best thing about flattery is how incredibly flattering it is. If you’re on the receiving end of a nice blast of “you’re so wonderful” it barely matters – what am I saying, it doesn’t matter in the least! – if it’s true. If you really are wonderful. If the personal telling you how wonderful you are even thinks you are wonderful.

    What’s important is that the person delivering the flattering cascade thinks you’re worth the butter. It’s like a kubuki moment: I’m probably lying, you know I’m probably lying, but you’re the kind of person it’s worth lying to.

    And if you’re on the other side, if you’re delivering the flattery, it’s amazing how instantly it works, how immediately the recipient begins to glow and swan around. It’s like a sugar rush. It’s cheap, it rots your teeth and makes you fat, but for a few moments, you feel invincible. Flattery, done correctly, is the Cinnabon of human interaction.

  • Christopher Hitchens’ Guiding Principles

    ByHeather

    Beware the irrational, however seductive.

    Shun the ‘transcendent’ and all who invite you to subordinate or annihilate yourself.

    Distrust compassion; prefer dignity for yourself and others.

    Don’t be afraid to be thought arrogant or selfish.

    Picture all experts as if they were mammals.

    Never be a spectator of unfairness or stupidity.

    Seek out argument and disputation for their own sake; the grave will supply plenty of time for silence.

    — Christopher Hitchens (1949-2011)

    Your time of silence has come too soon. Thanks for the valiant fight.

    (Thanks to A.Word.A.Day for the reference.)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.