Profound Truths – Life Science #3

by | Oct 19, 2011 | Life Sciences - 2011, Proverbs, Quote Authors, Series | 0 comments

The following is a correct statement:
Today is Day #3 of Life Science Week
The Glory of Confusion
One of the most satisfying things about studying science, even at my amateur level, is the glory of discovering how many things are contradictory truths.  It doesn’t make sense that both are true, but they are.  I like that, even as it confuses the bejesus out of me.  I am not a big fan of confusion, but I am a big fan of that feeling of understanding that comes after it!  That is why I study and/or try stuff that is really hard and confusing (ask me about php and mysql database stuff…THAT is confusing!)

The Life in Life Science
I think what maturity I have came into being when I started to realize that my understanding of the world and my response to it wasn’t some absolute truth. It was my truth.  It was affected by my biology, my family, my DNA, my experiences, my body, my decisions.  I think that is one of the hardest things to deal with in a marriage, for example, is realizing that your spouse is not thinking about your life together exactly as you are.  His or her understanding and response is completely and utterly different than yours, even if there are areas of overlap.  How you cope with that truth is key to whether you will have a happy and successful marriage.

The Beginning of Maturity
It is true that we all have different truths of how the world works, why it is that way, and what our response should and will be to it.  Understanding that everyone’s truth is a profound truth that deserves to be understood and respected, even if it causes stress and complications in life, is the beginning of maturity. 

The Better Truth
After all, how can any of us move into a better, more accurate understanding, a better truth so to speak, unless we can acknowledge the truth we already are living.

Drawing and commentary by Marty ColemanQuote by Neils Bohr, 1885-1962, Danish physicist

That’s Funny – Life Science #2

by | Oct 18, 2011 | Isaac Asimov, Life Sciences - 2011 | 0 comments

For the life of me I can’t believe it’s only day #2 of Life Science Week at the NDD.

I had a conversation once with a friend once where we were talking about what we believed. We asked each other questions and some of my answers were, “I don’t know.” and some were “This I believe.”  His answers were all, “I don’t know.”  He was unwilling or unable to state, “This I believe.” about anything.  In his mind the declarative statement was one he couldn’t step back from once it was made.  He didn’t want that restriction on him.  The conversation was frustrating for me as a result.  We had no no base from which to explore, so to speak.

Having that ‘Eureka!’ moment is a great moment in life.  Finding something, whether material, intellectual or spiritual, is wonderful.  But the declaration of finality can also shut off possibilities.  It’s overdone and it gets in the way of further discovery often times because your mind closes off.

But I also have the attitude that it’s ok to say you believe something. You aren’t making a vow that you will always believe it. You are simply saying, “As of now, I am starting with this as true. I might find it’s not true in the future, and if I do, that is fine.”Scientists do that. They start with certain assumptions of truth. They are willing to test those assumptions to see if they hold up. They don’t test them every day, all the time. Many of their assumptions will be with them all their lives. But a good scientist is always willing to entertain the notion that something they believe may not be true.  They are willing to say “hmmm…that’s funny. I wonder if…”

Are you willing to do that in the science that is your life?

Drawing and commentary by Marty Coleman of The Napkin Dad Daily

Self-Awareness – Life Science #1

by | Oct 17, 2011 | Aldous Huxley, Life Sciences - 2011 | 0 comments

It’s Day #1 of ‘Life Science’ week at the NDD.
We all know the scientific method. It’s pretty simple in its essence – hypothesize, test, evaluate. Then you repeat with variations until you get it right.

Here is my question to you – Do you follow the scientific method in your life?  Are you deliberate about figuring out what works, what is true, what is healthy, what is wise in your life? Do you experiment and find something to be true or false or do you just go along with what you have been told, afraid to test on the chance you might have to change what you think or how you behave?  Perhaps you do experiment but you never learn it, repeating the exact same test over and over again even though you know it will end in failure.

I know in my own life the people I trust and admire the most are those I am confident will look at the evidence that is their life, will be honest about what is really happening in it and how they feel about it, and will adjust as needed, even if it is painful.

As it is in science, so it can be within yourself.


Drawing and commentary by Marty Coleman of The Napkin Dad Daily

Quote by Aldous Huxley, 1894-1963, English writer. One of 3 very famous people to die on November 22nd, 1963.  Do you know who the other two are?