🐥The Paradox of Now #8

I’m Feeling Spick and Span

After some digging, I’ve discovered that what I touched on in the last Palm Tree Euphoria has a proper linguistic name—fossil words.

These are words that have largely fallen out of everyday use but stubbornly survive in certain expressions or fixed phrases.

You rarely hear them alone, yet they thrive in their familiar pairings.

Honourable Mentions:

• Nook and cranny – Meaning every small hidden place (cranny rarely stands alone).

• Dribs and drabs – Meaning small amounts (dribs has almost no life outside this phrase).

And a special shoutout (with a well-earned gold star with additional cellotape upon next meeting) to Oly, who offered this gem:

Now let me give you a taste of what's coming:

🐥A condiment so good I have a tattoo of it

🐥A touching sentiment for a best friend

🐥Which path do you desire?

🥚Eggstra News🥚

Your weekly dose of some fascinating and fun finds:

🔥 Crispy Chilli Oil – The ultimate condiment. A game-changer for my morning eggs and has been a tasty way to stay on track with my food.

💰 The Psychology of Money – A sharp take on the force that drives the world. Added this after reflecting on compounding—more on that later.

🎱 Ronnie O’Sullivan Fastest 147 – The greatest sporting feat ever. Inspired by a weekend of non-stop sports with my best mates.

The Paradox of Now

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An Ode to a Best Friend

I don't stand at your mother's grave enough.

Just a five-minute drive from home, passed twice on my morning commute.

Yet I don't stop as often as I could.

As often as I should.

It's peaceful there. Truly peaceful.

My last visit, I finally noticed the birds singing and the river flowing nearby.

If my time came in such a moment, I'd be content to rest in that spot.

Nature's lullaby better than any meditation app or Spotify playlist.

Perhaps there's meaning in this new awareness. Why now did I find myself fully present, hearing everything around me?

Maybe because, on this day, I stood between two worlds.

Life and death.

Meeting at a crossroads I never expected.

February 25th.

A date carved into the stone and into your heart with sorrow for all these years. The day you lost a mother so kind and loving. The world lost one of the good ones.

A day of such pain through no fault of your own.

I visit her grave when I can, knowing you're too far away to tend it yourself. We've made a ritual of it. I send photos of my flower arrangements, and you rate them out of ten with gentle critiques.

Your sister told me your mum hated fake flowers, so I've learned that much at least.

But my choices of geranium to chrysanthemum leave me wanting and amateur arrangements still fall short of perfect.

My personal best: a mere 7/10, awarded with your characteristic honesty.

I promise to keep trying. The elusive 10/10 will come.

Though I never met your mother, I speak to her each visit. I tell her about my life, but mostly about yours. It feels strange but comforting - this conversation across dimensions.

I won't say empty words like "she'd be so proud."

You already know your own truths. No need for validation.

You carry her legacy in everything you do and now that legacy extends further than ever before.

The best parts of you - your kindness, your loyalty, your heart - surely came from her, and now flow into your child. You get to raise something more precious than anything else in this world.

Your mum vicariously doing her grandparenting duties through you.

(Plus, you now have the perfect excuse to rewatch all the Star Wars with your future nerdy mini-me!)

You told me it hasn't even been two days, yet already you can't imagine making any decision that wouldn't be for your child's benefit. That's what real parenting is - the sacrifice of self for another.

But the truth is, my friend, you've been practicing this your whole life.

You'd drop everything for me, for your sister (annoying as she can be), for your beautiful wife, and now for your precious daughter.

You don't need practice in selflessness - you've always excelled at it.

This is my thank you for being the friend who never fails, my congratulations on becoming the father you were born to be and my promise to keep the connection to your mother alive, even when you're too far away to visit her yourself.

And now, this tiny miracle has arrived - a new chapter beginning.

A gift greater than any incinerator bin. (The wedding gift I bought him)

I imagine her so small yet so complete.

Your daughter, with her perfect tiny fingers and wondering eyes.

Your LiliWho - the one who'll change your world forever.

Your LiliWhat - the question that brings endless discovery.

Your LiliWhere - in your arms, exactly where she belongs.

Your LiliWhy - because love continues, even after loss.

Your Liliwen.

When?

Born February 25th, 2025.

What’s this all about?

A great rule to live by in a time when we see our friends far less:

If you think of them, message them.

The world can be a lonely place in certain chapters of your life and that is speaking from experience.

That’s what I’ve done here. I went a bit overboard and wrote a whole newsletter instead. But you get the gist.

30 seconds of your time could make someone’s week.

Small efforts, when repeated, build into something meaningful.

The power of compounding efforts.

Compounding is a word and concept that should be taught to children at the earliest stage in my opinion.

Not everyone sees the world this way. But in my own weird and slightly cryptic storytelling way, I’m trying to change that.

Change the narrative of the zeitgeist.

That is a near impossible feat, but I’m willing to give it a go.

Why not stick around for the ride.

And whilst your at it, message that mate you said you would.

It’s not too late.

Make a difference to your small corner of the world whilst you have the chance.

🐥 Haiku’s Haiku 🐥

Haiku has been galivanting recently, but always finds his way home.

A little reminder to myself and to you—when life feels overwhelming, return to the basics.

The simple habits that got you here will guide you back.

Be patient with yourself.

Your inner home is always waiting.

🌴 Palm Tree Euphoria 🌴

Humans are weird and wonderful creatures, aren’t we? The tiniest, most random things fascinate me—like desire paths.

What’s a desire path, you ask?

It’s those little unofficial trails people (or animals) create by sheer stubbornness, ignoring the “official” route in favour of the quickest, easiest way.

A rebellion against town planners. A shortcut endorsed by the masses.

Now that you know about them, you won’t be able to unsee them.

They’re everywhere.

So here’s a fun challenge—spot a desire path near you, take a photo, and send it my way.

I’ll gather them all into a masterpiece. A gallery of glorious human laziness… or efficiency, depending on how you look at it.

Could be artsy. Could be a mess. Let’s find out!

And if this flavour of brain chaos makes your brain happy, come and find more insights, weirdness, and everything else in between on my socials.

See you dashing ducks over there! 🐥 

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