Butterfly Effect

In an apology explaining why long-range weather forecasting is so difficult, the meteorologist Edward Norton Lorenz is credited with coming up with the term "butterfly effect". In chaos theory, the butterfly effect is the "sensitive dependence on initial conditions in which a small change in one state of a deterministic nonlinear system can result in large differences in a later state. "  Or in layman's terms .. a butterfly flaps its wings in China, a tornado happens in Kansas.  

History is replete with butterfly flutters that changed its course.  Legend has it that Napoleon's hemorrhoids kept him off his horse and led to defeat at Waterloo.  The Watergate break in was discovered due to a piece of masking tape left covering a lock. Clouds over Kokura diverted an atomic bomb to Nagasaki. And one that hits close to home - a software patch crippled the Royal Bank of Scotland.  No transactions for 6 days. And here's a tip - never install Version 1.0 of anything.

And of course there are the "big butterflies", like Canadian fires or the Colorado River drying up or the Great Siberian Thaw awakening ancient viruses.  We might want to take notice.

But small things matter and as in the movie "A Wonderful Life", the impacts will rarely be revealed to you. I am willing to bet that you can recall some small action by someone in your life that made a big impact on you.  You might make it a point to thank them.  It might be a surprise visit from a friend or family member, a hug, a letter, a card or a phone call (or even a text, although I’m not a fan) arriving at just the right time. Maybe an unexpected gift of a little money when you really needed it, a job opportunity.

I had an uncle who seemed to have a sixth sense for people who needed some encouragement or for someone to just be there. Hence, unexpectedly, an invitation for a round of golf , a walkabout, a trip to the DQ, a hospital visit, a kind word,  ….

So, as they say, pay it forward; practice random acts of kindness; do unto to others as you would have them do unto you.  It's not my intention to become a cliche factory, but think about flapping your wings on occasion. 

Copyright ©  2023  Dave Hoplin