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threemonkeysMany (many many) years ago, when I was at high school, I read Future Shock by Alvin Toffler. His thesis was that in the future life would run at a greater pace, change would be more rapid and we would all be swamped by vastly greater choice. Here in the future, it turns out that he was pretty much right. Toffler was also right that we would find ways to cope. One of his thought that people might embrace change in some areas of life while keeping a grip on other areas which remain constant. For example, you may work in the rapidly shifting IT industry but live in the same house for 20 years.
It works for little things too. This came to mind when I went to my dentist for a checkup today. I have been going to the same dentist for 20 years or so. In all that time he has only used 3 greetings. For regular checkups he says "I'm only seeing healthy teeth today", for unscheduled emergencies "oh dear what have we done" and for followup visits "right, lets see what we have to do today". Always the same. Except today he used the wrong greeting. I'm not sure which of us was more shocked.
It works for little things too. This came to mind when I went to my dentist for a checkup today. I have been going to the same dentist for 20 years or so. In all that time he has only used 3 greetings. For regular checkups he says "I'm only seeing healthy teeth today", for unscheduled emergencies "oh dear what have we done" and for followup visits "right, lets see what we have to do today". Always the same. Except today he used the wrong greeting. I'm not sure which of us was more shocked.