Crystal Methods

Editor's Note: This blog should not be viewed by any scientists, science majors, anyone who got a C or higher in a high school science class, anyone who has ever read Popular Science or anyone who had a chemistry set as a kid. Exposure to the scientific analogies below can cause headaches, aneurysms, anal leakage and, as always, erectile dysfunction.
For some reason crystal structure and composition always fascinated me despite the limits of my scientific prowess being that if you heat water enough it will change its composition from liquid to gas. That's called 'boiling' to the layman. And if you reduce the temperature of water sufficiently it will also change its molecular composition and become solid. I've heard lesser intellects refer to this as 'freezing'. You are now all graduates of Kulifay Science 101. Diplomas are in the mail. Seriously,who didn't like looking at those multi-colored quartz imbedded rocks they sell at cheap gift shops and tourist spots?

What interested me about crystal structure was how when crystals build upon themselves they maintain the same shape or pattern in exponential growth (I am aware this is not universal and other factors can come into play scientifically astute people, save it for Wikipedia). So the shape of a gem in a piece of jewelry is typically the same shape as the pieces if you were to break it apart, even down to a molecular level. What a crystal is at a larger scale is no different from what it is at a smaller scale. The pattern is the same throughout its existence.

And so are most of us. The patterns of our life tend to reflect in the patterns of a year, in a month, in a week and even in a day. The choices we make, our tendencies, our habits. They are similar in big, monumental life decisions as they are in what we choose to do for dinner some evening. Look back at your life and the decisions you've made recently and make an honest assessment of whether or not you are making them in a similar manner as you did when you were younger. Are you still using the same methods to accomplish things or deal with matters that you did in the past? I still try to rise above the same personal character flaws at 36 as I did at 16. I'm not saying I'm the exact same person, or that I haven't gained anything from the additional 2 decades of experience, but the generalized tendencies and habits haven't varied much. How I'm naturally inclined to behave now is disturbingly familiar to how I was inclined to behave in high school, in college, during my 6 year career as a gigolo in Guatemala...well you get the idea.

I have a tremendous amount of respect for people who are able to make drastic changes in their behavior and lives. It's why I try to emphatically support people who lose weight, pursue a dream career, embark on an ambitious undertaking, move away from their home or comfort zone, try to find their faith, etc. In short, shoot for the stars so to speak. Because to most of us change is a scary thing. And the more the change affects you the more difficult it is to accomplish. And by far the most difficult change of all is to try to change who you are as a person. Try to change a part of your nature that you're not happy with. Try to change your behavior and methods that have been instinctive your whole life. Think Charlie Sheen trying to be monogamous. Ann Coulter trying to be diplomatic. Bill Maher trying not to be condescending (see how I balanced the conservative/liberal shots there?). Ben Roethlisberger not being a douchebag. Dane Cook being funny...again, you get the idea.

Losing weight is, relatively, easy. Keeping it off is another thing altogether. THAT requires a lifestyle change and a lot of conscious effort. Finding God in a time of crisis is not difficult. Living every day by the tenets of your faith is a different matter entirely. Taking a chance after a lifetime of playing it safe takes cojones mis amigos. Risking that established weekly paycheck to make it as an artist is daunting. Making an effort to treat people better, to follow up with responsibilities, to break the negative patterns in relationships, to fulfill promises, to take better care of your loved ones: these are all admirable goals that should be encouraged, supported and congratulated when change truly takes place. While I believe that most people don't make true changes to their patterns and methods, I know that some do. I believe that accomplishing those changes can actually alter your very nature. We are not slaves to our patterns no matter how ingrained or instinctive they may be to us. I've seen too many people overcome too many incredible things to ever accept that as an excuse. And...it's never too late to turn quartz to diamond (that line was so cheesy in my head I actually MADE myself end with it).