‽istis ponders: threes (weekending July 16th
2022)
This week ‽istis has pondered: Just. Three. Things.
Firstly, words, memorable phrases, soundbites, advice,
motivation, instructions, pledges, hopes, branding…
·
Low
tax. Small state. Personal responsibility (and an outside candidate articulates
a political position and an old message[i],
perhaps cutting a route to the heart of a party and a swathe through the early rounds
of voting that may lead to no. 10 Downing Street?)
·
Hands.
Face. Space (and the spread of the virus is slowed?)
·
Stay
Alert. Control the Virus. Save Lives (and the virus is managed?)
·
Catch
it. Bin It. Kill It (and other germs lose their power?)
·
See
it. Say it. Sorted (and terrorist threats are neutralised?)
·
Get
Brexit Done (and a rosy future is assured?)
·
Education,
Education, Education (and a Prime Minister is remembered for positive things?)
·
Count
your blessings (and gratitude is dwelt on, oftentimes despite?)
·
I’m
loving it (and fast food sells faster?)
·
Ban
the Bomb (and a nation is safe?, well at least a festival is held?)
·
Just
Do It (and behavioural changes occur irrespective of feelings and thoughts?)
·
Seize
The Day (and the ordinary is extraordinaried and opportunities grasped?)
·
You’ve
Got This (and confidence is imbued?)
·
Every
Little Helps (and supermarket share is gained even as the cost of living and
the symbolic ‘basket of goods’[ii]
soars?)
·
No
Planet B (and an existential catastrophe is avoided?)
·
Not
in my name (and the rule of three is stretched a bit!)
And many more…[iii]
The
‘rule of three’ seems to be something of a phenomenon – it ‘suggests that when
things come in threes, they are inherently funnier, more satisfying, or more
effective than other numbers of things. There is brevity and rhythm to three
while also representing the beginning of a pattern.’[iv]
Three
core concepts in early childhood development[v]
seem to help us understand important ideas about those vital years; our vital
years and their potential legacy:
·
Experiences
build brain architecture
·
Serve
and return interaction shapes brain circuitry
·
Toxic
stress derails healthy development
‘Three
points’ seem to provide the template for many a talk or religious sermon[vi]:
beginning, middle, end; ‘tell them what you are going to tell them; tell them; tell
them what you’ve told them;’[vii]
– and there’s a hope that what you’ve said can be remembered!
‘What
Three Words’ seeks to pinpoint any 'where' across the globe precisely to within
3metres[viii]
and amazingly, it seems to define and name everywhere in English (oh, how
world-beating we must be, until the internet went down and the portal to our 3m
x 3m atomised world is lost?!) e.g: ///shrugging.limbs.apprehend; ///sands.popping.interest; ///secretly.records.profiled; ///slurs.this.shark (nominative
determinism, anyone)…
Then
‽istis wondered whether asking people to describe ‘things’
(people, places, situations, experiences, emotions, etc.) in three words or phrases might
give some quick insight into their perception – not necessarily telling a full
rich and layered picture – but providing a hint, perhaps.
Maybe
try it (cautiously perhaps) with family and friends?
“If
I were to ask you to try to sum up what you think about ‘X’ in three words or
short phrases, what would you say?” where ‘X’ equals the following, or anything
else that you might care to ponder…
·
Boris
Johnson…
·
The
conflict in Ukraine…
·
The
current weather…
·
Your
job…
·
Our
relationship (caution definitely advised as honesty may follow)…
·
Your
ambitions and hopes…
·
What
might constitute a well-spent life…
And
finally ‽istis considers that a personal
three-point motto or mission statement could perhaps help bring focus; might possibly
help express thoughts, feelings and activity, fears, hopes, intentions and
motivations.
Wondering
what yours might be and after much reflection ‽istis comes up with:
‽
Wonder and ponder
‽
Imagine things better
‽
Live to prove
…definitely
a work in progress‽
©
Pistis
NB: further reflections and comments linked to this week’s theme
and past blog entries to be found on Twitter: replies, retweets (which don’t
necessarily indicate approval, sometimes the very opposite!) and ‘likes’:
@Pistis_wonders. ‘Follows’ and respectful comment and dialogue welcome...
[i] https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/penny-mordaunt-critics-call-her-part-time-penny-but-is-the-members-choice-too-woke-to-be-tory-leader-1740483
[ii] https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/inflationandpriceindices/articles/ukconsumerpriceinflationbasketofgoodsandservices/2022
[vi]
And templates are even available… https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=3+point+sermon+outlines+worksheet&id=BE3E412CD386EAA1CF10EA145030D2E09386E5BF&form=IQFRBA&first=1&disoverlay=1
And as for a three-point sermon on Trinity Sunday; perfection!
[vii] https://librotas.com/tell-them/ and
a TEDx talk by Mark Moore: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1jm-2WfTvk
: Love Do Hope. Yes No Maybe, and other examples.
