Circular Thoughs in a Linear World

That was the random thought I jotted down in Professional Writing the other day.

Here as I listen to The Get Up Kids - Mass Pike.... Memories flood back into my head.

While I am opposed to circular conversations that require a linear solution, I do believe that we should realize the interconnectedness of life, and our experiences. For example, I don't like arguments such as:
Person 1: You don't spend enough time with me.
Person 2: I don't have that much free time, but when I do, you're around.
Person 1: It's not about the amount, but the quality.
Person 2: I ask if you want to go out, but you merely want to sit on the couch and watch television shows that I can't stand.
Person 1: I just want to spend more time with you......


Circularity in arguments isn't helpful, but in thoughts we frequently find ourselves on a long journey only to return to where we started. I find this frequently in instruction. I move through lessons to get students caught up to where they should be, or to improve a specific skill, then move to the next, but eventually find myself teaching the same lessons to the sames students who have either lost the knowledge, or haven't retained it.

I even find myself teaching and saying something I've said many times before, but suddenly realizing another facet of what it means.

Then, there's always what Bruce Lee said about a punch:
"When I started, a punch was a punch. Then, I learned so much about a punch, the twist, using the entire body, finger placement, angles, and so on. Then, after mastering the punch, I realized that a punch was just a punch."