Thinking about Thinking

The Shape of the World

Thinking About Thinking by Balaji Prasad

“A round man cannot be expected to fit in a square hole right away. He must have time to modify his shape.” - Mark Twain

There are circles and squares, and triangles and rectangles, and such, in the world we know. Or are there? Is it possible that the strange shapes that populate our heads are really shapes that we shaped? Maybe there are no such things in the real world that correspond to these shapes? Maybe our creative minds spin a parallel universe that aspires to turn with the world as the world turns? But never quite manages to?

It’s me, not you!

The world is dogmatic! It has a mind of its own, and spins where it spins, seemingly unmindful and uncaring about the poor mind that observes, plaintively hoping that it spins the way that it is “supposed” to spin.

But we do much more than hope: we engage with the world with our decisions and actions that we believe will eventually make the South the North, and the North the South. But try as we might, things just seem to happen the way they do. Could it be that the problem lies with us, and not with the world? Could it be that we may even do the very opposite of what we should do, and when things go awry, we simply point to the world and say “You!” when we really ought to be saying “It’s me, not you!”

Shaping the shaper

If we are able to come to terms with the fact that there are, in fact, two universes – the one inside our

Thinking about Thinking continued on page 78

VEMA MORTGAGE

NMLS# 1019911

VEMA MORTGAGE

FOR ALL YOUR MORTGAGE NEEDS PURCHASE & REFINANCE

• ZERO CLOSING COSTS! (Lender credit of $2500) • TOP 1 % BROKER IN USA • MOST LOANS CLOSE IN 15 DAYS • 600 + 5 STAR RATINGS (GOOGLE & ZILLOW) • NO LOAN OFFICE EMPLOYED • # 1 WHOLESALE BROKER IN TOWN

734-560-2728 877-800-VEMA (8362)

SEBASTIAN GEORGE

NMLS#161496 SAABY74@VEMAMORTGAGE.COM

DECOR & FLORALS FOR ALL OCCASIONS

• Exclusive Mandaps, Wedding Chairs and Furniture • Centerpieces, Florals and Garlands

BOOK BLOOMING BUDS FOR ANY OCCASION Call Manju Nigam: 919-805-1000 WWW.BLOOMINGBUDSNC.COM

Indore Oil Company

5387 Manor Drive Stone Mountain, GA 30083 770-469-7677

GROW WITH US!

Indore Oil Company is excited to enter the Gasoline supply market in North Carolina and South Carolina. Indore Oil Company is one of the Oldest INDIAN owned Jobbership in the Southeast. We have over 30 years of industry knowledge and expertise. We specialize in helping Convenience Store owners grow their business. The Southeast is a fiercely competitive Gasoline market and Retailers find it hard to compete and make a profit on price alone and must find other ways to gain a competitive edge. We represent some of the topmost recognized brands in the country, Chevron, Texaco, Citgo, Marathon, Valero, and Motiva-76. Re-imaging and re-branding your station to one of our Six brands will give you the opportunity to increase your pull-margin. Give us a call and let’s fuel America together. We can help you to install new Fueling Equipment, Canopy upgrade, and LED Price sign and any image related item. Umesh (Pat) Patel, Mihir Patel

PUT YOUR FEET IN OUR HANDS You Don’t Have to Keep Living With Foot and Ankle Pain and Discomfort

CONDITIONS WE TREAT: ○ Arch and Heel Pain ○ Diabetic Foot Care ○ Nail and Skin Care ○ Bunyons & Tendons ○ Fractures and Sprain ○ Wound Care ○ Ingrown Toenails ○ Pediatrics ○ Truamatic Injuries

+ FOUR CHARLOTTE AREA LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU +

Lancaster Office 1190 Highway 9 By-Pass W Lancaster, SC 29720 803-285-1411 Rock Hill Office 223 S. Herlong Ave Rock Hill, SC 29732 803-327-1654 Indian Land Office 6237 Carolina Commons Dr., Indian Land, SC 29707 803-548-3338 Steele Creek Office 13521 Steelecroft Pkwy Charlotte, NC 28278 980-219-8626

Kinjal Patel, DPM