Terms of Service (and shiny objects)

Every day can be better than the last, but it doesn’t happen automagically. It’s not guaranteed; we have to insist on our fair share and, above all, activate the stubborn gene. We shouldn’t obsess over every bump in the road, but to be completely transparent, I must warn you: there will be turbulence in today’s post. 

Regulars on The Circular Journey know how to prepare for bumpy rides, but I feel it would be prudent to tell all newcomers to fasten their shoulder harness and keep their arms and legs inside the vehicle at all times.

I continue struggling to remain prolific on The Circular Journey, contending with distractions like depression, anxiety, and shiny objects. Speaking of shiny distractions, I opened this post to correct an error and, once opened, I felt that irresistible urge to "improve" it. I added an HTML snippet to give it the "cute" behavior you'll see below. 

Terms of Service

By continuing to read, you agree to all terms set forth below. If you do not agree, exit now.

Sharing information contained herein with anyone outside the Inner Circle is strictly forbidden. If confronted on any detail, you should always resort to stout denial.

I have read and understood the above. Check the box to continue reading.

You may continue.

Early in today’s post, I found myself mid-sentence, reaching for the next right word. I am rigorously scrupulous about the fragments of reality in the dimensions I frequent, and every word is chosen for clarity, simplicity, and precision.

This time, the word I wanted was “seque,” meaning, I’m told, a smooth transition from one topic to another. However, the word was instantly underlined in red: “Unknown word.” That surprised me!

I finished the sentence and read it aloud. Rhythm matters; without it, a sentence is dead. The cadence held up, so I turned back to that red squiggle. I’m not above misusing a word, but I always strive to avoid it.

So I did what any thoughtful author would do: I Googled it to see whether it was, as Bertie Wooster would say, the mot juste.

Google delivered the usual suspects in the result list, but the following stood out from the rest:

What does seque mean? – Definitions.net

Did you actually mean segue or sequoia?

I was nonplussed—and not in the modern, fake way, but genuinely nonplussed. A supposedly reputable site, high in the listings, had weighed in on my word and offered two helpful alternatives.

But how was I to choose between seque or sequoia? If I’d misunderstood seque, what hope did I have with sequoia?

I remain stumped. The puzzle feels a conundrum of Gordian proportions.

It only confirms my suspicion that the world doesn’t work anymore. The matrix is broken, and our usual 4-dimensional reality has merged with some other higher (or lower) dimensionality.

Which brings us back to the beginning. Some days, the only way to face the vicissitudes of life (yes, I looked it up) is to muddle through, refuse to fret, activate the stubborn gene, and keep moving forward. Fierce Qigong!

Author's Note:

P.S. “Vicissitudes,” according to Google, means a change of circumstances, typically unwelcome or unpleasant.

P.P.S. You can say that again, Google!