Thank you so much, Rob, and thank you for your service! My kids laugh at how much I enjoy noticing nature-math, or math-nature, however you'd like to think of it 🤣 They used to complain, as you'd expect, about their math exercises - but I was always like, "Are you kidding me? Math is amazing! The whole world works by math!" I've collected many an eye-roll over that controversial opinion.
I'm so pleased to know that theoretical mathematicians agree that there are different sized infinitives. I thought the idea was just something crazy I made up!
This was excellent, Sydney. It feels fitting when applied to nature and its vastness--nature is a collection of infinities, each one infinite in its own right.
And what excellent photographs! Wishing you a Happy New Year
Thanks so much, James! So true, it's one of those fun endless wonders to tuck away in the back of your mind and bring back out whenever some natural feature reminds you to be amazed by it again :) Happy New Year!
I learned once that the parts of the brain most activated by theoretical mathematics is very similar to those parts activated in classical musicians. I think one of the beautiful roles creatives of all kinds play in human society is to help us glimpse beyond the apparently mundane into the infinite. Some people see water on a windscreen and turn on the wipers...some somehow see the infinite. Thank God for the infinite glimpsers I say! Thanks Sydney.
Great point, Ian, thank you for sharing! We tend to think of creativity in an arts-and-music paradigm, but there's creativity involved in all of our understanding at a certain level. So cool, I never get tired of learning more about how our brains work, my kids make fun of me for it :)
Thinking about infinity itself is mind blowing. Now this concept of various infinities within infinity is so fascinating. A wonderful thing to reflect on the eve of a New Year. Love a good mystery and you never fail to provide one, Sydney. 🙏🩵
Thanks so much, Grace! Infinite infinities did feel fitting for a new year transition, just the sort of quiet awe to get started on the right foot ✨ Happy New Year!
Whoa, getting me picturing different types of infinity in less than 4 minutes and before I have had my first cup of tea on the last day of the year! That seems all a bit magical in itself. And we haven't even talked about atoms and such! phew!! Or, the number of exclamation marks I type out every day! :-) One of my favorite moments of infinity was when I brought my dad's cat home to live with me. Chester had been a 2nd story apartment cat his whole 4 year life. An orange tabby he had quite loved mornings on the balcony and afternoon naps snuggled with dad. They were great pals. After a few weeks of adjustment to his new home with me and my cat of many years The Boppers we all settle down to my routine. The Boppers was a world wise fellow who could go outside and hunt in the field and had the ever-loving habit of running to me on first sight! So anyway, one sunny day, I left the side door open to see if Chester would like to come out with me while I puttered in the yard. He sat a few paces back from the open door and looked out but did not venture out. Later, I came in to fix tea and bent down and picked Chester up while I was waiting for the water to boil. As we looked out the open door, it suddenly struck me that stepping through the door was to step out into infinity. It quite literally goes on forever! Or at least as long as one's life lasts. No wonder Chester had qualms about stepping out there! It is a VERY big place on the other-side of that door!
That is so entirely delightful, Sandy! "...stepping through the door was to step out into infinity." Of course, I also have never thought about it that way, and now I can't stop being tickled by it. It's wonderful to me that Chester taught you this, which you'd known on some level your whole life without ever noticing, and I'm glad he had you as a companion for his first steps into the infinite 🧡 Thanks so much for sharing this with me, my heart is entirely warmed. 💕
I never thought about this, the nature of infinity. And how one infinity is not the same as another. When I think of infinity, I think of the vastness of space, or even grains of sand, which in theory is countable, but no one has. Or could. Infinity equals mystery. Some mysteries can't be solved, and I am fine with that.
Same here, Perry, I like to turn a good unsolvable natural mystery around in my brain. It's comforting to remember how unfathomable this world is - in the good ways!
Happy sigh. Exquisite. What an extraordinary world we inhabit. Wishing you all the best for the year ahead dear Sydney. Sending heaps of hugs and best wishes. 🤗🤗❤️💕❄️
Fascinating! Your last photo reminds me of planets and galaxies. A universe full of planets, and a universe in a droplet.
Oh my gosh, Noel, same here! I'm so glad you saw it that way, too, thanks for sharing :)
As a recovering high school math teacher, I thoroughly enjoyed this essay and your writing made me smile for the first time today! 🙏
Thank you so much, Rob, and thank you for your service! My kids laugh at how much I enjoy noticing nature-math, or math-nature, however you'd like to think of it 🤣 They used to complain, as you'd expect, about their math exercises - but I was always like, "Are you kidding me? Math is amazing! The whole world works by math!" I've collected many an eye-roll over that controversial opinion.
Ah yes, the eye rolls! For what it’s worth I’m in your camp on that opinion and Happy New Year to you and your family Sydney✌️
Happy New Year, Rob!🎉
This was just the perfect set of words and images -a fascinating and calm start to my day!
I am so happy to hear that, Jennifer, thank you!
I'm so pleased to know that theoretical mathematicians agree that there are different sized infinitives. I thought the idea was just something crazy I made up!
🤣The math has proven you right, Sarah!
Happy New Year, Sydney! This is really an amazing photo series and contemplation of infinity!
Thank you so much, Heidi, and Happy New Year to you and the critters, too! Congratulations on your detective book, and enjoy your break! 💕
This was excellent, Sydney. It feels fitting when applied to nature and its vastness--nature is a collection of infinities, each one infinite in its own right.
And what excellent photographs! Wishing you a Happy New Year
Thanks so much, James! So true, it's one of those fun endless wonders to tuck away in the back of your mind and bring back out whenever some natural feature reminds you to be amazed by it again :) Happy New Year!
This is awesome Sydney. I love how all of the images are from the same moment of looking at water droplets on the windshield. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much, Neil! Happy New Year!
I learned once that the parts of the brain most activated by theoretical mathematics is very similar to those parts activated in classical musicians. I think one of the beautiful roles creatives of all kinds play in human society is to help us glimpse beyond the apparently mundane into the infinite. Some people see water on a windscreen and turn on the wipers...some somehow see the infinite. Thank God for the infinite glimpsers I say! Thanks Sydney.
Great point, Ian, thank you for sharing! We tend to think of creativity in an arts-and-music paradigm, but there's creativity involved in all of our understanding at a certain level. So cool, I never get tired of learning more about how our brains work, my kids make fun of me for it :)
Wishing you all the best in the new year! 💕
Thinking about infinity itself is mind blowing. Now this concept of various infinities within infinity is so fascinating. A wonderful thing to reflect on the eve of a New Year. Love a good mystery and you never fail to provide one, Sydney. 🙏🩵
Thanks so much, Grace! Infinite infinities did feel fitting for a new year transition, just the sort of quiet awe to get started on the right foot ✨ Happy New Year!
Whoa, getting me picturing different types of infinity in less than 4 minutes and before I have had my first cup of tea on the last day of the year! That seems all a bit magical in itself. And we haven't even talked about atoms and such! phew!! Or, the number of exclamation marks I type out every day! :-) One of my favorite moments of infinity was when I brought my dad's cat home to live with me. Chester had been a 2nd story apartment cat his whole 4 year life. An orange tabby he had quite loved mornings on the balcony and afternoon naps snuggled with dad. They were great pals. After a few weeks of adjustment to his new home with me and my cat of many years The Boppers we all settle down to my routine. The Boppers was a world wise fellow who could go outside and hunt in the field and had the ever-loving habit of running to me on first sight! So anyway, one sunny day, I left the side door open to see if Chester would like to come out with me while I puttered in the yard. He sat a few paces back from the open door and looked out but did not venture out. Later, I came in to fix tea and bent down and picked Chester up while I was waiting for the water to boil. As we looked out the open door, it suddenly struck me that stepping through the door was to step out into infinity. It quite literally goes on forever! Or at least as long as one's life lasts. No wonder Chester had qualms about stepping out there! It is a VERY big place on the other-side of that door!
That is so entirely delightful, Sandy! "...stepping through the door was to step out into infinity." Of course, I also have never thought about it that way, and now I can't stop being tickled by it. It's wonderful to me that Chester taught you this, which you'd known on some level your whole life without ever noticing, and I'm glad he had you as a companion for his first steps into the infinite 🧡 Thanks so much for sharing this with me, my heart is entirely warmed. 💕
I never thought about this, the nature of infinity. And how one infinity is not the same as another. When I think of infinity, I think of the vastness of space, or even grains of sand, which in theory is countable, but no one has. Or could. Infinity equals mystery. Some mysteries can't be solved, and I am fine with that.
Same here, Perry, I like to turn a good unsolvable natural mystery around in my brain. It's comforting to remember how unfathomable this world is - in the good ways!
Happy sigh. Exquisite. What an extraordinary world we inhabit. Wishing you all the best for the year ahead dear Sydney. Sending heaps of hugs and best wishes. 🤗🤗❤️💕❄️
Thanks so much, Beth! Happy New Year to you, too! 🤗💕