I love paradoxes, parables, koans, aphorisms, fables, Secrets of Adulthood, and teaching stories of all kinds.
Several months ago, I posted about the "one-coin problem." This is my phrase to describe what's also known as "the argument of the growing heap":
"If ten coins are not enough to make a man rich, what if you add one coin? What if you add another? Finally, you will have to say that no one can be rich unless one coin can make him so."
Once I started looking for it, I began to notice the one-coin problem popping up in all sorts of places-in my own head, and in what other people say to me.
"It doesn't matter if I skip the gym today. What difference will it make to miss one work-out?"
"Who cares if my daughter doesn't go to bed right on time. A little less sleep isn't going to make a huge difference."
"I'm going to have dessert. One piece of cake isn't going to kill me."
"Tonight, I'm going to watch TV instead of read a book. I would only be
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