Slowly Changing Dimensions

Years ago, I was project manager for a data warehouse project. While my memory of the project itself has faded, one concept that fascinated me has stuck with me over the years. 

First, it might be helpful to explain what a data warehouse is. In simple terms, a data warehouse tracks historical data and is able to store what are called slowly changing dimensions. This lets you track not just the data over time, but a history of how dimensions of that data have changed over time. Well, what is a dimension you might ask, and why is this important? A dimension is a factor that you consider relevant to the data. I’ll give an example in a minute.  

Slowly changing dimensions is a perfect metaphor for how our lives change in increments. We tend not to notice things that change slowly. The majority of changes in our lives tend to be small, but numerous. We are often shocked when we realize how small changes have accumulated. When we finally take notice, we marvel at how we hadn’t even noticed that changes were occurring. And then, it is often too late to adjust our course even if we wanted to. 

For example, a habit of eating dessert every night will tend to accumulate into noticeable changes over time. Without any other adjustments, those little bites add up. What might have been a “just this once” indulgence can easily morph into a daily habit. The sheer number of self-help books on this topic give weight to this reality. 

Having reached the age of 60 and now can look back on my own slowly changing dimensions, I feel both proud and grateful that I am happily married, healthy, and happy. I've worked hard to get where I am in life. At the same time I often reflect on the countless decisions I’ve made over the course of my life that could have turned out so very badly. I've faced both early family tragedy and personal trauma. At so many points I could have chosen bitterness, anger, isolation, and perhaps even revenge. Whether justified or not, these responses would have turned me into a victim, which leads only to more sadness, self-pity, and no hope for a better future. 

Some believe fate lands each of us where we were destined to go. An absolute belief in fate removes responsibility and drains all feelings of motivation to thrive. On the other hand, a belief in God, All That Is, Self-Destiny, or even Karma all have more positive, healthier outcomes. Strong beliefs guide us and give us a sense of both control and responsibility. They also help create a sense of balance between knowing we must accept our set-backs, whether large or small, and still mobilize ourselves to carry on. 

Decisions I’d left purely to chance could have easily led to immense frustration and even a career for which I was unsuited. I also would not have found my soul-mate whom I love more than life itself. As a senior in high school, I was being recruited by the Army, promising me an opportunity to pursue music (my career choice at the time), an offer which likely would not have been kept. After numerous conversations and hours of deliberation, I finally relented and made the decision to sign up—but only if the recruiter called me one more time. To leave something so life changing up to fate was not because I didn’t care, but because I didn’t know how to choose. 

It is miraculous that most decisions I’ve made in my life have not only turned out okay, but have turned out far better than I could have dreamed. Each of these were in some part due to a slowly changing dimension. A boss early in my career became a good friend and counseled me, knowing how I had dreams of doing something more important in my life than my current job. He encouraged me to take night classes, knowing I wasn't interested in this job becoming my career. “What else are you doing with your time?” he asked me. Those classes over time transformed what was just a job into a passionate, rewarding, and successful career, one that I am proud of and blends well with my personality, my desire for creativity, and need for constantly evolving intellectual challenges. 

If you hadn’t guessed, the Army recruiter never did call me again. 

In summary, if I could take my younger self aside and give one word of advice, it would be to pay attention to the little things and choose wisely. The good decisions are often harder in the short term but make life easier in the long run. Odds are if you strive to make more good choices than bad ones, your slowly changing dimensions will accumulate in the direction of positive outcomes. 

PS. As a side note, it has been a few years since I’ve checked in on Noah—He’s the guy who’s taken a picture of himself every day and posted it online. He’s been doing this now for 20 years.  Here is the link:  https://youtu.be/wAIZ36GI4p8