Like a lick

Sometimes the smallest actions can bring about large outcomes. Not like pushing a button to launch a nuke—more like licking a lollipop. A student study at the University of Cambridge concluded that it takes an average of 3,480 licks to finish a tootsie pop. A single lick in this case does not make a perceptible difference. Neither do ten licks. Is the tootsie pop not finished at lick number 3,479?

Last week, I thought about how hopeless it was for a single person to conserve energy, conserve water, pick up trash, become vegetarian, etc. The actual effect that such actions have on the environment is almost negligible in singularity. Even if ten people made habit of such actions, it will not noticeably effect the quality of human life. However, I came to the conclusion that this mindset is probably accountable for significant portions of environmental negligence, obesity, poor dental hygiene, poor sleep habits, and many other negative outcomes. When people believe that a single small action with an imperceptible consequence can not affect them or their environment, they are probably right. "It won't hurt to leave the lights on just this once," or "this one candy bar won't affect my weight," or "I'm too tired to get up and brush my teeth; I'll be sure to brush tomorrow," are examples of such actions with little consequence. Perhaps the man who justifies the once-a-day candy bar will be regretful when he becomes self conscious of his difficult-to-hide, difficult-to-eliminate pot belly. Lots of small actions can lead to large consequences. For good or for bad.

In conclusion, you will (analogically) never finish the lollipop if you do not have faith in a single lick. Unless you bite it. However, this not only defeats the accuracy of my analogy, but is very bad for your teeth. By the way, brush your teeth every night.

—Drew