The River & The Wraith

Our physical substance is transient. Our cells are constantly dying and replacing themselves, and the water that makes up most of our bodies comes and goes. We are The Ship of Theseus, but unlike the paradox, we are witness to our continuity of self, or at least we perceive ourselves to be. After all, we in the present are not who we were 10 years ago, so like with our cells, incrementally our memories, skills, habits, and knowledge depart from us and we gain new ones. Some of these things persist, but I am sure that my memories and habits have warped with time as subtle shifts in perspective change me.

We can't help but change, and we are free from obligation to earlier versions of ourselves. That's both freeing and frightening. As a parent, I watch my children imperceptibly disappear, melting into older kids with interests and personalities that sometimes do and sometimes don't seem to trace back to the person who came before.