They feel like so much what you’re saying when you’re saying them. They feel like the world. They are ephemeral and can only, by definition, last long as they are remembered. And unless they are written down, they are always remembered incorrectly. And when they are written down, they are quoted incorrectly. If I punch you in the face, you will remember that a lot longer than some careful, clever phrase I manufactured and said alone.
It’s a classic contradiction. Unavoidable as it is true. People don’t give a shit about you, no matter who you are. They give a huge shit about themselves. If you can impact that with a word or three, then you are special. Most can’t, won’t, or even try. I do. And it’s looking up at the stars because I make as much difference to how fast the Milky Way spins as to how you’ll respond to a question.
What else can I do? It’s all I know. It’s all I want. You can’t always get what you want. You rarely do. But you can be smart, and when that millimeter opens? You can shut it. And then it’s one millimeter less. One millimeter at a time. Until it’s the universe.