I'm Maggie Smith, and this is the slowdown.

I often hear people describe sliding doors, moments in their lives, a reference to the

1998 film starring Gwyneth Peltro.

The movie goes back and forth between two storylines, showing the different paths her character's life takes,

based on whether or not she misses her evening train. In a sense, any moment could be a sliding

doors moment. We don't know what the ripples might be from a simple meeting or from

deciding to run an errand after work instead of going straight home. I could take a long walk this

afternoon and bump into a friend I haven't seen in years.

You could try a new coffee shop instead of going to your regular haunt

and meet the eventual love of your life.

I like to think of it this way.

The decisions we make present opportunities every day.

Who knows what could happen?

Sometimes I swear I can feel a life-changing moment as it's happening.

Some moments in life feel like walking through a doorway from one place or time into another,

like crossing a threshold.

It's often easier to see these thresholds from the other side, looking back.

Retrospect is clearer than present perspective.

But as I get older, I think I'm getting better at seeing significant moments as they're

happening, seeing the train doors slide open or closed.

I think I'm getting better at noticing that my life is changing in real time,

even if I don't know how it will turn out.

...