Taking Ownership, But Letting Go of Control: The Free-Fall of Life
I'll tweak the velocity even if the air resistance throws me off
Kids, we’re sitting in on another physics lesson here, remember wasting potentials? Today, we’re free-falling; as one would do with life. It is a confusing, beautiful mess (akin to a free-fall). Each of us is knee-deep, navigating it, kind of like how digital artists journey through the expansive canvas of net art, meticulously crafting their message, only to leave certain elements to randomness.
Your initial velocity is that kick-off point. Remember that rush you felt when you started something new? It’s like the spark digital artist Olia Lialina felt diving into the world of net art, crafting narratives one pixel at a time. Similarly, when you come across that dream worth chasing or as Ted from HIMYM so eloquently put it, “when you find someone you want to keep around, you do something about it.” You kick-start that journey with all the fervor in the world.
Then there's gravity. The constant force that holds you, grounds you. For artists like Alexei Shulgin, gravity can be likened to the basic software tools he utilizes, bending them to his will, but always bound by their limitations. It's akin to our faith in God, guiding, grounding, and sometimes challenging us.
Time, a relentless taskmaster. Think about the hours net artists invest in their pieces. The meticulous designs of Rafael Rozendaal come to mind, each detail deliberate yet open to digital randomness. Every decision, every risk, every 'let's go for it' moment stretches and shapes our own timelines.
Now, for the unpredictable air resistance. It's the serendipities, the divine interventions, the wild, unexpected twists that artists like JODI might find when a glitch surprisingly elevates their work to a new level. It's that air resistance that’s both thrilling and terrifying. It's life's way of reminding us that while we can - and should - take charge, we can't control everything.
You see, it's a tightrope walk. On one side is the need to grab life by the reins, to take ownership. And on the other, the humbling act of letting go of the illusion of control. But here’s the catch: while life doesn’t always stick to the script, it does have a strange, beautiful way of working out. One would say, life always works out perfectly.
To us – the dreamers, the doers, the lovers, the artists – for taking charge, and learning when to let go. Dive deep, but remember, sometimes, it's the wind that knows the way. You will start your company (or get the promotion you want), marry the person you love, and get to see the entire world with your friends; it just might look a little bit differently, and you might not get there how you anticipated to do so.
Here’s to jumping head first,
Sarah