The concept of equilibrium is simple. In science, forces pull equally and oppositely to equal a zero net force on the object/particle/whatever. I randomly became obsessed with the meaning and ideas behind this word and its applications outside of science. According to Merriam-Webster, ‘equilibrium’ is from the Latin roots ‘weight’ and ‘balance’. I began unpacking the concept of equilibrium in my life and the concept as it applies to our society.
I realized my life is never in equilibrium. At first this thought terrified me—it just sounds bad. Who wouldn’t like to say that their life is perfectly balanced? Admitting that my life is unbalanced is socially comparable to saying I don’t like cheeseburgers, pizza and baseball.. and I think kittens are ugly. We are supposed to have our lives perfectly packaged. Our lives are to be presented to others as a well-written summary; preferably tied with a bow.
But my life is not in equilibrium. I go through days where I have class and homework for ten hours straight, days where I sleep through lunch and watch tv until dinner. Amazing people surround me, yet friendships are never in equilibrium either. I can eat grilled cheese for four days in a row, then want nothing besides smoothies for the next week. Middle ground seems to lack pure existence.
But I’m happy. So as socially unacceptable as this is, I would like to share this confession with you: my life is not in equilibrium and I like it.
"When we live such fragile lives, It's the best way we survive, I go around a time or two, Just to waste my time with you" --The All-American Rejects
No comments:
Post a Comment