Ah yes, the swing. the teacher of so many fundamental philosophies. For instance, swinging side-by-side with someone you love. The joy and happiness that it provides is one that is vary rarely forgotten.
So, I was thinking about an incident that happened when I was younger. I say incident as it turned bad for me very quickly and caused me to ponder my ability to make decisions. Swings are the epitomy of adrenaline and happiness. The ability to be free, feeling the wind blow through your hair.
Gravity? Ha! I mock you and your gravity!
Leaning back, feeling the warmth of the sun on your face as you go higher and higher. And then at some point you decide to venture out and try new ways of swinging. The idea of standing on the swing seems exciting and dangerous. So, off you go, wind blowing in your hair, forcing the swing to go higher and higher. You slow down and jump off, laughing and smiling. Could the world be any more perfect than that moment.
And, then a thought crosses your mind. What would happen if I got as high up as I possibly could and jumped off. Oh, the awesomeness, you thought. Oh, the pure rush of flying through the area as you gleefully land on the grass, that happens to be just out of reach on a normal jump, but today you plan to soar past that line and into the record books.
You jump on the swing, leaning forward and then back again. The adrenaline builds up. You can see the grass line. It looks closer and closer as you go higher and higher. And you ponder what everyone will say when they see you flying through the air. And just as you go to take that leap, with the tickle in your tummy, you jump…
Oh, Newton and your silly laws. Your 3rd law and laws of gravity have no affect on me!. I decry that I am a free man and will fight all of forms of rules and restraints!
That moment went from exciting to blurry real fast. The seat (Darn you Newton!) decided not to hold it’s position and pushed away from me forcing me not to fly in the air, but instead tipped me upside down and taught me a lesson by using my head, knee and ankle as the applied science to this text book moment. Newton’s theory of “Universal Gravitation” (See it’s not a law… just a theory!) caused me to walk home in shame. Hobbling in pain, picking the rock out of my head and knee. Loathing this new knowledge of how unjust the world can be.
I’m still in denial.
