digital guerrilla

The other day I was walking down one of the back hallways at the high school where I work when the idea hit me of suddenly being an elephant. I mean that literally, not being elephant-sized, but being an elephant, grey skin, trunk, big ears, etc. I dismissed the idea not because it was insane and impossible (I don’t think it was either), but because the hallway seemed to be too small to become an elephant of the size that I envisioned and the next person to walk into that hallway would likely freak out and the consequences, while not being disastrous, would be undesirable.

I’m writing about this random idea not to convince you that I am insane, though that thought is likely crossing at least some of your minds. I share it because it was not a random one time flight of fancy and therefore provides a better glimpse into my thoughts about reality than many of you have previously received. The world, as I see it, is one of infinite possibility. Nothing, even spontaneously being an elephant, is impossible.

So if nothing is impossible, why isn’t everyone living in peace and happiness? The short answer is choice (and thanks to Damien for the it’s-right-in-front-of-you slap on the head that he didn’t know he gave me). Our existence begins with a choice. It’s not a choice made just once though. We each make the choice every instant. We have all chosen to be where and who and what we are (and I expect more people reading this will object to that idea than the idea that I could suddenly be an elephant).

The part of the choice that often gets forgotten, at least by me, is the context. The other day, I did remember it and it was a key factor (other than the fact that I didn’t feel much desire to be an elephant) in me not making that choice. My thought of being an elephant didn’t include changing my context, my location in spacetime. In that context, a high school hallway, suddenly being an elephant would have presented too many problems, so I chose not to be one, but to continue being a human.

There’s plenty more for me to say on this issue, but it is late and I think I’ve already put forth enough ideas for you to consider (or dismiss, the choice is yours). (This post is evidence of why I need to always schedule writing time for just after I get out of the shower, as half of this was written while I was in there.)