After
watching Sir Ken Robinson on Ted Talks, there was one particular thing he said
that resonated within my being: “The great problem for reform or transformation
is the tyranny of common sense”. This insightful yet facetious quote reminded
of a non-fictional event that occurred to me a couple of summers ago which profoundly impacted my
being. Allow me to explain it to you in
the form of a very short story.
My
pocket vibrated twice. It was my phone
informing me of a new text message. “Yo! Bonfire at Laguna, get yo ass over hurr”,
it read. As per usual, most activities
during summer were spontaneous. I preferred the spontaneity; planned-ahead
activities indicated what to expect and my mind tended to create incredible
circumstances that could possibly, maybe, occur. They never did. This led to a
sense of disappointment, as it were. The
fire roared and crackled as it devoured the wood. The cool breeze did nothing
to diminish the warmth of that night or dissuade the humidity. Two big jugs of
cheap-yet-surprisingly-tasty sangria accompanied my arrival. We formed various
circles around the fire as we talked, laughed and “got shit faced.” At some
point in the night, I suggested skinny dipping, “Let’s get naked and go
swimming!” The various circles of people cheered their approval. We counted to
three and I proceeded to remove all my clothing and sprint to the sea. I dove into the water and quickly realized I
was alone. There was cheering and whistling from the people on the shore who
happened to be fully clothed and completely dry. The water felt good, but I
considered returning to the group. Upon deciding to leave the water, she
exploded from beneath the surface splashing me in the process. I had no idea
who she was. I desperately tried to maintain eye-contact, lest she think me a
sexual deviant. She must have noticed my
efforts because right then she let out a melodic laugh and I couldn’t help but
laugh with her. It was high tide, our playful banter and conversation was
silenced only as we jumped over little waves or dove under larger ones. “I’m glad I wasn’t the only naked person in
the water. To be honest, I’ve always enjoyed being naked with company” I told
her. She laughed and said, “So this must be a common occurrence for you.” I
quickly responded, “Nope, this is a first for me. You’re the only mermaid I’ve ever met, like
in my whole life.” She laughed loudly at that. “Don’t I get a wish if I find a
mermaid?” I asked her. “You mean a naked mermaid wasn’t what you wished for? Uh
oh, I must have the wrong wisher, I should probably go then.” She pretended to
turn, as if to walk away, when my arm wrapped around her waist. I distinctly
remember the curvature of the dimples that adorned her lower back. My other hand
made its way to her chin and she tilted her head ever so slightly. Her luminous
lips met mine. “It fascinates me that you’re okay with being naked in public” I
said. “There’s no such thing” she replied. “What do you mean?” I asked.
“Clothes are conventionally used to cover your legs, your arms, your torso,
your chest, my vagina, your dick.” “Yeah, and?” I asked. “Are you your legs?” “No” I answered. “Are you your arms? Are you your torso? Are
you your chest? Am I my vagina? Are you your dick?” she asked in one breathe.
“No”, I replied. “So if you and I are none of those things, then you or I being
naked can’t exist, because being actually naked is independent of whether our
limbs are clothed or not…The real-you is in your head” she said, as she kissed
my temple. Unknowingly, that night would lead to the first and only time I fell
in love and the realization: who you are is in your head. That is to say, our
composition is the manifestation of our perceptions.
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