newton's third law of motion

in my previous posts earlier this year, i wrote about how physics and newton's first law and second law of motions apply to real life. here's my take on #3:

for every action, there's an equal and opposite reaction.

for some reason, this whole concept fascinated me when i first learned about it in high school. my physics teacher explained that if we were pushing up against a wall, the wall was equally pushing back at us. it made for a funny image in my head that totally captivated me for some unknown reason and has stuck with me for all these years.

i think it must have been because it's something that we all inherently understand, even as little kids. for example, if you hit someone on the playground, they're going to hit you right back!

but on a bigger picture scale, newton's concept is interesting because it implies that nothing can exist without its equal and opposite force. there can be no light without dark. there can be no joy without pain. there can be no laughter without tears. it is only through the co-existence of pairs that these life forces can even exist in the first place. yet how often do we only cherish and pursue one-half of that equation? we always only want the "good" stuff, but the reality is that we have to accept the wholeness. because ultimately, it is all one and the same.

and therein newton's third law of motion, is proof yet again of life's simplest philosophy ---
be. here. now.

just breathe.

"the deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain. is not the cup that holds your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter's oven?" - kalil gibran

next up, calculus.

(nyc)