Wednesday 18 January 2012

Inertia

Fall, Before The Fall by foundimagination
I was talking with a girlfriend of mine the other day and asking her if she was following up on her music. This friend is the most amazing singer and musician and loves to sing and play, but to quote her, "It's hard to get past the inertia of where I am right now."

I remember learning about Newton's First Law in physics and understanding, logically, how that applied to objects.

Have you ever seen a video of someone pulling something incredibly heavy (like an airplane or bus) with their teeth or hair or something equally unsuited to the task? It's always getting the thing moving that's the hardest part. They pull and pull and pull and then suddenly (seemingly so) the gigantic object starts to move and we all stand amazed by the feat.

It's the inertia. That's what those people are struggling against, because once the thing starts rolling, you're good to go.

I'm starting to think that mental inertia is the hardest thing to move.

Lacking the motivation of tv cameras or Guiness book records, it's difficult to pull and pull and pull against the inertia of a habit or a comfort zone.

Or the couch, streaming television and a blanket.

Because it can be comfortable, that inertia.

And it's only by wanting something more than wanting the comfort that you strap the twine around yourself and start tugging, veins bulging, to move yourself.

I'm at least looking at the pile of rope lying there next to my own personal bus.

I'm at least aware of where I'm inert.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

You spelled "inertia" wrong in your heading. :-)

Victoria said...

D'oh!

Thanks, fixed it! Lol.

Dominic said...

And strictly speaking, what they're fighting against to get it moving is friction - resistance due to inertia doesn't change when you start something moving, but resistance due to friction does :)

Victoria said...

Thanks science buddy! :)

Rebekah said...

I love your blog! Just found it yesterday. It's funny that I came across this one today. It is so cold outside and I just got a Nook. All I want to do is go home, curl up in bed next to my cat, and read! But, I need to go to the gym. I have to move myself to my own personal goals. Thanks for the inspiration. :)

Victoria said...

Aw, thanks Rebekah! :)