The Sun

7.7.09

Blindingly bright on the horizon. Unchallenged, unrestricted, bleeding out in all directions. Sitting atop the water like a king before resting for the night.

The sun has always received human attention. It has always been worshipped, fawned over. By ancient civilisations, by poets, by artists, by romantics, by surfers – the list is inexhaustible. Its worshippers vary in where their love for the sun is grounded and how they show it. Having just gotten back from a trip to the south coast of Victoria, I have found (what is to me) a new perspective.

Look at it. Its job, and let’s be honest here, is no easy task – providing life, light and warmth for an entire planet. But doesn’t the sun look comfortable out there on the horizon? Well of course, you’d expect it to be comfortable – what a great view you’d have from up there! What strikes me the most, though, is that it is so unflappable. It is truly unflappable. It doesn’t put up a false façade. It doesn’t see the need. Flustered, just trying to do its job, the sun could be worrying about how it looks. Fussing over its hair or what handbag to bring to the club or what cardigan to wear with what jacket. But the sun wants none of this. It isn’t afraid of getting egg on its face. It isn’t afraid of the wind or the clouds moving in. It knows that its true friends will love it all the same.

For some people, being seen only when perfectly preened is a big deal. Photos without make-up? “No thanks! Please no! Fuck off! Tim, I will shove your balls up your throat!” These people are obsessed with controlling what other people think of them. They want an image of flawlessness, of perfection. They aren’t comfortable enough in themselves to be seen with their guard down. These people ought to take a leaf out of the sun’s book. It is important to accept yourself for what you are, be able to laugh at yourself. The only thing you can truly control is how you react to things, how you perceive things. If the sun worried about the clouds ruining its image it would only be happy for 2 out of 4 seasons. That’s half a year. That’s half its life! If you could stop worrying about your image, you could enjoy yourself more. Everyone else could enjoy you more.

There are things you can control. There are things that you cannot. The sun has accepted its inability to control what is around it and you know what? The cloud filled view from Mornington was still pretty alright. A shift in focus from the impossible to the productive really is important in coming to enjoy your own company. It is sad though. The sun has had billions of years to loosen up while we as mere mortals have only limited time to come to grips with our strengths and limitations.