An obnoxious cliché that infuriates and inspires in equal measures. It's one of those last resort phrases people use when they've ran out of ways to justify actions - when deliberation has broken down and all you have left is a list of over-used sentiments. So here's what I propose: bugger the grass. Not litterally. That's absurd. Instead of the grass I want to look at what's between your own little patch of spotty-grass and the apparently gleaming meadows over yonder. I want to consider the fence inbetween. We'll call it the Fence of Obscurity.
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Now I realise that the very idea of a white-picket fence may nauseate most but it's a fantastic symbol in this instance. Because it's shiny. And white. And pickety. But mostly it represents something idyllic (bear with me) and almost like the metaphorical pinnacle of our territorial pursuits. Think: "This is my land, I've built me a precious lil fence around my land and now it done look purty as well." Except it's the integrity of our relationships and stability of our lives I'm referring to. Not the residence for your amassing garden gnome collection. Which is starting to look worryingly like an army and youshouldprobablytakeoffthatuniformooerrmatron.
So in my way of thinking that fence is there as a boundary. You put that fence up because it represents security and a willingness to accept that this is your life and what you've made of it, and you're content with it to boot.
And where would this bring in where I started off? Well, it doesn't. You no longer give a shit about the grass on the other side. Why would you - you've got this sparkly, new, white-picket fence to look at now! To explain where this thought-process came about I'll elaborate a little. I accept that people quite often get themselves into a rut and more often than not they're all too aware of what's caused it. Reasoning this, it's then entirely up to themselves whether they resolve that situation or not. But I also accept that people will get themselves into a rut and not even realise it.
The difference being in the first circumstance, there's been no new fence erected (teehee). You aren't distracted by the gleaming whitewash and you can see that lush, tastey grass on the other side and you think - gonna git me some o' that eventually. If you manage that, congratulations. If not, this next bit is probably going to happen.
The second circumstance has that fence. You've been in your little hovel long enough that you've decided yeah-sure, might as well make something out of this. And you've chucked up your fence and slapped on that coat of paint, at which point making the rest of the world redundant. Because who doesn't like a bit of comfort and security? Nought wrong with that, and hell, you might like your hovel enough just to love it and be happy with it. Maybe you couldn't give a shit about what's beyond the white-picket fence regardless.
Which is where the name Fence of Obscurity comes into it. And where my thoughts as per usual get horribly convoluted and without any consistency. You're allowed to be happy. There's a reason some people will want to climb the prospective job-opportunity ladder and others are more than content to work as a servitor. We all get our happiness from different directions. We'd be a bunch of boring cutthroats otherwise.
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| See how boring this guy is? Really boring, right? So boring I...Damnit, where's my pegleg. |
SEE! THAT FENCE! It's a manipulative bastard. It's obscuring the point I'm attempting to make. By not making it even remotely visible. The opportunity to look beyond the fence is there only if we choose to peek over the top and past that fantastic brush-stroke technique. Choice is a fantastically human notion. But one of two things lies on the other side and if I were to hazard a guess, I'd say that's why people are hesitant about considering it. You wont see either of those two things initially because that feckin' fence is obscuring it. But once you hop over it'll come to light which of the two outcomes it will be: a better life or a worse one.
The revelation will either heartily pat you on the back with a "Well done, old bean" and present you with a stein of Awesome-Ale. Also a multi-pack of temporary transfer tattoos. Who doesn't love those? Or it'll upper-cut you in the proverbial jewels then drag you away by your ankle as you try to claw your way back to your beautiful, adoring white-picket fence. How dare you cheat on your white picket fence, you son-of-a-bitch. It provided for you and kept you safe and secure. Now it's folded it's arms and glaring at you with admonishment as you are pulled away to a new, unfenced destiny all at your own behest.
'Scuse me while I copyright that idea before Universal catch wind of it. ("Honey, I Married the Premises." meets "Mortal Unholy-Pirate-Awesome-Kombat")
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| "Did-someone-say-pay-cheque?" |
How did I end up talking about pirates? There should be a new version of Godwin's Law involving pirates. We'll call it Pinkbeard's Law. Because that also sounds hilariously like a particularly nasty STI. But yeah: fences. You'll end up with one of two outcomes and I think because the second one is so devastating we quite often come to the conclusion that, nah, it's not worth the risk - I reckon I'll keep holding onto what I'm pretty damn comfy with, say thankee-sai.
So I'd conclude that many of us miss out on the opportunity for greatness and a more...ah...exuberant? Exuberant happiness. And I'd also conclude that many of us don't give a fuck. Because happiness is relative.
The great thing about me writing these is I've always completely lost the point I was initially making and find I just had too much fun doing the actual writing itself. I started writing this with a sort of vehemence and absoluteness that people are blinded by comforts and fail to grasp at opportunity because they straight up choose not to see it and so end up totally unphased because they're ignorant of the fact it's there in the first place. Because that fence is being an obscuring-distraction. So wait...are we to blame or are actual embodiments of fences to blame for implanting the psychological notion?
I'll need a wood-axe and a lot of lighter fuel.
Also could someone kindly write and ask if they'll let me out for a couple of days?
To finalise, a clip from Return of the King. Because I think it's fantastically irrelevant and metaphorically insignificant. And I couldn't find a fitting Eastwood clip. Mainly the last reason.
Because some people's white picket fences get a bit...extreme.
Splurge over. Ta-ta.
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