The Great Divide

Last evening as I caught up with a close friend, I found myself saying "Its the complete opposite of me" .. That statement is a conundrum.

What does that mean anyways ? ..and whats a complete opposite ? as opposed to an incomplete opposite ?

I remember vaugely in school - when a class grade was on the basis of knowing "complete" opposites - a match the columns - that would make or break your test scores.

It was so simple wasn't it. If you werent "Fat" ..you just had to be "Thin"

Is that why I spent so many years focusing on the "Black" and the "White" ... Grey certainly did not feature on any of those tests as something that could have an opposite...

Things have become far more complicated in my own mind and life anywhichways while growing up .. or should i say while growing old ?

I've realised over the years that there is no such thing as an opposite. Leave alone a "complete" opposite.

Complete is not the opposite of Incomplete

Whole is not the opposite of Broken

Life is not the opposite of Death

Peace is not the opposite of War

Love is not the opposite of Hate

Living is not the opposite of Dying

Not Alone is not the opposite of Alone

Young is not the opposite of Old

Happy is not the opposite of Sad

Laughter is not the opposite of Tears

Strong is not the opposite of Weak

Brave is not the opposite of Afraid

Friend is not the opposite of Enemy

These contradictions bind me, deride me and define me.

And its in these grey areas and contradictions that I am not incomplete. Grudgingly so. But not incomplete.