Gravity: The Greatest Teacher

Do you remember when you learned to walk? Of course not. But whether you remember it or not, you had a great teacher: gravity. Gravity is the greatest teacher. It is never angry. It is never frustrated with you when you fall off balance. It is implacable, impartial, relentless, and uncompromising. You cannot pacify gravity by being on good behavior. Gravity is never sentimental. It doesn't say, "Oh, Johnny was so good today, I think I will let this little tipping over episode go – I will pull him to the ground on another day." Gravity also doesn't get hurt feelings or feel bad when you take a tumble. It doesn't care if you have a temper tantrum and cry when you fall. Gravity isn't positive or negative. Gravity is consistent and indifferent to your reaction to it.

Our friends Amy and Andy Gideon have two sons, Alex and Aidan. When Alex was still a toddler the Gideons noticed that his head was somewhat oblong. While this condition is normal for many babies it is also something that can be easily corrected by wearing a special medically prescribed helmet. Amy and Andy felt it was worth the investment and so Alex wore the helmet for several months. This helmet muted the effects of gravity. Alex could easily fall and bump his head with no discomfort at all. When he finished his treatment, however, it was with great surprise that he discovered that his actions had consequences. If he rapped his head on something now he could feel it. Gravity didn't care when Alex bumped his head. It just kept teaching until he learned how to maintain his balance.

Another aspect to gravity is that is doesn't remember yesterday. It doesn't keep a list of your 'wrongdoings' and punish you for them over time. If you are upright and on balance today, it doesn't pull you over to get even for some supposed slight in the past. It also isn't apologetic for being itself. It doesn't say, "I am so sorry Suzy for having to pull you over today – really I am." Gravity just is. And because it is, you can count on it.

It is not too late to keep learning from gravity. We could learn to be consistent, and see our actions in a neutral, nonjudgmental manner without adding in that extraneous internal conversation that comments about what we have done – a conversation that adds agreement to or finds fault with our way of being.

How often have you berated yourself over time for something you did 'wrong'? If you make a misstep and trip, you may stub your toe and it may smart a bit, but gravity will never tell you that you are 'clumsy' or 'stupid'.

You fell often when you learned to walk – you just don't remember it. And interestingly enough you learned to walk without having to make decisions or having to talk with yourself about your actions. You walked without having to make a resolution about how to be a better you. You walked without having to remember anything and without rehashing in your mind everything that led up to landing on the ground. You learned organically. Learning to walk and the lessons of gravity have stayed with you and yet you have no resentment toward it and little or no memory of it. Gravity truly is the greatest teacher.