Monday, April 1, 2013

Ambiguity



“I wanted a perfect ending. Now I've learned, the hard way, that some poems don't rhyme, and some stories don't have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what's going to happen next.
Delicious Ambiguity.” 

- Gilda Radner

 
    For years I thought  that ambiguity was the sole propriety of language.  I considered a sentence, a passage, a poem, a story, anything with words that was unclear as ambiguous.  And that's where ambiguity stopped.  In 1989, Gilda Radner died of cancer and I discovered this quote.  That's when the door opened on ambiguity for  me.

     Initially, I didn't like thinking of life as ambiguous.  I wanted to know exactly what was going to happen, how exactly were things going to turn out.  I didn't like waiting for outcomes and, instead, I determined that whatever way I wanted things to go was the way they were going to go.  Big mistake.

     More recently, I have made room on the bench of life for ambiguity. Ambiguity is going to push its way in anyway so I might as well make room for it.  Specifically, this means that I don't assume to know exactly how things are going to turn out.  It means that I can be curious about the outcome of some situation rather than decide that I am in charge of everything and that the universe will obey my demands.  

     Making room for ambiguity certainly does make life more interesting and, yes, entertaining. 

I know what I painted but do you know what I painted?  Ambiguity in art!

24 comments:

  1. I also recently came to the shocking realization that life isn't a sit com episode that gets all wrapped up nice and neat with no loose ends. Actually it doesn't ever end. The story just keeps going on and on. You would have thought that with so many hints along the way, I would have figured that out a long time ago.
    I am probably way off base with the painting. My first impression was morning sun on the ocean.

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    1. We get that wisdom with age, heh? and experience.....
      Meggie sees the morning sun on the ocean in this painting too -- :)

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  2. Your painting? The parting of the sea of ambiguity. As for life, I'm not in charge, but merely a leaf being blown in the wind.

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    1. And a smart, compassionate, hard woking leaf at that - shades of your father - GOOD shades :)
      xoxoxo

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  3. Embracing the ambiguity of life is a hard one for me, but as I get older, I find myself letting go more and more. I like Mark's description: a leaf blown in the wind.

    Happy A to Z!

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    1. That's what has happened to me Dana - age brings some welcome gifts and I consider the ability to embrace ambiguity as one of those gifts.

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  4. "I have made room on the bench of life for ambiguity." Great line.

    As for your painting, I'm close to Lynda. I see the sun, but for me, it's a streak on the water made by a setting sun.

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    1. Thanks, Tim! I like that line too. Recently, I am learning more and more how to "make room" for things in life. Interesting idea.

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  5. I have learned to embrace ambiguity...it's part of life's "grey". I hope you had a great Easter!

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    1. Yes, it is part of life's gray but, really? I don't like the color gray so much. Oh wait! Sometimes I like it a lot if I put a silver spin on it.

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  6. I see a mystic portal where the secrets of the universe are held:)
    Glad to see you wingin' it in the challenge. I look forward to the journey.
    Pamela

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    1. I like that a lot, Pamela! My secrets are there. That could be the secrets of my own universe! LOVE IT! Thanks!

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  7. Sometimes we just have to move over and make room on the bench for the ambiguity. Tiz life!

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  8. I love love that quote! And, I hope if I'm ever close enough you'll make room on that bench for me too!

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    1. I most definitely would, Judy! You're in the NW somewhere - central WA, right? It could happen!

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  9. Ambiguity is vastly underrated and worthy of daily reflection and practice all in its own right. I love the art—and the post.

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    1. And you, my friend Tara of Faith in Ambiguity, have been instrumental in my explorations of ambiguity. I bet you didn't know that but it is true.

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    2. Yay, Tara. I swear I didn't cheat off your paper, Gracie. ;)

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  10. That's a hard one. It's kind of like learning to let go.

    As for the painting...I never comment on paintings. It's lovely, though.

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    1. You are right - letting go often holds hands with Ambiguity. I hope you did not encounter any April Fools tricks in your workday today, Liz.

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  11. Fantastic quote!

    I like to be prepared, yet I like not knowing at the same time.

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  12. I'm a little in love with ambiguity at the moment--I think learning to embrace ambiguity may be the human race's best hope. Great start to the challenge!

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  13. Roseanne Roseanna Danna was the other half and not ambiguous at all. Funny how we can be divided like that.
    We want to understand so much we are willing to lie and make things up because in certainty there is comfort.
    Maybe just acceptance is enough but I wonder, is it?

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