I don't know

I like things to be black and white. There is comfort in certainty. And what could be more black and white than “No” and “Yes”? Apparently a lot, because when I contemplated the role of “no” in my life, I realized it was very gray.

In my experience, “no” can mean: no, yes or maybe. I interpret these as stop, go or wait depending on the circumstances. No: one word, two letters, three meanings. Clear as mud.

“Other Worldly” came together from a variety of concepts:

• The disparate, fractured elements that influence how I react (stop, go, wait)
• The circular nature of yes-no-maybe and how my choices circle back and affect my life
• The illusion of certainty

 

I titled my piece “Other Worldly” because the process of interpreting “no” in my life is so…unpredictable and uncontainable, it’s almost alien. At least to this black and white girl.

Through this challenge I discovered another homonym. If I’m ever again asked to consider the impact of “no” in my life, I’ll just respond “I don’t know”.