What It Means to Strike Lightning

Lightning is a natural phenomenon formed by electrostatic discharges through the atmosphere between two electrically charged regions, either both in the atmosphere or with one in the atmosphere and on the ground, temporarily neutralizing these in a near-instantaneous release of an average of one gigajoule of energy. - The Internet

The motto for age 29: go strike lightning.

If your twenties are for getting shit out of your system, consider me on track.

This decade has been a gorgeous blur of finding myself, surprising myself, and being surprised by the alchemy of a curious spirit let loose in New York City.

I hope that a long life follows this decade - but I also know that if I’m lucky, I’ve got about two-thirds left of this run on earth. That’s a lot of life to live, and also, not a lot at all. I’ve seen firsthand how cruel and shocking the world can be, claiming young lives without apology and stretching others far into painful oblivion. And despite this - or perhaps because of it - I’ve also witnessed the pure magic that unfolds in the most unassuming, micro-moments.

A lightning strike lasts approximately .52 seconds, which is about as micro as you can measure, or at least witness. If I’ve learned anything this decade it’s that the small moments are the big moments, and a lot can be set into motion in half a second. A compliment to a stranger that blossoms into friendship, an email opened in boredom that leads to a life change - we’ve all heard the stories.

A lightning strike is a natural phenomenon formed by electrostatic discharges through the atmosphere between two electrically charged regions, according to the internet. In simpler terms - it takes two to tango, and this particular tango is a quick dance.

I love the thought of lightning as being collaborative in that way. Your twenties are selfish years to be sure - and I’ve spent a great deal of mine focusing on what I can change, where I want to go, the life I want to live, what I can take accountability for, and on and on.

So when I say that I want to strike lightning - what that means is inviting in spontaneous collaboration, getting out of my comfort zone, striking up conversations with strangers before my ego can get the better of me - really just going for it - and trusting that the electrical current will take flame, or it will be absorbed back into the earth.

Lightning is spontaneous, but it’s not random. I subscribe to Rick Rubin’s philosophy of believing in everything - and for me, the grounding belief that nothing is random. We are co-creating with 8 billion people on this planet, and I think you’re surrounded by opportunities to co-create and learn from and share with specific people every day. Whether we choose to do so is up to us.

Lightning isn’t safe. But even if it’s a little frightening, I don’t believe it’s malevolent - and I do believe that it’s beautiful. It’s energy that needs release, it’s nature’s way of getting shit out of her system, albiet with a dose of reckless abandon. I am not setting out to start a wildfire, but if I do, I know that I can control the burn. I’m not setting out to create glass sculptures like in Sweet Home Alabama, but I know that if I do, I’ll have the appropriate reverence. Which is to say that as I set out to strike lightning, I also set out to release expectations.

I’ve spent a lot of time this decade desperately hoping for (and admittedly, expecting) specific outcomes. Unsurprisingly, I’ve spent an equal amount of time learning the hard way that there are no guarantees in life - except, I suppose, mortality. So this year - I set out to strike lightning and to see what happens. No expectation, other than to live.

So here we go, 29. Let’s strike lightning.

PS, I’m obsessed with the music video for this week’s “On Repeat” …