In my last post, I talked about the physicality of falling down in martial arts, an activity that I’ve learned to do over and over without getting hurt.
My readers shared in the comments what this meant to them: primarily, falling as metaphor.
Robin Taylor commented:
It makes me think...
Falling in love
Falling for a good (or bad) joke
Falling out of grace
Falling for comedy
Falling into someone's arms
We fall all the time, metaphorically and literally, and the practice of falling is often contrary to the violence we ascribe it.
(You should check out Robin’s publication, Trans Friend, for excellent cultural commentary and storytelling.)
When I think of falling, I think of hitting the mat. I’m such a literal person sometimes. But I find it fascinating to consider all these non-literal falling-related expressions.
Many of these are overwhelmingly positive (falling in love, falling into someone’s arms). The benefit of being able to let go, to relinquish control, to trust that someone else will catch you, is a way to form a connection through falling. Even if it’s you catching yourself (or rolling safely).
Falling represents losing control. Practicing falling can be a way to feel safe during situations where you are not in control. I think it can help to understand you can still take care of yourself when a situation is out of your hands.
