Plausible Impossibility

Okay, I'm totally going to fuck this up, but I sort of can't help it.

My mind ranged over a thousand things, and it slowly occurred to me that I, personally, have two definitions of impossible. First, truly impossible, like I can suddenly fly without any mechanical assistance; my body simply rises up and I soar through the air (but not too high, because I'm not that fond of heights). Second, effectively impossible, like I can't suddenly drop out of my own life, run away to the Kool-Aid blue lagoons of the South Pacific, and live on a beach for six months.

Is that second dream truly impossible? Of course not, because I could do it...if if if. If I didn't mind dropping out of my family's and friends' lives for half a year (I'm sure they could survive). If I could come up with the money (isn't that what a Visa card is for?). If I could feel comfortable about leaving my frail, elderly cat for that long (fuck no, realistically).

So I think when we, or at least I, think about things in terms of possibility, the second definition is the one that can trip us up. We call those something impossible because it's easier to label it as such than to admit we're making a choice or passing up an option.

That's impossible, we say.

Is it?

I guess if you're not willing to make the sacrifice(s) or create the environment where you feel comfortable with that choice or situation -- yeah, it's impossible. But be honest with yourself about why.