One part of the body has two names, depending on how it’s held
The hand/fist is the one part of your body that has two completely different names depending on how it’s positioned.
In 2012, an article was published by The Journal of Experimental Biology noted that our fists are the human equivalent of a cat’s claws or a snake’s fangs – weapons created when needed and put away when not.
Other primates cannot make a true fist, whereby the hand is fully closed without any gap so as to create a small mass of force four times more powerful than if it were not shut.
If you think about it, we use one primarily to nurture and create and the other primarily to punish and destroy.
The hand holds other hands to cross the street, to hold pen to write, to reach out and help.
The fist is thrown in anger, clenches a gun to shoot, extends a knife to slash.
Yes, occasionally a hand can slap and a fist can sculpt but work with me here.
I bring this up as a lead to my 2012 year in review.
For me, it started off in January with me thinking that I cannot stop. In 2012, I didn’t really.
Then came February and I finally published my book, The Men Made of Stone, and gave a few lectures. It was also when I read about people that they say wouldn’t hurt a fly. But that’s never true is it?
In March I said that we are who we are because of to whom we are born.
Then I took off for Malaga, Spain with my wife – whom I finally said was named Alison – in April to give a lecture.
In May, I got a bike from a dirt scooter pro and went to a funeral and thought about the things that no one can take away from us.
Ended up on my knees again in June with clenched fists and someone offered me a hand. Also started teaching my fencing class.
Read about yet another shooting in July and wondered why we are so violent.
Went on another trip in August, this time in the other direction to LA.
Then got injured in September and had the operation to fix that injury in October. Managed to write a pretty well-read article on online dating while I was healing up.
Hobbled to a wedding in November but not before voting Democrat for the first time ever.
Finally, was horrified, but not shocked, in December.
Throughout this year – like all my years, I suppose – been able to split my life between the hands and the fists. While I’m grateful for my dumb luck, wish the times with my fists were less; neither clenched with rage nor sadness.
As for 2013, I hope for myself – as I do you – that you’ll have far more experiences that involve your hands than your fists.
Check that; I hope that for us, regardless of the year.
OK, see you next year! (That joke never gets old…)
Location: at the end of a sad year
Mood: hopeful
Music: What are you doing, New Year’s Eve?
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