A journey through mirrors

Have you ever thought about mirrors? You know, the things you pull faces at while brushing your teeth and occasionally catch yourself dancing in front of? Sometimes naked? Don’t worry, we don’t judge here.

According to the smart people, rays of light shine on them and are reflected back and seen as colour by the cones in our eyes. And, because of this, when we turn off the light, it can’t create reflections. Or, maybe it’s because the light is off and we can’t see anyway. But shh don’t tell them that.

I remember one particular physics class, about mirrors would you believe, where we had to prove that they weren’t portals to another world. I’m not sure which brainiac devised that idea originally but I guess it’s a common misconception these days.

The solution itself was pretty simple physics. Hold a magnet to the mirror, they said, and you’ll see it is neither attracted nor repelled by its reflection.

That’s all it is. A reflection.

If it was a real object it would quite obviously affect our world.

If you believe all worlds follow the same laws anyway. But isn’t that a narrow minded belief?

I mean, sure the whole world may have gravity, but we also have different laws set out in every country, state and city of the world. They’re always changing and being created; it’s evolution if you think about it. As we mature and grow as a species, so too do our laws advance. If we are all living on this flying rock in the middle of nowhere and taming wild fluffy creatures called “dogs” when it should be scientifically impossible, I truly do think that it’s possible for there to be other exceptions to the rule. And last time I checked it’s not up to us to set in place the laws of the Universe.

Say, for example, the fact that each planet has a different magnetic field strength. If you go to the moon you will be able to jump much higher than on Earth because the strength is weaker and you have less attachment to the planet’s core.

Maybe this means that the mirror world does in fact exist. If we know that planets can have weaker gravity, who is to say that there couldn’t be a planet (world) with none at all? And if a planet has no gravity, then surely it’s possible it is missing other forces too. We still don’t understand the majority of the forces in our universe as it is so why don’t people factor into account the possibility that said mirror world could be different in this way or have other forces that counteract this effect.

Are we ruling out the possible existence of this world by one simple magnet test?

Now, now. It’s ok – you can stay calm. All I’m trying to do is play Devil’s Advocate here.

I didn’t say I believed in this world. In fact, I’d never even thought of it until that one science lesson a few years back. Because, in all honesty, even as pathetic as I am, I still have better things to do than ponder impossible questions. This sock drawer doesn’t keep itself organized.

But do I believe?

I guess, like with most things in life, I could say I’m curious. I’m not sure to what extent I agree, however. My brain finds it hard to comprehend the idea of another me, copying my every move. I doubt any paycheck could make up for having to replicate my entire, dull as muck existence.

Unless they are forced into it. Poor guys.

This entire situation has actually got me wondering which world is which. Who knows?

We could actually be the mirror world, living out preordained lives and acting out scenes like musical theatre. Are we just shadows, stitched to a soul, a soul of many timelines branching off one life?  Like roots of a plant, reaching for nutrients.

It makes you wonder the point of life. Do we evolve, learn, mature? Or is it always going to be a mystery. Are we meant to know everything?

My logical side says no to the latter. Because if we know everything then what more is there to learn. It takes away the purpose, really. But now I guess you could argue back to me and say that that is where evolution comes in handy. Changes everything around one in a while.

The illogical side of my brain now imagines the dinosaurs as super intelligent beings, ready to transcend into deep space – wiped out by an asteroid because they know too much. Or maybe that’s just my conspiracy theorist side. Whatever it is, I know I can still be tempted into opening my wallet whenever I see a controversial news article. Us humans love creating chaos.

When you picture chaos I imagine you see Greek daemons, manic crowds, black Friday shopping and the fiery pit of Hell. And you’re not wrong, there.

But, if you’re looking for more specificity, the Oxford Dictionary describes it with the definition of “complete disorder and confusion”. They’re very different, aren’t they? Are you confused?

Me too. My question for Oxford is what do they mean by complete. Full? I’m not sure what the measurements are for “confusion” but I imagine that the feelings I had while writing this piece  are near the top of the scale. It’s like they purposefully try to mislead us in life.

I lived for such a long time before I realised that lollipops are a waste of money. You can buy a bag of identical sweets, without the stick, for half the price. What a world we live in.

You see, life tries to confuse us. Does this make life chaotic?

Or, if you’re smart and not confused easily does it mean you avoid chaos?

Or is chaos inevitable?

According to all religions on Earth, chaos is a place of punishment and I guess I’ve just learned that that place is Earth itself. Complete disorder and confusion. Next time you go out shopping, I challenge you to find a particular item in a foodstore. I’m willing to bet money on the fact that it won’t be where you expect.

Just like life.

So what can we take from mirrors – other than the knowledge that they could be an alternate reality where naked versions of yourself accompany you as you stare into them, checking yourself out.

I guess no one really knows.

Mirrors are pretty chaotic and maybe that’s a good thing.

Like I said before, we aren’t meant to know everything in life.