Why Einstein?

Posted to FaceBook Mar. 26th
I am currently enjoying the book, "E=MC2" by David Bodanis, which is subtitled, "A biography of the World's Most Famous Equation."

Yesterday I was reading a section where David was questioning why Einstein was the one to pull all the elements of E=MC2 together.  The individual aspects of this equation were already in existence and had been evolving for some time.  There were others working on similar questions as Einstein, that arguably could have been considered smarter than him.  So what was it about Einstein that made this famous equation apparent to him?  Well, David points out a number of characteristics that may have contributed to it.

One thing that was working for Einstein was space.  He was employed at the patent office which was taking up little of his mental energy and allowed him the space to explore his ideas.  A second element was time.  He was not pressured by outside influences like some of the other scientists of the time, who were under academic pressure to publish.  He could follow his ideas at his own pace and on his own agenda.  Another was trust.  David shares that Einstein's family had a history of trusting him and accepted his interest in whatever he was interested in -- a great confidence builder.  He also writes that his family "encouraged a playful distancing tone," which to me sounds like they encouraged the silliness of being imaginative and different, and being outside of the box.  Mr. Bodanis includes the cultural influences of being Jewish, in Germany, at the turn of the century and how his beliefs about responsibility, justice, and authority where probably quite different than the many German scientists of his time.  And finally, the author includes what many might call the failures that Einstein experienced early in his life (i.e.not getting into the 'right' schools, being a lowly patent clerk, etc), that probably created a thirst, a desire, the inspiration to keep pursuing and searching.

Why Einstein?  We will probably never fully understand all of the intricacies that led to his conscious recognition of this equation.  But it would be fair to say that having enough faith in myself, to allow myself the space and time to follow my inspirations down those roads that interest me, to be playful, curious, have an adventurous spirit, without being too concerned about what others think, and choosing to use the clarity I get about what I do want, when I experience things I don't want, certainly doesn't hurt.

LOP is having the space and time to believe in, play with, be curious about, and follow one's inspirations.