Embracing the Cosmic Ballet: Finding Meaning and Joy in a Predetermined Universe

Navigating Existential Dread in a Deterministic Universe

There are moments when the weight of existence hits you like a grand jeté gone wrong. One minute, you're dancing through life, and the next, you're contemplating the vast, infinite expanse of the universe and your inconsequential place in it. As someone who believes in a deterministic universe, I've often found myself grappling with existential dread. But don't hang up your pointe shoes just yet; there's a way to pirouette through this heavy emotional fog.

First, let’s talk about why we feel this existential dread. The realization that everything is preordained can make us feel like mere puppets in a grand cosmic ballet. When I was first cast as Odette in Swan Lake, I felt an unparalleled surge of both excitement and anxiety. The script was written; my steps were choreographed. Similarly, life feels like a series of choreographed steps from which we cannot deviate. Our perceived freedom can seem like an illusion in the grand dance of the cosmos.

Here’s the kicker though: just because everything is predetermined doesn’t mean life can’t be richly vibrant and full of meaning. Think of the universe as an intricate piece by Tchaikovsky or Beethoven, full of predetermined notes but resplendent in its performance. We may not control the composition, but we can control our interpretation, our expression, our passion.

My moments of existential dread often dissolve during my time in nature. Whether I’m tackling a challenging mountain hike or capturing the ethereal beauty of a sunset through my lens, these experiences connect me to the universe on a deeper level. I realize I’m part of something grander, an ongoing story that’s been unfolding since the Big Bang. The atoms that make up our bodies have been part of stars, oceans, and even dinosaurs. Isn’t that awe-inspiring?

Music and dance have a similar effect. When I'm lost in the notes of a Mozart sonata or dancing to Lady Gaga, I'm not dwelling on my cosmic insignificance. Instead, I’m reveling in the beauty, the emotion, the art—all outcomes of this grand deterministic ballet. The fact that every chord and step was set into motion eons ago doesn’t detract from their beauty; it enhances it.

And then, of course, there's humor. Suppose the universe decided I needed to step onstage while my pointe shoe ribbon was untied (it happened, trust me!). Was it a mortifying moment or comedic gold? It’s all about perspective. In the grand deterministic scheme, why not laugh a bit at the cosmic dance steps that trip us up?

Life, it turns out, is like playing a video game where you can’t save or load but can still explore, create, and enjoy. Whether I'm battling a monster in Elden Ring or strumming my ukulele, the joy and fulfillment I find are real, predetermined or not.

So next time you feel weighed down by existential dread, remember this: you are dancing even if the steps are written, playing even if the notes are composed. Your unique expression within this deterministic frame is what makes it all worthwhile. After all, we might not choose the ride, but we sure can scream, laugh, and enjoy the twists and turns it offers. Now, if you’ll excuse me, there's a mountain calling my name and it’s high time I answered.