 
On march the 14th, science and math nerds
the world over will be celebrating the
Pi Day of the century: the once in a
hundred years date
that aligns with the first five digits
at the number Pi.
the 3rd month; the 14th day; the 15 year.
It's an admittedly absurd celebration of a
purely coincidental alignment.
But like many absurdities, it has the
power to
open up new worlds and ideas to those
that embrace it.
This year though, Pi Day is also a day the people the
world over will be mourning the death of
the writer Terry Pratchett.
Terry was a master at the absurd. He
understood how to create worlds in the
heads up his readers that were
as superficially as silly as celebrating a
mathematical constant,
and yet had the power to change them
deeply.
His books have a knack turning a
revealing spotlight on the absurdities
that hide in all of us.
Absurdities like mean-spiritedness.
Cruelty.
Irrationalities even. But rather than
condemn our imperfections,
in his books, he embraces our humanity.
Through his novels, Pratchett reveals, not
only what we are,
but what we could be, for all our flaws and
frailties.
He sears a message into the souls of his
readers that, they don't need to be
perfect, to make the world a better place
But they do need to embrace qualities.
like compassion, humility,
and bravery. Especially bravery, because
as Pratchett hammers home
time and time again,
being a better person - despite your
weaknesses -
is rarely the easy option.
So as we celebrate one absurdity on
march the fourteenth this year,
let me suggest that we also celebrate
the man that consummately used absurdity
to teach us how to be ourselves, but better.
And if you're wondering what
this has to do with risk,
just think about it - you get there.
And of course - go read some Pratchett!
 
 
 
 
