Last weekend, my husband and I went to an open-air fashion show in Gmunden. The shops were open late for the occasion and so we strolled through the many small galleries and art shops that this small but beautiful town has to offer. I was struck by a ceramic sculpture by the Austrian artist Edeltrude Arleitner in the eye. She radiated beauty and self-confidence, her cheeky pose said "I know what I'm doing". The cube, which she balanced confidently on her fingertips, showed me that she had everything under control. I really thought that was the point of the cube. Then I looked at the description and the sculpture was called "The Player".

A small neuron short circuit then took place in my head. I was simply shocked at the ease with which this woman accepted the possibility of losing. I saw a woman who looked confident while she was about to give up control. One who had fun not knowing what was coming next. Who was obviously different from me, otherwise I wouldn't have stood there like a bewitched pillar of salt with my mouth open.

My thoughts irritated me. My feelings even more so, because I was clearly envious. I had only spoken to my sister on the phone that afternoon because I felt like I had somehow frozen under the weight of the responsibilities and expectations I had imposed on myself. And here was this statue standing there with her shoulder arrogantly raised and seeming to laugh at me, "lighten up, yo!" As if she was asking me to let go of the dice. To be honest, I hadn't thought about this possibility for a long time. The gambler didn't radiate the slightest fear or insecurity. She seemed lively, cheerful and proud, as if she knew something that others had not yet realised. She played as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

And what can I say, she was right. It's the most natural thing in the world. Because while we try to hold on tightly to every certainty, in reality the dice have long since rolled and all we can do is pray that the desired number falls. A wise person once said that life can be mastered by playing or not at all. And while the dice are rolling, we might as well enjoy our lives. Lightness comes right after letting go. After holding on comes the enema at most. If you can't give up control and hold the dice tensely, you won't have a hand free for the Prosecco. What good is that?

I certainly felt cured of all the notions of omnipotence that I had become entangled in like a cobweb over the last few weeks. You know that cobweb with the fat spider behind it, whispering the eternal siren song: "We'll all love you if you do this and this and this." But the more you get caught up, the harsher the tone becomes: "You're responsible for keeping everyone happy!!!" You struggle, move faster and faster and slowly but surely you feel your own space getting narrower and narrower until it finally says: "Rien ne va plus."

And then I thought, no, I'd rather have the Prosecco!

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