Im 16 years old, it is summer and I take the local city train to and from a lousy job. Each day in the train I see an old man with the bluest eyes you can imagine. Eyes that look directly through people, through time, through history, through all love and tragedy of a human lifetime. I never spoke with this man, but he is one of my great teachers in life. We never shared points of view, yet I have communicated with him ever since this summer. Do you understand ? I don’t think so.

Another history and another pair of eyes is from ‘Once Upon a Time in America’. Few movies encapsulates the tragedy and storytelling of life better than this one, and few music scores have lived in my consciousness as the brilliant notes from Ennio Moricone. Few set of eyes have been cooler than those of Charles Bronson, at the peak of his career and the great part as ‘Harmonica’. Fewer times have we delighted in the fulfilled revenge that he gets.

Eyes that see through everything. A mind that knows of things to come, of love and lies and tragedy. Of despair, of survival and of new love to come. Of death to come in the end. Mozart puts it elegantly “death is the real aim of our life, I have for the past few years made myself acquainted with this true, best friend of mankind, so that the vision not only has no terror for me but much that is quieting and comforting.”

Don’t get me wrong: I love to live ! But I think that you need to analyze, understand and use your life based on this fact: life is now ! Don’t try to live forever – you will not succeed. We are obliged to burn every day, to love and to be happy. Forget about the material things if your soul is in trouble. Forget about the soul if you are dying of starvation or war or illness. Forget about the off-centric timescales to the only true thing, you possess: the moment of now ! Thus, forget about the past and do not worry about the future – neither belong to you (now).

Do you understand ? I don’t think so.

Do you see anything at all ?

All those moments
will be lost
in Time
like tears
in the rain.

Time to die

Imagine, the most powerful man in the World being a philosopher ! Maybe a hard task these days 😉 However, this was once true… the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius was exactly that….and his stoic writings in his book ‘Meditations’ are as valid today as almost 2000 years ago ! Here’s a little teaser:

The present apperance of things will quickly undergo a change, and be either exhaled into common matter or dispersed.

We tend to live and think that everything – even the present moments – is forever and that we can remain safe and static, and so we strive to please our surroundings, our friends, our bosses, the media and so on in this vain. However, all these people will ‘soon’ die and they excert little power over our destiny. So – jugde yourself ! This is another of the great hinsights by Marcus Aurelius, picked up by Pascal and Dostojevskij as well. Make simple rules that apply for your life !

Today, somebody looses a beloved parent, a pet, a child, a job, a lover, an illusion. Today, the world stops for someone. Maybe, the world stops for me. Maybe, the world stops by the memory of past suffering or hinsights. Or by the prerecognition or anxiety of things to come. Today, the world stops.

Today, the world begins. Somebody gets a new job. Somebody falls in love. Somebody gives birth to a child. Somebody just feels happy or feels hope. Today, somebody resolves past differences. Today, peace sets in. Today, somebody gets food and water. Today, somebody makes plans and sets directions for the future. Today, somebody helps. Today, the world begins.

Yesterday, I was not here. Nor will I be tomorrow. I am only here – today ! The day everything ever happened. 

Another great book is ‘Pensees’ (Thoughts) by the medieval french philosopher Blaise Pascal. Great, and perhaps forgotten, hinsights are to be found in this book. Here’s a few on vanity:

148. We are so presumptuous that we would wish to be known by all the world, even by people who shall come after, when we shall be no more; and we are so vain that the esteem of five or six neighbours delights and contents us.

149. We do not trouble ourselves about being esteemed in the towns through which we pass. But if we are to remain a little while there, we are so concerned. How long is necessary? A time commensurate with our vain and paltry life.

As rightly stated in the great movie ‘Dangerous Liasons’ with Michelle Pfeiffer, Glenn Close and John Malcovich: “Vanity and happiness are incompatible”.

Give it a deep tought, you !