| | I've talked about living in a way that would celebrate Hemingway's philosophy, a life that would go out and face life as something where success is quantifiable and concrete. I've come to realize, however, that a Hemingway life doesn't do much for me. In fact, I think people get so wrapped up in shunning emotionalism and only embracing absolute values that they lose sight of what really matters in life. We should embrace life as a collection of moments which we are granted the opportunity to make the most of. The meaning of life is simple: live as fiercely and passionately as you can. As Whitman said, it would be a joy to struggle against great odds, to meet enemies undaunted!
To be entirely alone with them, to find how much one can stand!
To look strife, torture, prison, popular odium, face to face!
To mount the scaffold, to advance to the muzzles of guns with
perfect nonchalance!
To be indeed a God! Nothing in life is more important than taking the time "to dance, clap hands, exult, shout, skip, leap, roll on, float on!" You may ask, why bother exalting in life when the world has much less good than ill? How can you embrace something seemingly filled with plodding, empty, useless sorrow? The answer is simply that you exist and that you have all the say in the world as to how your life shall be! Remember always to resist much and obey little. The greatest discovery of the twentieth century was that you don't need chains to enslave somebody. Once you give up that sense of youthful defiance, you have given up freedom. Make no mistake; I'm practicing what I'm preaching. I've spurned the walks of dreams for the miracles that surround me. Whenever the feeling arises, I leave the sameness of the streets, sidewalks, and houses for the open road and a vague destination. Very soon, I shall set out for a city of ships, for a City of the sea! city of hurried and glittering tides!
City whose gleeful tides continually rush or recede, whirling in and
out, with eddies and foam!
City of wharves and stores! city of tall façades of marble and iron!
Proud and passionate city! mettlesome, mad, extravagant city! Do you understand the joys of youth? Right now, for me the world is one of companions, adventures, joy and laughter. Nothing can keep me from taking in the bright autumn days and engaging in childish games. Come! Sing, dance, be merry! Please, make sure to never lose your sense of wonder and enchantment; the world would be such a boring, tedious place without it. We can not tarry here, for once we stop, we lose ourselves. I'm going to be a sailor of ships, bound for whichever port I choose. I shall traverse the States awhile, but I cannot tell whither or how
long,
Perhaps soon some day or night while I am singing my voice will
suddenly cease. Don't ever let your voice cease. |
