What I was writing previously to this was growing bizarre and morbid. (Something to do with the unusual possibility of death by speed squares.) I don't mean to be depressing, just that everyone dies at some point, however long we would prefer to prolong our mortal days.
In the musical Showboat, a dockworker sings "Old Man River," a tune about the monotonous grind of labor on the ships, and the way nature seemed to be a silent and steady witness to our short lives. One line sticks out, "I gets weary, and tired of tryin'.Tired of living, and scared of Dyin', but Ol' man River, he jus' keeps rollin' along."
Life is not futile or meaningless, it is just that some days seem to consist of following in a rutted path that was traveled by so many others. Some days, we wish that our lives took a different and undiscovered path. Children see themselves as pioneers - everything is new and fresh to their eyes. Every object that they come across is seen anew, a sense of wonder that I want to keep alive in my own life.
It is perspective, I want to be curious - an attitude of learning is one of the most valuable assets a human may possess in life. It becomes richer the more you plant it in the hearts of others, as they become fellow companions in the scavenger hunt for knowledge and understanding.
Sometimes, conflicts arise when there are multiple conclusions deduced from the gathered information. I have had friends whose hearts were set ablaze by the sparks that flew. However, those who take joy in this exercise often trample over the enthusiasm of peace-seeking souls.
Almost everyone has an area of sensitivity - often it is the same place in which our greatest strengths and interests lie. Conduct yourself with care and consideration when questioning or challenging another's conclusions in their field. I would like to approach life with humility, which is the hardest virtue to claim, for its successful practice results in subtlety. Rather than calling attention, it defers the spotlight to a different target who is to receive the praise or gratitude.
How would you like to inspire others? In what way would you like to leave a legacy? Sydney Carlton's exit from the fictional world in which Dickens set him was quiet, self-sacrificial, and gave life to a wrongfully condemned man. There are many fictional characters whom I admire - for they are the reflections of what humanity has the potential to become. Through the mind of the author comes an ideal to which the reader may aspire and strive harder to emulate. Sadly, many fictional characters have left a richer legacy than their living, breathing counterparts.
I want to leave behind something of value, not monetarily, but lovely nonetheless.
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