Perspective is a force of thought more powerful than the
events themselves that compose our reality. In order to nourish this
perspective, to help cut the human crystal so that it shimmers in a thousand
and one ways, to transcend the meaning of life – it is important to be left in
awe. Regular, small miracles are easier to
stumble over and not appreciate (like that breath you just took) – but
some moments in life help redefine your existence… and the awe I felt as I
basked in the shadow of the poet-master that I had come to idolise was
inexplicable. He towered over me, slight angst, slight spite – but blatant inscrutability:
Dante Alighieri, master of The Divine Comedy.
His towering statue in Florence, Tuscany helped me realise
how very insignificant my life is. Yes, this sounds like it is taking a turn
towards the self-imposed Inferno – but, I pray you, listen. Perspective is the
salve to all our meaningless issues. There are cities, people, microcosms
linked through roads and skies that function regardless of whether you’re on
your university’s merit list, or whether you fit into a size 8 pair of jeans,
or whether you’re experiencing the pangs of unrequited romance. Ages pass,
worlds and words spin around – and you are but a golden fleck on the ceiling of
the Vatican Museums.
This awe: this
feeling of tininess before figures so beautifully painted on the ceilings of
the Vatican, this feeling of bewilderment before the perfection of Michelangelo’s David create that trembling wonder that makes
life worthwhile. See how small you are, and revel in the amazement the universe
has in all its crooks and corners. Inspirations spews unparalleled from joy,
and the ecstasy I have seen in the Sistine Chapel, the years that I have felt
(quite illegally) in fading tapestries and carved stone pillars… the eternal
marble I have slid upon have captivated my very soul.
Rome, Florence and Venice have stolen me. Bewitched me in
ways I could not comprehend through your juxtaposition of rich history
alongside Mercedes and racy motor bikes while greying women beg, clasping onto
their rosaries.
Where will life take you? Will you find a place to fall in
love with… or come to find Stockholm Syndrome on your front porch? The elixir
of eternal youth, truly, is made of proportions of curiosity, excitement,
fascination, rapture and awe. The more you see, the more you thirst. The more
art I saw, the more I wanted to know: who painted it, what did it mean, what
did the people think of it, what meaning did it have to me?
Layers and layers reveal
themselves as time slides on and the world shyly comes to bear itself to
you.
Okay you're writing is gooooood, happy now? Although I'm pretty sure I don't understand what at least one word per sentence means at very least...
ReplyDeleteThis blog and your writing seems important to you so I'll read one or two a day at random :) hopefully there's no deep dark secrets hiding in there somewhere... ;)
O you're a size 8... interesting :P
And you totally seem like that lovestruck teen type where every second or 3rd post I'm going to see some great romance/ crush/ stalking :P
Now that my jackass comments are done, I'll give you my philosophical take ... Make of it what you will, I take no offence if you think its stupid :) Also, as with anyone philosophical writing, there's a decent enough chance I'll misintepret what you wrote.
Long story short: Life can never be insignificant, but most circumstances are. Butterfly effect is one of the few theories I believe in (and also it sounds much better and makes much more sense than the 'everything happens for a reason' nonsense).
So basically I rate that nothing is particularly good or bad, because a tiny insignificant decision... Like what time to catch a jammie, can basically change your life path for good. I'm pretty sure every moment/ movement/ thought in the last two weeks was affected by one seemingly insignificant decision :)
So maybe that's why I just float through... "Good" and "Bad" things happen but you'll never actually know what would have happened if you chose a different shirt yesterday morning.
I know it tends to be slightly tangential to perspective, but you get the basics of how it ties in :)
xx
R.
I totally need to just read and not comment cos my comments are lame and also it gives you too much insight into what I'm thinking :/
ReplyDeleteR.