The Ramblings of an Embittered Musician.
Well, not really.
Nikkah inspired me to write a post of a little more substance than "what I et for tea last night".
So here we go. Some deep, dark, probably contradictory philosophical crap because it's late and my mind is wandering off on it's own.
On Wednesday I watched the Only Fools and Horses episode "Time on Our Hands" again. That's the one where they all become millionaires and walk off into the sunset.
That is the single piece of television that has the biggest effect on me. When it finished, I went into the kitchen and cried for 5 minutes.
It takes a lot of my personal mental ramblings and makes them into a very neat little package that makes sense.
These very basic thoughts have to do with the fact that, really, becoming a millionaire doesn't acually change very much or make us happy. You buy your new cars and houses, fly around a bit, and then what? You could well have have another 50 or whatver years. All it really does is remove that ambition that we're climbing for. As Del says, "You see, the dreaming and scheming and chasing and trying - that was the fun part, you know."
Cos living life and enjoying it isn't about something fantastic that might happen in the future, it's about the things that are happening now, to you. If you don't enjoy Now what's the point of waiting for Later which, at best, is a more interesting version of Now that hasn't got here yet.
The Oracle said to Neo, "You look like you're waiting for something."
I think this applies to us all, certainly me - there's a deep feeling that I'm waiting for some event, some oppertinity, just around the corner. Now's not interesting, not worth spending energy on. Let's wait for Later. When Later gets here, cor wot! Wow! I tell ya. Later's gonna kick arse, so we might as well not bother with Now. Study hard Now, you'll need the grades Later.
I'm by no means saying don't study, spend all day frolicking in the sun. I think I just mean that there's no point preparing for Later at the expense of Now. Revise, but at the same time have a life.
We have the concept hammered into us from birth that quality of life is all about money. Study = qualifications = good job = Money.
But poor people laugh and smile and enjoy themselves, as do rich people. So what's the difference? The things is, one undeniable fact of human nature is that the grass is always greener on the next floor up. Poor people and rich people alike aspire to have more than they've got, to get out of their personal rut. So money really can't buy you happiness.
So if our ingrained life-target is a bit of a red herring, what should we aim for?
Here is one the main points of my personal philosophy. Wait for it...
The whole point of it all, this thing called living, is to enjoy yourself. Never would have guessed, would you? Have fun. And don't wait for Later to do it. If, when you die, you can say "Well, that was good. I'm glad I did that." then you're very lucky. Because obviously if you got eaten by, for instance, a crocodile you would probably instead say "AAAARRRGHHHHHH!!!blibblblibble....", which isn't as nice, and makes life tricky for historians.
So instead of rambling further, I will leave you with a poem called the Clock Of Life, which I found in a poetry book ages ago and is just as perfect as that OFAH episode. Good night, boys and girls.
The Clock of Life
The clock of life is wound but once,
And no man has the power
To tell just when the hands will stop
At late or early hour.
To lose one's wealth is sad indeed,
To lose one's health is more,
To lose one's soul is such a loss
That no man can restore.
The present only is our own,
So Live, Love, toil with a will
Place no faith in Tomorrow
For the clock may then be still.
Nikkah inspired me to write a post of a little more substance than "what I et for tea last night".
So here we go. Some deep, dark, probably contradictory philosophical crap because it's late and my mind is wandering off on it's own.
On Wednesday I watched the Only Fools and Horses episode "Time on Our Hands" again. That's the one where they all become millionaires and walk off into the sunset.
That is the single piece of television that has the biggest effect on me. When it finished, I went into the kitchen and cried for 5 minutes.
It takes a lot of my personal mental ramblings and makes them into a very neat little package that makes sense.
These very basic thoughts have to do with the fact that, really, becoming a millionaire doesn't acually change very much or make us happy. You buy your new cars and houses, fly around a bit, and then what? You could well have have another 50 or whatver years. All it really does is remove that ambition that we're climbing for. As Del says, "You see, the dreaming and scheming and chasing and trying - that was the fun part, you know."
Cos living life and enjoying it isn't about something fantastic that might happen in the future, it's about the things that are happening now, to you. If you don't enjoy Now what's the point of waiting for Later which, at best, is a more interesting version of Now that hasn't got here yet.
The Oracle said to Neo, "You look like you're waiting for something."
I think this applies to us all, certainly me - there's a deep feeling that I'm waiting for some event, some oppertinity, just around the corner. Now's not interesting, not worth spending energy on. Let's wait for Later. When Later gets here, cor wot! Wow! I tell ya. Later's gonna kick arse, so we might as well not bother with Now. Study hard Now, you'll need the grades Later.
I'm by no means saying don't study, spend all day frolicking in the sun. I think I just mean that there's no point preparing for Later at the expense of Now. Revise, but at the same time have a life.
We have the concept hammered into us from birth that quality of life is all about money. Study = qualifications = good job = Money.
But poor people laugh and smile and enjoy themselves, as do rich people. So what's the difference? The things is, one undeniable fact of human nature is that the grass is always greener on the next floor up. Poor people and rich people alike aspire to have more than they've got, to get out of their personal rut. So money really can't buy you happiness.
So if our ingrained life-target is a bit of a red herring, what should we aim for?
Here is one the main points of my personal philosophy. Wait for it...
The whole point of it all, this thing called living, is to enjoy yourself. Never would have guessed, would you? Have fun. And don't wait for Later to do it. If, when you die, you can say "Well, that was good. I'm glad I did that." then you're very lucky. Because obviously if you got eaten by, for instance, a crocodile you would probably instead say "AAAARRRGHHHHHH!!!blibblblibble....", which isn't as nice, and makes life tricky for historians.
So instead of rambling further, I will leave you with a poem called the Clock Of Life, which I found in a poetry book ages ago and is just as perfect as that OFAH episode. Good night, boys and girls.
The Clock of Life
The clock of life is wound but once,
And no man has the power
To tell just when the hands will stop
At late or early hour.
To lose one's wealth is sad indeed,
To lose one's health is more,
To lose one's soul is such a loss
That no man can restore.
The present only is our own,
So Live, Love, toil with a will
Place no faith in Tomorrow
For the clock may then be still.