Hello Readers,
How are you doing? Today, while scrolling through Pinterest, I stumbled upon a quote that struck me deeply. With no specific post in mind, I decided to share my thoughts on this profound realization by Vincent Van Gogh—one of the most prominent painters who, tragically, was only recognized after his death. I recall watching a movie about his life and being mesmerized by his exquisite and unique style.
"Admire as much as you can. Most people do not admire enough."
In this one line, Van Gogh urges us to be more conscious of our day-to-day lives. Often, we go through life as if in a trance—our minds clouded by the demands of work, the weight of responsibilities, and the monotony of routine. We grind ourselves to the bone, working tirelessly to provide for our families. As students, we spend our days in college, chasing degrees that we hope will secure our futures.
But I invite you to pause and ask yourself: Were we truly designed to live this way? Or have we simply convinced ourselves that this relentless pursuit is the only way to escape the reality that capitalism has imposed upon us? Has this system robbed us of the essence of life, pushing us to forget the importance of connection, of presence, of truly living?
Why do we so often forget to spend time with our families, our children, our friends, and our neighbours? We miss out on walks in the park, hoping to bump into an old teacher, or visiting an ailing friend before it's too late. We keep postponing trips we've longed to take, not because of money, but because we're so absorbed in our busy, scheduled lives that we fear stepping away to a place of peace and calm.
The reason we need to admire more is that these small moments—the morning sun's rays warming our skin, the sound of birds chirping, the simple act of our mother bringing toast to the breakfast table—are the essence of life. We need to appreciate these moments, to create space for them in our lives.
A life spent merely working is not a life truly lived.
The column made me pause. I agree with message 1000 percent. We are just so caught up in empty pursuits when you look back and reflect. Thanks for the great work.
Those are beautiful thoughts.
Now I have to reread Alan Watts' THE WAY OF ZEN.
Thank you Ahmed.