Very insightful piece. Many of the listed items have fallen into place. I guess that's what is called "self-actualization." I dare say, by the time one is 75, that level should've been reached in some facets of our lives. Old friends may have passed into personal history because they presented their gifts to us and went on their merry ways. What's sad is to try to keep in touch with people who have gone into geriatric care facilities. We may never know if or when they passed away. They just disappear.
How strong those words are... I hadn't thought about it, but yes, it can happen that people you knew pass into oblivion because they go to nursing homes or because of distance and slow disconnection. Little by little we abandon certain social relationships and they become forgotten.
I try to avoid this, I try to keep in touch with all those people who were valuable in my adolescence and childhood. I hope it will be like that for many years to come.
beautifully crafted essay, alvaro! i almost avoided reading, it scared me. but of course, i had to read this poignant essay of yours. question for you: can we truly live a life without regrets? i am thinking no, we cannot. even when we live in the now and are leading fully-lived lives. something tells me regret is as natural a feeling as say, yearning, boredom, envy, self-doubt. and perhaps, having regrets are a way to learn to live more fully, more authentically. i'm thinking a life without some regrets, large or small is wishful thinking, somehow. ok, keep going. for me, this essay rings with your unique authenticity, above and beyond the subject of the essay. well done. ur fan, j.
That's a very good question you asked. I think it is not possible to live without any regrets because we will always be left with the doubt of whether it was possible to have done better in some aspect. That said, when people get older, they are more generous, more grateful and enjoy the everyday more, they live a fuller life.
This leads me to think that regret can never be eliminated, but we can make sure that it is not an enormous burden that prevents us from living. The better we use our time, the less room there will be to regret when it is too late.
Very insightful piece. Many of the listed items have fallen into place. I guess that's what is called "self-actualization." I dare say, by the time one is 75, that level should've been reached in some facets of our lives. Old friends may have passed into personal history because they presented their gifts to us and went on their merry ways. What's sad is to try to keep in touch with people who have gone into geriatric care facilities. We may never know if or when they passed away. They just disappear.
Hi Sue! :)
How strong those words are... I hadn't thought about it, but yes, it can happen that people you knew pass into oblivion because they go to nursing homes or because of distance and slow disconnection. Little by little we abandon certain social relationships and they become forgotten.
I try to avoid this, I try to keep in touch with all those people who were valuable in my adolescence and childhood. I hope it will be like that for many years to come.
beautifully crafted essay, alvaro! i almost avoided reading, it scared me. but of course, i had to read this poignant essay of yours. question for you: can we truly live a life without regrets? i am thinking no, we cannot. even when we live in the now and are leading fully-lived lives. something tells me regret is as natural a feeling as say, yearning, boredom, envy, self-doubt. and perhaps, having regrets are a way to learn to live more fully, more authentically. i'm thinking a life without some regrets, large or small is wishful thinking, somehow. ok, keep going. for me, this essay rings with your unique authenticity, above and beyond the subject of the essay. well done. ur fan, j.
Hi JaCee! :)
That's a very good question you asked. I think it is not possible to live without any regrets because we will always be left with the doubt of whether it was possible to have done better in some aspect. That said, when people get older, they are more generous, more grateful and enjoy the everyday more, they live a fuller life.
This leads me to think that regret can never be eliminated, but we can make sure that it is not an enormous burden that prevents us from living. The better we use our time, the less room there will be to regret when it is too late.