I recently saw Patch Adams, a movie that starred Robin Williams.
It is about following one’s calling, no matter what. A short dialogue, that I can relate to, got my attention and wanted to share it with you. Here it goes:
‘You’re never serious, are you?’
‘No. I tried that for years. Never really worked for me.’
When you’re young, you’re constantly looking for people to look up to. Sometimes you realize that, sometimes you don’t.
But if you’re lucky, you might find inspiration in people and situations around you. The story of ‘K.I.S.S.’ is an example of the abovementioned.
When I was in college, few of the things happening there really came up to my expectations. But I had a few teachers that inspired me and I think I was lucky because of that.
One of the sayings of one of the teachers really stuck with me through the years. And I especially liked it because I thought (and still do) that it is essential to not over complicate things. Yes, K.I.S.S. stands for ‘keep it simple, stupid’.
And I found out it works. When you find yourself lost in so many details, try and simplify things. In school, I was told I give laconic answers. From time to time, I still do that, mainly because I like to stick to the point and not intoxicate people with information.
Thus, I have developed a keen nose for falsity and that helps a lot. It’s like Albert Einstein put it: if you cannot explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.
I was talking with one of my friends about good books to read and we got,
inevitably, to the point of reasons why people buy (or keep buying) books. And
thus a list emerged. It remains open in case any of you have additions to it.
People buy books because:
1. They love books and the way they smell.
2. They want to fill the shelves of their bookcases.
3. They know it’s in fashion to read books.
4. They want to discover new writers,
whether contemporary or classic ones.
5. They have received book recommendations
from others.
6. They want to make a gift.
7. They want to make a gift, but they also
must add to it a scarf, some tea or a cup.
8. They want to make time go by faster when on a long trip.
9. They adore a certain writer and they must have all the books
that writer wrote.
10. They want to show others their interest for literature.
11. They want to instill the love of reading in children.
12. They are in search of a good story. Oh, the perpetual quest for a good story. You, book lovers, know very well about this mirage.
I wanted to buy this book not only because one
of the authors had impressed me dearly with another book, but because for some
years now I’ve been trying to debunk prejudices. The one regarding the
superiority of the Germans is the most heavy burden on Romanians’ shoulders.
Somehow, someday I will tell you about my experience living in Germany.
‘Why aren’t the Romanians like the Germans?’
presents an epistolary exchange between the two authors, making it a stimulating,
sometimes funny, sad or puzzling reading. I resonate with Jan Cornelius, being
often subjected to bizarre, nonsensical and funny happenings, whether in
Romania or abroad. This is the story of how ‘Adventures of tourists’ was
written, to amuse other people – besides friends and family - with the
crazy things happening to me.
My experience has taught me to question the
saying that ‘in Germany punctuality and everything working smoothly is a given’.
Delays in the schedule of means of transportation (in my case, the train
because I was using it to get from a smaller town to a bigger, universitary
one) exist in Germany. And this happens not only because some people have
decided to jump in front of a train. And talking about strictly complying with
the rules (as it happens everywhere in the world, actually), when people are
given a procedure to observe and different situations occur than presented in the procedure than everything is stuck.
I cannot remark the fact that, generally, Adina
Popescu idealizes living in Germany and the ‘civilized’ state of everyone
living there. Also, I cannot but remark the fact that Jan
Cornelius also describes situations that are not ‘civilized’. And this is good because the reader can grasp the fact that there is no ideal way of living and that there is no
synonymy between Germany and perfection.
Moreover, no matter
the place one lives in, one always better notices the issues where they live at and idealizes the
green grass in the neighbor’s garden.
Oh, and speaking of this. When one goes beyond, into the green grass mentioned above, one realizes that everything is cool with the things missing from one’s garden, but one will eventually fuss about the things not missing from one’s garden but nowhere to be found in the neighbor’s. Just a mere observation for those interested in the neighbor’s green grass concept.
Only a few of you do not know that I have various hobbies. I like to write, read books, sing with an extraordinary voice, and also to draw and paint.
Once, somebody told me that I must not compare the results of my passions to the ones of great artists. And this because, at a certain moment in time, their work was also compared to those of great artists at those times and were not seen as good enough. But they kept going, they worked and cherished the results of their work. It does not even matter that some of them did not live to see their work appreciated by others.
It seems to me that nowadays we set goals in an incorrect manner. Meaning that we tend to acknowledge talents that we might have only if they were previously validated by others.
I suggest a change. Let us acknowledge our talents by looking inside ourselves and enjoying the vibrations they give us.
And I do enjoy them. And since I am not selfish, I share this joy with you.
