Ozymandias

A lone life offers a profound liberation: it eliminates the illusion of alternatives, making any consideration of options irrelevant. Without the perpetual pros and cons analysis that plagues decision-making, a truly lived single life becomes a series of decisive acts. This singular approach to presence erases moratorium and the endless “should” or “shouldn’t” deliberations from what-if scenarios, allowing for an unburdened engagement with the present.

The clarity, the acceptance of a singular trail of life, leads to an urgent reflection: when is it prudent, even necessary, to acknowledge the endgame? From beyond the threshold of life, absurd stillness races towards us, not from afar, but perhaps with the next exhale, with layers of oblivion to swallow the beating heart. Yet! We squander our remaining breaths, arguing over what we should have been doing instead. All along, though, the mind and body restlessly whisper, but we pretend not to regard transformations that require immediate attention. Burdens grow heavier with perspective, as one always wants to do more to extend and prolong life but rarely asks why. There must be a consequence for twisting life’s decree. Unawareness about the inevitable cannot be an excuse for amnesty.

Even as we confront an extremely short rendezvous with the sun, the moon, the air, and the seasons, what genuinely matters is the connections we forge. Our affinities anchor memories and lend significance to experiences, reminding us of the beauty of sharing life with others. Without others to share it with, we risk forgetting our past because we weave memories into the fabric of our thoughts. Our sentiments about love and affection preserve our memories rather than storing them in a container. If love is wrong, then what is correct in this life on this earth? We cannot persuade anyone to love; only by a miracle, with an absolute rarity, we may stumble upon another soul to fall in love with. Should we be lucky, we receive an abundance of tenderness and experience devotion from the beloved for the time being. Only sustained, compassionate words and acts of love can fuel our path in life. Until the fortune ends as time squeezes dry exuberance and precious love, the nourishment of our journey unfolds into a repulsive entity. At the sunset phase, we come to dislike the things we once adored – a signal that the lease of life is about to expire.