Thick glasses, big teeth, dry black hair and a strong passion for her job. She seemed like an interesting woman, many times as she was explaining us the oh so intricate grammar one would perceive a sense of exhaustion. It felt as though life had been not so kind on her, yet she kept that positive attitude, the half full glass kind of thinking, if you know what I mean. At least, that is how I remember my ancient Greek teacher in high school.
I loved Greek. It was difficult, but the symbols in its alphabet kept a hidden meaning to me, beyond the actual and real one. They were a mystery. I guess now, when I look back, Greek reminded of life. Life, what a word... But it is true however, that life has so much to show us and teach us and yet nothing is ever too clear. There are symbols in life as well. Symbols for which we need insight and experience to really understand them; and as we do, we grow, we mature, we learn, we evolve. Those symbols though, are not printed in a sheet of paper. Those symbols are people around us, events, adventures, feelings. Those symbols can be success and failure, a fall or a rise. Those symbols are the ones we need to solve as human beings, as family, as a society, as humankind in order to move forward. To progress.
αι μουσαι εισιν εννεα. "The muses were nine" read a Greek text. Back then, I knew it by heart. And this is why I remembered my Greek teacher today. I am inspired. This year has been very interesting to me. The nine muses seem to be dancing around me. Instilling that inspiration in me. And those muses, as those symbols in life I referred to before, need to be discovered, understood, translated. They work like magic. And they can only be understood, when you welcome them. A person, I believe, needs to be open to the inspiration. A person, needs to be open to those symbols or muses, because otherwise, symbols just remain as mere facts of life, as everyday common and regular events.
This year I have had many symbols unlock their meaning just in front of my eyes. I have had many muses showing me the way to inspiration. And I feel proud. I feel proud because I opened my eyes to life, because I made the decision to open up my soul to the unveiling of those symbols. This is the richness one can achieve in this life. Let us not waste our chance to do it. I believe this defines the difference between an ignorant man and a wise one. Between a person that observes what is around him looking for meaning and depth and one that just walks through life like an ant with the sole purpose of uniformly marching in line, without looking to the sides, without questioning the surroundings.
I am inspired tonight, and I could write all night long. I am moved tonight, because I am alive. I am touched tonight, because wonderful people surround me. I am loved tonight, because I deserve it. And I am very lucky tonight, because I know that there he is, on the other side of the line. A little cryptic? That is exactly what life is about. Live. Love. Laugh. Open your eyes. But really open them. Open your heart for that will make you rich. Good night.
