- To my brother, Christian.
Thank You.
Through my short life, I've read lots of books. Dostoievsky, Kipling, Defoe, Dumas, Green. Lots of authors, many different stories that I related with. Stories from people who were just like you, and me. Regular men and women who fought for making in their stories a better world.
I read my first book while I was 9 or 10, I don't remember very well. That book was fantastic, because since I have always had a vivid imagination, took me to a places I thought didn't exist, but existed after I read about them. That book was "Robinson Crusoe". It's a tale of a man who had to literally, start from zero to become one (let's put it that way). In other words, he had to rebuild and rethink himself.
That tale had a deep impact on me, because as a kid, usually you go around trying to fit somewhere. And that particular book, taught me that every man should stand for his ground and create his own world, because that's what the natural thing is. I always had this "feeling" that I belonged nowhere, somehow I always thought of myself as some kind of misfit. I had friends, sure, I rode a bike around my neighborhood with them, but I didn't have what other fellas had, let's say, a true "friendship". I don't blame no one for that thou.
I always had the personality of a loner, in fact I always felt identified with those kind of characters who walked through the world with no more companionship than themselves.
So anyway, Robinson Crusoe taught me that with a little imagination, and determination, a man could do anything he wanted, living anywhere he wanted as well. That was one of the first valuable lessons a book taught me.
After all these years, I've came across a book a friend of mine wrote. I've read it twice, to make sure nothing escapes from my eyes. When I grab a book, I usually read it one time, but when it really grasps my attention, I gave it more than one read. This particular book, was really interesting. Not because it had stories of magicians, fantastic wizards or shit that doesn't exist. It was interesting, as I mentioned before, because it describes the story of a man who literally, struggles for making a better world for himself.
As a 26 year old man, you have some expectations, like being a professional, having a good time with everyone, having a perfect-10 girlfriend, having sex with as many women as possible, etc... Let's not forget that you also have to deal with your memories. Finally, you feel you have anything but at the end of the day, you realize you have nothing.
While going through the pages of this book, it's quite impossible not to feel identified with the main character. The book portrays the story of a young man, in his late twenties (just like me) who at first, is literally a mess. It wasn't because of others. It was because of himself.
As his life continues, the main character understands that he's the sole architect of his own destiny. And starts changing some aspects of his life. Sometimes on his own, sometimes with help from other friends, and sometimes, with the valuable help of experience.
As his life continues, the main character understands that he's the sole architect of his own destiny. And starts changing some aspects of his life. Sometimes on his own, sometimes with help from other friends, and sometimes, with the valuable help of experience.
Towards the end of the book, the main character discovers that he, as many other people in this world, came here for a reason. And he starts walking towards that reason, that moment of clarity, of inner peace, and calm. Sure, it wasn't an easy road, but it was worth it.
What surprised me about this book, is that it brought me back to when I read my first book. While I finished reading Robinson Crusoe, I learned that being a man is a labor that requires courage and discipline. While I finished this book, I realised another valuable lifetime lesson. I realised that, the only thing that matters, in every day of our lives, is to be present.
To be present is something hard... because, past tries to imprison us in its jaws, with no mercy, making us addicted to feel like victims. Yeah sure, we are victims, but we are victims of ourselves. But when you're present, nothing else matters than the minute you're just living, the minute you're just breathing, the minute your eyes blink. I could not imagine of a better sign of being alive, than being present.
Samurais had this motto: "The past lies among the ghosts, and the future remains untold. The present is what we know". And my friend's book, emphasized that. And I'm grateful for it.
Since I read my friend's book, I'm a bit more optimistic, less bitter, and I started to throw away all the useless memories I have in my head, like past non-corresponded loves, failures, things that prevented me to move on to the next stage. And I'm glad, that my friend's words, did this for me, as I'm sure will do for anyone who reads his book.
Since I read my friend's book, I'm a bit more optimistic, less bitter, and I started to throw away all the useless memories I have in my head, like past non-corresponded loves, failures, things that prevented me to move on to the next stage. And I'm glad, that my friend's words, did this for me, as I'm sure will do for anyone who reads his book.
When you're present, you suffer less.
When you're present, you free yourself from the ego chains.
When you're present, you're alive.
When you're present, you're in tune with yourself.
- My friend's book, by the way, is called "The Last Poem of Schetzzer". Here's the book website: http://www.schetzzer.com . Stay tuned, it will be released world-wide soon !
