Carpe Vita

YinYang (serving as a head rest) and Honeyboy under the new Avocado Tree in El Universo

Well, I started to write on this piece three weeks ago and it was derailed by accusations of plagiarism. Since it has been proven that I don't do plagiarism, I can now continue where I left off. Although, it's of course different now, as the timeline contains this disruption. However, it goes to show that one never knows what's around the most proximate corner. Things can change on a moment's notice. And the Universe usually does not rent bill boards to announce that change is on its way. It presumes that humans know about that. No further elaboration given.

So, Carpe Vita was conceived as a concept beyond the day it originally urges to make best use of, when I realized that, while there is only a moment of Life - the present moment - the string of pearls consisting of individual moments will make at one point what we consider 'a Life'. I could also simply just say Carpe and it would also be sufficient to describe what one ought to do about the moment. Taking care, or making good use of the moment will then lead to a string of pearls that reflect that. A Life well lived, or perused in accordance to the laws of The Universe, will be what I dub Carpe Vita.

At this point, I like to give credit to the soundtrack of my Life. The red line that runs through it and has influenced it to the most possible degree. 'Most possible', because this influence did not lead to break free from the condition and program of being insignificant, worthless and a waste of Life energy. The soundtrack was provided by Led Zeppelin to the largest degree, followed by many other divine musicians. But Led Zeppelin has always had the lead. What these Human Beings achieved in their Lives is what I am sorely lacking. And I am not necessarily talking about anything in specific, like filling venues all over the planet with millions of followers, creating novelty music by fusing those styles and elements that had in turn influenced these four true Masters of The Universe. This is not to say that other bands had a lot less impact in my Life. My addiction to music is distributed widely and I cannot list all of the bands and musicians that catered, or are still catering to my addiction.

In short, Led Zeppelin - or better the Human Beings behind it - is the prime example of Carpe Vita. And while one member of the quartet left Life early due to the doubt he had about it, followed by the subsequent depression fueled by the belief of being inadequate, the band will live forever as four Human Beings that made the best out of their lives. But this piece is not about Led Zeppelin, or its band members. They are the collective inspiration for it. The essence of this piece is the question, why some people are better suited to make best use of their Life time, their Life Energy. What is the difference between them - or any other Artist at that - and the person that is born, lives and dies and nobody ever noticed, but the family and friends. Sometimes there are not even friends. I have met people without friends. Frightening, if not obviously understood as a path - like the Hermit that exists due to the decision not to partake in the 'outside' world.

A good description would be 'stand-ins', or 'supernumeraries'. You can see them in Ben Hur and the whole Ben Hur film would not be possible without them. But they are not rolling with the credits at the end of the movie. Equally, the extras in real Life have a similar function. Without those who are not able to play any musical instrument as virtuous as the folks from Led Zeppelin, there would not be enough people to fill the stadium. The extras in this case are the audience and without audience, Led Zeppelin would have likely not ended up being the greatest band ever. But how many times do people go to concerts? Or to the movies? Whereas music has always had a much more profound effect on me than movies. There is a difference. Even though, there was The Blues Brothers.

When are the tracks laid that enable a Human Being to live to his or her true potential? To have developed enough trust in one's own abilities to rise out above the masses that have no issue to be extras. Is it what their parents told them while they were still toddlers? Is it ever necessary to deliver a spark to the burner of an artistic mind? Does the proclivity to become a truly great Artist, or Human Being exist independently of outer influences? If there are no outer triggers, than what makes one make the best of one's Life? Do genetics play a role in it? Like having musicians as parents - in the case of truly virtuous musicians? Or having parents that already live the Carpe Vita principle - radiating that there is no limits to what You can really do, or be in Life, versus the discouragement to strive to become a great Human Being? Parents that tell their children not to set the bar too high in order to not be disappointed later on?

If anything, I would say that's how it turned out to be in my personal case. Funny that there is another band that backs this claim up in a song. It's a contemporary three members band called Khruangbin and they have a song called "Lady and Man" that contains the lyrics "I could've been a Doctor..." Truth be told, I have heard that a many times from all kinds of people. "I could've been a .............(fill in). Now, the question is of course "Could You have really?" There is a funny little anecdote about one of the greatest writers ever. When Kurt Vonnegut proclaimed that he will become an Artist, his father rejected the idea, stating that "Art is no way of making a living". To which the young Kurt responded "Art is the only way to make a living." Quite obviously, the young Kurt already had some determination going for himself.

Not really implying that I would ever have what it takes to be a writer like Kurt Vonnegut. But there is this understanding that in order to make the best of the time You are given, You do need some sort of support, or encouragement. How much easier would it be if people were told by their parents that the main point is to make the best of everything, no matter what that might be. You want to become a musician? That's great. You want to be a Doctor? That's great, too. Just not a lawyer these days... Which leads me again to emphasize what I consider 'making the best of a Life': Bringing joy to others. There have always been difficult times. The Human condition. There has always been a war somewhere. A famine. Natural disasters. Mayhem of all sorts.

In that, providing joy to those living in difficult circumstances is making the best of the Life Energy we were and are given. Carpe Vita therefore means to use the moment, one's days and Life to bring joy to others. And at a deeper level that is seldom explored - spending one's Life time to bring joy to others brings joy to Yourself. The cycle closes. A Life lived providing joy to others will also create a final moment of relaxed satisfaction that one's Life was not wasted with meaningless nonsense, having caused suffering and pain for others. What we do, or don't do in Life is always like a Boomerang. It will always come full circle. Of course I have not the slightest idea how You could Carpe Your Vita. Only You know that. Or should I say "Only You might know that"? Might, because it takes the effort to investigate what it really is that You want to spend Your Life doing. How to utilize each moment, each day of Your short Life. For no matter how long a Human Being could live - if Life is lived to the fullest, it is as fleeting as a Rainbow when the rain stops.

Carpe Vita.