Reflection No. 1

Sometimes, I wonder why we are, what the point of life is, and whether the struggle of existence is worth the charms life offers. Most people probably wonder these things from time to time. The world is certainly full of many trials and tribulations, and ploughing ahead through the daily turmoil of survival is tiring oppressive. Thankfully though, there is alleviation from such oppression in this bewildering world.

The other day, these gloomy musings of existence were swimming about in my mind, when a certain piece of music caught my attention. I had put on Chopin's Scherzo No. 2, while wandering about the woods. (Actually it was just my neighborhood, but that's hardly alliterative. Also I really am quite obsessed with this piece, and could go on about its wonderfullness for some time). In any case, I had gotten to a particularly flourishing part of the scherzo, and my full attention was drawn to the music. All melancholy had been banished, and joyfull delight took its place. My musings were very much reversed from gloominess, and those heavy questions, while not entirely answered, received some form of resolution. I believe that curiosity is a good thing, and will likely continue to ponder and question themes relating to the meaning of life. However, in that moment, I realized that it was also okay not to know for certain what my purpose is, or to what end I live my life. Simply existing to listen to and enjoy such sublime music, such beauty and goodness, certainly seemed enough to exist for in that moment. Some say that art is inferior to other pursuits, in that it has no practical value. However I think that things such as art and nature are just as valuable as those things necessary for physical living, as they are necessary for the soul and really, truly living. None of this is to say that I think the meaning of our lives is to simply live for pleasure and enjoyment of fine things. More that, such pure pleasures, which are beautiful and good, help us to make it through life and find enjoyment in it, even if we know not exactly what it all means, or why we live it.