Back in ’86 a group of immortals fought each other to the death in the streets of New York. Why? Because there can be only one. And he gets to keep The Prize. I’m talking, of course, about the classic action flick: Highlander. Looking at it nowadays, its visual effects have become outdated – there’s no denying that. And the story? There’s not much of a story. It’s mostly an excuse to watch grown men duel each other with swords. Still, it’s forty years later and it shows no signs of fading into obscurity.
Why? Well, besides the awesome action scenes, the theme of immortality remains compelling enough. Every time we look around at our surroundings, we get reminded of how quickly time moves. The fourteen year old who you used to teach, has now become an eighteen year old, heading for university. Or the feeling you get when another celebrity has just died, someone whom you used to idolise. It’s a reminder of our own mortality, every time. And so, we’ll gladly spend some time in the world of Highlander, imagining ourselves to be immortal.
In previous newletters, I’ve discussed Marcus Aurelius’ sage advice, and it applies here too. We all love to pretend that this show will last forever, that we’re some type of immortal beings. It’s easy to see why. By putting our heads in the sand, we avoid the pain of acknowledging our days are numbered. But let’s look at it the other way. What happens when we do the opposite? For one, by being extra aware of our finite existence, we might stop living our lives on autopilot, and we might work extra hard to realise our potential.
Now, obviously there needs to be some balance here. On one hand, better make sure you live a well-lived life. On the other hand, it might lead you to become so goal-oriented, that it diminishes your life’s enjoyment. If you believe happiness is just one goal away, always just around the corner somewhere, you may well find it brings you nothing more than euphoria – an emotion which tends to quickly evaporate.
You’ll find a great example of this in Matthew Polly’s biography on Bruce Lee. First we get to see Lee as a mischievous teenager, seemingly headed nowhere in life. He’s completely oblivious to long-term consequences, only living for the present moment. Ah, we’ve all been there, am I right?
By the time Lee turns into an adult, he found a way of channeling his energy, into worthwhile pursuits. And it paid off! But, there’s a paradox. Just one look at how much the man exerted himself, under the pressure of Hong Kong’s sweltering sun, it’s easy to see how he pushed himself beyond his limits, ultimately leading to his demise. What would have happened if he decided to take a few weeks rest then, back in ’73? Would we see an 82-year-old Lee stroll somewhere in the US today? Who knows. Perhaps it’s just fate, for lack of a better word. If not that summer, then the next.
One thing I do know, he made the most of his time. Most of what we remember him by, was due to a frenzy of activity, from ’71 to ’73. And the results of that labor still endures after all of those years, as each year sees new fans embrace his legacy, continuing his legend through word of mouth.
I’m not saying you should aim for posthumous fame, nor are there any easy answers here. But writing this newsletter does bring to mind a quote from “A Bronx Tale”: “The saddest thing in life is wasted talent.”
So it’s about how we ought to make the best of our gifts. And it’s about our character, who we choose to become in our lives. Food for thought.
Kind regards
Vincent J. Dancet