“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”

A martial arts instructor told me once that at first a punch is just a punch. Then, as you learn the art and the complexities, a punch becomes more than a punch. But, once you eventually master the art, you get right back to where a punch is just a punch again. Same with life. I think we are still in the middle stage and life just seems complex. Eventually, hopefully not too late, we will realize that the truth was actually much simpler. I could sit here and spit out clichés and tell you that I want to make a difference and help people and, why not, save some whales while I'm at it. The reality is that I'm not sure what I'm going to do, but I do know that I'll always be honest to myself. I'll always love my family, love my friends, and soak up experiences that I can share with buddies over ouzo when I'm 70, sitting at a seaside fish tavern in my village with the smell of the Aegean and the mischievous hum of grandkids playing. I truly believe in these lines from Cavafy, a 20th century Greek poet:

When you set out on your journey to Ithaca,
pray that the road is long

— Paul Gomopoulos