Rescuing the world, one day at a time

The world is a strange place, full of good and bad intermingled such that it is not always possible to tell where one ends and the other begins.The beauty of sunshine in summer, for example, which kills many people each year. The refreshing feel of cool water, which floods and drowns those in its way. The warmth of a fire, which destroys forests and homes.

There is much about the world that is broken and ugly; much that hurts; much that makes one despair and want to give up. In this life, though, we must do what we can to help and to heal. It seems an impossible task, and indeed is, if looked at in its whole. There is much that can be done, however.

Consider the gentlemen named in the title of this blog. All three of them have brought more beauty to this world, more joy and more justice. They have, in their own ways, improved the world and made it just that bit more pleasant and civilised to inhabit.

You may think that this is somewhat overstated; after all, we are not all such outwardly impressive people as they. There is truth in what is said, though, that a seemingly tiny action can have repercussions beyond imagining, for good or for bad. A kind word, at the right time, may save a life.

We all have our own particular talent, whether it be academic, creative, or interactive. We can all use this to bring just a little more beauty to the world. It may be broken and suffering, but it is never beyond hope. Whatever we do, let us strive, somehow, to contribute to the mammoth task of healing it, day by day.

Alone, it is a hopeless task.

Together, we can make the world a better place.

See, I've always been good at Maths. My parents taught me young, and I liked it and kept working at it. Took exams early, all that jazz. And I do love it; it is fascinating, precise and beautiful in its absolute rightness. I do enjoy learning about it, watching how new things fit with old and how they all interlink into a vast landscape of mathematics.

So, because I've always done well at Maths, people always assume I'll continue to study it. So do I, I suppose. After all, I do enjoy it and would want to learn more of it.

But there's something else I'm good at too. Not in the same way - I doubt I'm anything special - but I am some sort of musician. I love music, too - listening to it, analysing it, creating it and performing it. I'm improving at all of these, as I work at them, but it's always said that only the truly amazing can make anything of music.

I was thinking recently - about university and life beyond it - and realised that, much as I love Maths, music is what makes me feel alive. There's nothing more frustrating and nothing more satisfying than it. It drives me mad and keeps me sane. And there's nothing I want more than to be some sort of musician, somehow.

Maybe that doesn't mean anything in the grand scheme of things. Maybe it's too late and I'll never be good enough in any capacity. Maybe, though, it's not; and maybe that's a risk I can take.

Thoughts on life

Greetings to any and all of you, and thank you for reading.

Today, I was thinking about life. A strange and beautiful thing, which should be cherished, yielding both good and bad, but a huge variety of great and glorious experiences.

For this, I leave you a poem, of a sort, written when sleep loosens the restraints on creativity:

'We live each day
Walking through life, in our own little world
Peering out through a blurred window
Trying to make sense of our surroundings.
It can grow dark and strange there
With no shelter to be seen, and terrors all around
Where the ground slips beneath your feet
And the sky whirls overhead
And you try to keep hold of your plans and dreams
As they are broken and crushed by the buffetting wind.
Life's path does not run smooth,
But one thing I would say to you:
No matter how dark, how desperate or drear,
You will never be alone.'