Before dying, this genius left a few points for us to ponder

By Jun Velasco

“We don’t see things as they are, but we see them as we are.” – From Ashok

WE picked from our email an inspiring letter from Nobel Prize winner for literature, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, who after retiring from public life for health reasons, wrote a poignant letter to his friends.

With his, we’ve seen vividly our self in particular situations the writer had found himself in. We thought of sharing his tidbits of advice in hopes our confreres and fellowmen will pick some nuggets from one of the greatest minds that ever lived. His letter is a wake-up call to most of us who have blindly embraced the temporal lures and blandishments of mundane pleasure and material wealth.

Dear Friend:

“If God, for a second, forgot what I have become and granted me a little bit more of life, I would use it to the best of my ability.” I wouldn’t, possibly, say everything that is in my mind, but I would be more thoughtful of all I say.

I would give merit to things not for what they are worth, but for what they mean to express.

I would sleep little, I would dream more, because I know that for every minute that we close our eyes, we waste 60 seconds of light.

I would walk while others stop; I would awake while others sleep.

If God would give me a little bit more of life, I would dress in a simple manner, I would place myself in front of the sun, leaving not only my body, but my soul naked at its mercy.

To all men I would say how mistaken they are when they think that they stop falling in love when they grow old, without knowing that they grow old when they stop falling in love.

I would give wings to children, but I would leave it to them to learn how to fly by themselves.

To old people I would say that death doesn’t arrive when they grow old, but with forgetfulness.

I have learned so much with you all, I have learned that everybody wants to live on top of the mountain, without knowing that true happiness is obtained in the journey taken & the form used to reach the top of the hill.

I have learned that when a newborn baby holds, with its little hand, his father’s finger, it has trapped him for the rest of his life.

I have learned that a man has the right and obligation to look down at another man, only when that man needs help to get up from the ground.

Say always what you feel, not what you think. If I knew that today is the last time that I am going to see you asleep, I would hug you with all my strength and I would pray to the Lord to let me be the guardian angel of your soul.

If I knew that these are the last moments to see you, I would say ‘I love you’.

There is always tomorrow, and life gives us another opportunity to do things right, but in case I am wrong, and today is all that is left to me, I would love to tell you how much I love you & that I will never forget you.

Tomorrow is never guaranteed to anyone, young or old. Today could be the last time to see your loved ones, which is why you mustn’t wait; to do it today, in case tomorrow never arrives. I am sure you will be sorry you wasted the opportunity today to give a smile, a hug, a kiss, and that you were too busy to grant them their last wish.

Keep your loved ones near you; tell them in their ears and to their faces how much you need them and love them. Love them and treat them well; take your time to tell them ‘I am sorry’; ‘forgive me’, ‘please’ ‘thank you’, and all those loving words you know.

Nobody will know you for your secret thought. Ask the Lord for wisdom and strength to express them.

Show your friends and loved ones how important they are to you.

Send this letter to those you love. If you don’t do it today… tomorrow will be like yesterday, and if you never do it, it doesn’t matter, either, the moment to do it is now.

For you,

With much love,

Your Friend,

Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

* * *

Some of our readers inquired why we liberally accommodate materials like this in this column. When we replied, “don’t you like it?” they said, “of course, we love it.”

We still have volumes in our email, and from time to time, we shall print them here to enrich your fund of experiences even as we afflict the comfortable, comfort the afflicted and, to quote Brutus in Shakespeare’s play, “to awaken your senses that you may hear.”

* * *

A pall of gloom has descended on the community press circle with the demise of a friend, Pangasinan Star’s friendliest chum, Eva Estrada, who had succumbed to breast cancer. Come to think about it, we are sad because we have a running battle against the temporariness of life, and yet, paradoxically, our friend has finally left this world of sorrow and pain to mingle with the Lord in the life everlasting. Why don’t we just ask Eva to send our best regards to those – including our departed media colleagues and friends — who have gone ahead to the Great Beyond.

(Readers may reach columnist at junmv@yahoo.com. For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/think-about-it/ For reactions to this column, click “Send MESSAGES, OPINIONS, COMMENTS” on default page.)

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