September 11, 2007
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The Smell of Life
Life always seems a certain way. In spans of days or weeks at a time we will see the world in a way specific to the current mood of life. It reflects the way our life is going, or what we think of life. In a way, the way our perception permeates our daily view of things somewhat makes life to seem to have a “smell” to it.
This phenomenon of life’s appearance changing over time leads me to think about other people’s minds. What way does life seem to them? What gauze stretches out over everything to them? What genre is life to them these days?
Curiosity has led me to devise a method by which I can partially comprehend the reality of the disparity among minds and their contrasting daily views of life. Because life has changed while growing up, with life seeming one way while I was in different grades, jumping into my past experiences leads me closer to the way that other people can be seeing things in a completely different light from day to day. Stimulating my memory can reintroduce me to past views of life; what I thought about as I walked down the school hallways years ago, what the overarching pattern I saw in the nature of life, and what mood pervaded my morning routine.
In fact, one day my senior year I was walking to a class and in one moment the smell of life changed, and I knew it. It was like the channel had changed. Upon arriving to my next class I informed everyone that I had entered a new way of viewing things. I’m not sure they knew what I was talking about.
I do try, but I find it very hard to understand other people. But at least I can understand how I don’t understand them. Our daily assumptions, and the transcendent mood of life, a mood that can be of any nature and last from simply days to a good many years, removes us inevitably from other people.
Everyone have a wonderful night!
EDIT: I am surprised no one noticed/mentioned how remarkable my dad’s resemblance to Mario is in the first picture of the last post. He is fully Italian, his parents having immigrated at a young age from Sicily. Just look at him in the picture and imagine the high-toned voice saying, “It’s-a Mario!”
Comments (5)
ryc: In fact, one day my senior year I was walking to a class and in one moment the smell of life changed, and I knew it.
I absolutely LOVE this line!! Very creative. And now write a book around that line!! Excellent.
General moods of life over time… I understand. An accurate thought, insofar as my experience goes.
i have been trying to figure this out. it happens to me. it’s so interesting and confusing at times, and other times enjoyable to think about, especially remembering. i’m glad you recognize it and wrote about it.
awesome entry. that was some food for thought.
how have you been, phil?
Mario?? As in Super Mario Brothers? That’s the only Mario I can think of. If so, I don’t really see the resemblance. I thought Mario was kind of short and chunky.