Nothing gold can stay

« Nothing gold can stay » Robert Frost

'Nature's first green is gold,

her hardest hue to hold.

Her early leaf's a flower;

but only so an hour.

Then leaf subsides to leaf.

So Eden sank to grief,

so dawn goes down to day.

Nothing gold can stay.’

In the movie « The outsiders » , Johnny leaves a letter to Ponyboy with his interpretation of that poem that I love very much. He says looking at the world like a kid is gold, because everything is new. It’s true, as a kid everything is new, everything is cause for excitement. From the little ant on the ground to the eagle in the sky. As a kid you see the sunset. I don’t mean looking at it, I mean seeing it. Seeing the shades, experiencing the warmth and awe, feeling hope. Hope for the day that’s starting, hope for something good, something new, something beautiful.

A wise man told me « Every day when you wake up, before setting your feet on the ground, say to yourself: something extraordinary is gonna happen today ». I would add to that « say to yourself: this day will never happen again, it’s a one-time experience, it’s a one-time chance. Live it to the fullest. »

Nothing gold can stay, snow eventually melts, flowers that are blooming will die, leaves will freeze. Everything beautiful is temporary. People, places, moments. Life, love, family, friends and happiness.

“Happiness makes up in height for what it lacks in length.” Indeed, nothing gold can stay. So cease that moment. Cease everything good for as long as you can and as hard as you can. Catch that glimpse of joy, of laughter, of humanity and don’t let go. Because your memories won’t always remember everything. They won’t remember how you felt when that boy touched your cheek for the first time, when you ate that hamburger after the night club. Memories will lie, they change, they’ll become shadows. Feel greatness, see beauty, be aware of the moment. Be aware of right now.