Sweet Rose of Virtue (for the worldwide day of Poetry)

Sweet rose of virtue and of gentleness,

delightful lily of youthful wantonness,

richest in bounty and in beauty clear

and in every virtue that is held most dear―

except only that you are merciless.

Into your garden, today, I followed you;

there I saw flowers of freshest hue,

both white and red, delightful to see,

and wholesome herbs, waving resplendently―

yet everywhere, no odor but bitter rue.

I fear that March with his last arctic blast

has slain my fair rose of pallid and gentle cast,

whose piteous death does my heart such pain

that, if I could, I would compose her roots again―

so comforting her bowering leaves have been.

by William Dunbar [1460-1525]

loose translation by Michael R. Burch

Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things

Is minimalism the road to a fulfilled and worthy life? Watch the full documentary on NetFlix and comment by yourself :

https://www.netflix.com/title/80114460

Here's a short comment from me and things I've learned in life so far : 

The less you own, the more free you are. The less you try to be happy for others, the happier you'll be for yourself and the ones that really matter. The more you travel, the more you understand that happiness and bliss are to be found in simplicity and humility. Trust me, been there and done all that more than once!

Don't be afraid to take steps back. Having the wisdom to reiterate and reconsider is hard and it takes crushing your pride and your established lifestyle - including things and people you have been used to admire mostly for the wrong reasons. Ask yourself : are you truly fulfilled with the life you created or you're trying to create? What's missing? Money? Things? Or true people, true experiences and true friends that make you a better human being?

We all need a purpose in life. Define it in terms of the things that really matter. The important things. 

Maybe we shouldn't be minimalists after all! We can be maximalists in love, positivity, solidarity and caring. 

Maybe we can be humans again! 

P&L

                                                                                                                                              C.K.