"IF TOMORROW STARTS WITHOUT ME" BY DAVID ROMANO

Being sick of my depressive mind and tired of monologues, I yelled at the universe. Not once. But... And then, I'm heard! Or at least, I felt as such. "Nothing makes sense" (a film) by Reflections of Life featuring Rong Liang Chia, was the reply I received. He was a foodie and was fighting pancreatic cancer. Unfortunately, after four months of this film, he passed away at the age of 38.

He was of my age and that indeed made me think an effing lot about life; further, freed me from this burdening purpose bullshit. Some of his words really stayed with me:

"Perhaps, not everybody has a definitive purpose in life. 

Maybe mine is just 

To love. 

Be kind. 

Be affectionate. 

Be vulnerable. 

Be open. 

Love thyself. 

Love others. 

And yeah, eat good food. 

Yeah... Yeah!" Rong Liang Chia

(Yeah, perhaps, we already know all these. Reminders like this won't do any harm, I believe.) May he rest in LOVE, so much love. 

"Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankl placed great emphasis on discovering a purpose in one's life. That one, I could really understand. I may not have understood it with other books, though. The book, "Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life" (by Francesc Miralles and Hector Garcia) which I've read recently also gives great importance on the purpose/purposeful life. And I'm sure thousands of other books out there that I have not read would also be speaking of the same. Fantastic!

Books. Media. Philosophers. Psychologists. Preachers. Yeah, every damn soul out there might be stressing it out way too much. Wonderful! It indeed serves a purpose. Obsession. I wonder, why are we so obsessed with this damn purpose anyway? Many are so obsessed with grand gestures and epic achievements to imbue one's life with purpose and meaning whereas the simple act of being feels so cheap, worthless and inferior. Why does it have to be something larger-than-life? 

Yeah, big thanks to ourselves for building us into this shitty state of mind by all the possible pollution (take a wild guess what the heck that could be.) that we have to endure. Without making the whole thing so complex and grand, let's make it so simple and humble: what if to be/being is the whole purpose of life? And when one can be extremely honest in being, s/he will radiate so much beauty and light for oneself and others. What's more fulfilling than that?

To be. Isn't it one heck of a purpose? And thus, simply being kind & loving to oneself and others adds a whole lot of beauty/meaning/light; not just to oneself, but to everyone all around/with us. See, that's an effing purpose to hold on to. I mean if tomorrow starts without me, what will be the fate of my damn purpose? Right? Go easy on oneself and others. So now. Breathe. Just breathe. The purpose of life is discovered! Sometimes or most of the time what else can we really do?

Rong also says in that film: "people have this inability not to care. But we can't be like that. We have to care." Yeah, while you're busy chasing after some grand purpose, there's a possibility to tire oneself neglecting the very joy of being here and now; and which will lead to another possibility of being unkind towards the other by being uncaring, avoiding the very presence of the other. So, maybe... Stop. See. Listen to. Reach out. Lend a hand. Breathe. 

I don't know Rong. Yet, I do know him. There wasn't anyone when I reached out for help. But then, his words came as a help for me. A poetry film in memory of Rong. What if someone else might find some solace from it?!

"If tomorrow Starts Without Me" 

attributed to David Romano 

(read by Tom O'Bedlam) 

(Rearranged. Not complete version)

When tomorrow starts without me,

And I'm not there to see,

If the sun should rise and

Find your eyes all filled with tears for me,

I wish so much you wouldn't cry

The way you did today,

While thinking of the many things,

We didn't get to say.

I know how much you love me,

As much as I love you,

and each time that you think of me,

I know you'll miss me too.

I had so much to live for,

So much left yet to do,

It seemed almost impossible,

That I was leaving you.

If I could re-live yesterday

Just even for a while,

I'd say good-bye and kiss you

And maybe see you smile.

I promise no tomorrow,

But today will always last,

And since each day's the same 

There's no longing for the past.

So when tomorrow starts without me,

Don't think we're far apart,

For every time you think of me,

I'm right here, in your heart.

More about the author: BRITTON | A Visual Storyteller (brittonv.in)