He was the man who could have whatever he wanted and yet, there he was on the beach, alone. He had been standing there for a long time, enjoying the sounds of the ocean waves crashing onto the shore and admiring the the sunset over the horizon. Since he was little, it had been his desire to go out to sea. Now, when he could, finally, live his dream, he feels unsure if sailing had deserved that much glamour he had given it in the first place.
Only one way to find out, he thought.
In the waters, the keels of a boat started to take shape, bit by bit, and then, the hull, the stern, the cockpit, the deck slowly began to form. It looked as if something was filling the gap between a metaphysical sailboat and its physical form. A yacht was coming together. The mast took its shape then, finally, the sail. The man climbed into the yacht and looked at the sail. Immediately, a strong gust of wind blew and carried the yacht into the ocean.
Night has fallen. As the man lay on deck, looking up at the night sky, he felt the comfort that being alone had always brought him and embraced it.
Forever begins tonight, he sighed and he drifted off into slumber..
Only by living in that fashion did I realise its problem. A hedonistic approach to life only considers immediate gratification as pleasure. For example, going out and having fun (pleasure) and avoiding studying (pain). This, though seemingly harmless, does not bide well during the week leading up to A levels. Sometimes, to ensure pleasure in the future, one must consider sacrificing the pleasure of the present. This was something I was unable to do, being too addicted to pleasure. It is not that pleasure should not be a guidepost, but if pleasure only refers to the immediate and short-lived sort, then it shouldn't.
But should pleasure be component of our guide in life at all? Is there a guide that holds for every situation we should encounter?
I don't know.
