“When God punishes you, it’s not that you don’t get what you want. You get everything that you want and there’s no time left.” Ahhh this whole piece is so powerful Silvio. I’m like you, the thought of an infinite life is much more motivating to me than a short one. Or maybe both have their purpose. A long life though means that we have the power to do things everyday to make changes and accomplish big things. How cool too that you saw Miles Davis live!
It's Friday and I'm sitting in my living room in the Lake District with the verdant fields outside, headphones in, reading about infinite time and listening to "So What?". I'm reminiscing about the time I played in a jazz band this song, thinking about the impact Miles Davis has had on art and performance, and feeling the powerful impact your story had on me.
I've never been very comfortable living the next day as the last. It brings a hurriedness to life that's so counter to the slow movements that I enjoy more, like slow-food. They invite savouring, noticing, and presence.
Getting things done is often accompanied with a "live as if it's your last day" attitude. But your story tells us getting things done is possible with an infinite time mindset, because it it's meant to happen it will. 💯
“When God punishes you, it’s not that you don’t get what you want. You get everything that you want and there’s no time left.” - I'll be ruminating on this for the foreseeable future :)
You saw Miles Davis in a LIVE show? I'm jealous! It's interesting that you mentioned thinking about time as a dreadful exercise -- because I actively LOVE thinking about time. It gives me chills, goosebumps, excitement, joy, and sense of wonder. It's one of my favorite topics in any random and serious conversation. My old team and I used to play this game where they placed bets on when I'd fail to relate the weekly office story prompt (topics range from one's favorite way to eat a potato to most hated color) back to the topic of time. I won the bet every time ;)
You've had quite a life of amazing experiences Silvio, and grateful that you share them, and the insights they provoke, with us. Jealous that you got to see Miles Davis live, and more so in such a memorable performance.
Most of all, amazing way to tackle such a complicated topic which is time. It's been nice to entertain that thought about infinite time, and the liberation that brings. Thank you for always posing interesting and different scenarios to reconsider concepts, and life in general!
Silvio, this gave me chills. I haven’t realized that I’m a part of the “infinite time” mindset until you so eloquently explained it. Definitely a fan of slow, simple, intentional living. Wonderful piece, as always!
Hi, just discovered this piece linked in Camilo’s essay. Found your exploration of time and connecting to Miles Davis fascinating. I’m in the carpe diem camp-- each day is the last one. I tend to take more risks and make more asks given my mindset. I don’t think of productivity so much as intention. Did I make some earnest attempt to do good? To be helpful? To make art or have an impact? In my tradition the smile is counted as an act of charity so I have a different calculus on how I understand time running out. I believe the soul will be with those you love in paradise so I’m not so worried about getting everything right now. I’m slowly savoring the delights of this life AND holding onto the possibility of more in another life.
“When God punishes you, it’s not that you don’t get what you want. You get everything that you want and there’s no time left.” This quote sat with me like coffee’s aftertaste. Powerful. Looking at the comments this strongly resonated with everyone.
This was a really interesting essay to read, Silvio. The idea of thinking of our lives as if we had “infinite time” is one that I’m not used to. I tend to follow the Stoic guidance of thinking of death as inevitable and that it could come at any moment. Yet, I do think you bring up a good point about the finiteness of time discouraging us from trying new things.
Every essay of yours gives me something both new and familiar. It’s like Italian food. I will always crave it, and I know generally what I will taste, but there is always a new element that leaves me delighted.
Silvio, this is such an interesting treatment of a universal topic like time and mortality infused with your signature personal touch and life experiences. In some ways, it feels like an extension of our amazing conversations I'm so glad to enjoy and share with you.
I'm reminded of the Gandhi quote: “Live as if you were to die tomorrow; learn as if you were to live forever."
I also recoil about the pressure that the pithy "carpe diem" entails. Life seems to be this balancing act between right here, right now and the interminable mystery of our very last day. Perhaps it is a gift that we do not know the exact moment of our demise (though I suppose death row inmates may be the exception), though I wonder if that would change our outlook. Tim Urban's thoughts and visualizations of life expectancy in weeks and boxes is certainly a powerful and practical application of memento mori.
And of course, I love the backdrop of Miles Davis, naturally.
"Not thinking about time, not worrying about how we have spent it and how much we have left, is probably the best way to honor the gift of life. . . time is there to serve us . . . I like to believe that time will always be there for us when the Universe deems it a critical ingredient of our endeavors." These are profound assertions Silvio and I resonate with them very much. I actually find myself using both contexts, switching from one to the other—too little time, and infinite time—quite often. I can enjoy both approaches depending on the moment I find myself in. But I've never heard the ample time perspective described quite in this way and I'm taking the time to luxuriate in it, or maybe the time is taking me.
“When God punishes you, it’s not that you don’t get what you want. You get everything that you want and there’s no time left.” Ahhh this whole piece is so powerful Silvio. I’m like you, the thought of an infinite life is much more motivating to me than a short one. Or maybe both have their purpose. A long life though means that we have the power to do things everyday to make changes and accomplish big things. How cool too that you saw Miles Davis live!
It's Friday and I'm sitting in my living room in the Lake District with the verdant fields outside, headphones in, reading about infinite time and listening to "So What?". I'm reminiscing about the time I played in a jazz band this song, thinking about the impact Miles Davis has had on art and performance, and feeling the powerful impact your story had on me.
I've never been very comfortable living the next day as the last. It brings a hurriedness to life that's so counter to the slow movements that I enjoy more, like slow-food. They invite savouring, noticing, and presence.
Getting things done is often accompanied with a "live as if it's your last day" attitude. But your story tells us getting things done is possible with an infinite time mindset, because it it's meant to happen it will. 💯
“When God punishes you, it’s not that you don’t get what you want. You get everything that you want and there’s no time left.” - I'll be ruminating on this for the foreseeable future :)
You saw Miles Davis in a LIVE show? I'm jealous! It's interesting that you mentioned thinking about time as a dreadful exercise -- because I actively LOVE thinking about time. It gives me chills, goosebumps, excitement, joy, and sense of wonder. It's one of my favorite topics in any random and serious conversation. My old team and I used to play this game where they placed bets on when I'd fail to relate the weekly office story prompt (topics range from one's favorite way to eat a potato to most hated color) back to the topic of time. I won the bet every time ;)
You've had quite a life of amazing experiences Silvio, and grateful that you share them, and the insights they provoke, with us. Jealous that you got to see Miles Davis live, and more so in such a memorable performance.
Most of all, amazing way to tackle such a complicated topic which is time. It's been nice to entertain that thought about infinite time, and the liberation that brings. Thank you for always posing interesting and different scenarios to reconsider concepts, and life in general!
Silvio, this gave me chills. I haven’t realized that I’m a part of the “infinite time” mindset until you so eloquently explained it. Definitely a fan of slow, simple, intentional living. Wonderful piece, as always!
Hi, just discovered this piece linked in Camilo’s essay. Found your exploration of time and connecting to Miles Davis fascinating. I’m in the carpe diem camp-- each day is the last one. I tend to take more risks and make more asks given my mindset. I don’t think of productivity so much as intention. Did I make some earnest attempt to do good? To be helpful? To make art or have an impact? In my tradition the smile is counted as an act of charity so I have a different calculus on how I understand time running out. I believe the soul will be with those you love in paradise so I’m not so worried about getting everything right now. I’m slowly savoring the delights of this life AND holding onto the possibility of more in another life.
“When God punishes you, it’s not that you don’t get what you want. You get everything that you want and there’s no time left.” This quote sat with me like coffee’s aftertaste. Powerful. Looking at the comments this strongly resonated with everyone.
This was a really interesting essay to read, Silvio. The idea of thinking of our lives as if we had “infinite time” is one that I’m not used to. I tend to follow the Stoic guidance of thinking of death as inevitable and that it could come at any moment. Yet, I do think you bring up a good point about the finiteness of time discouraging us from trying new things.
Every essay of yours gives me something both new and familiar. It’s like Italian food. I will always crave it, and I know generally what I will taste, but there is always a new element that leaves me delighted.
Bravo Silvio!
Silvio, this is such an interesting treatment of a universal topic like time and mortality infused with your signature personal touch and life experiences. In some ways, it feels like an extension of our amazing conversations I'm so glad to enjoy and share with you.
I'm reminded of the Gandhi quote: “Live as if you were to die tomorrow; learn as if you were to live forever."
I also recoil about the pressure that the pithy "carpe diem" entails. Life seems to be this balancing act between right here, right now and the interminable mystery of our very last day. Perhaps it is a gift that we do not know the exact moment of our demise (though I suppose death row inmates may be the exception), though I wonder if that would change our outlook. Tim Urban's thoughts and visualizations of life expectancy in weeks and boxes is certainly a powerful and practical application of memento mori.
And of course, I love the backdrop of Miles Davis, naturally.
I'll close with some lines I wrote...
and if Truth would leave a trail
to any hapless sot who dared
in his utter naivety and mortal impropriety,
to undertake its everlasting pursuit,
whose thirst for the Absolute,
as fervent as the reveler’s lust for wine:
in vino veritas, the search divine,
found and quaffed in a holy grail.
let me forsake mundane sobriety,
and partake of such vintage fine
with a sommelier’s tongue
and a monk’s heart sung,
a heartfelt toast to the end of time.
I can only imagine! And loved “life-boosting” experience 👌
"Not thinking about time, not worrying about how we have spent it and how much we have left, is probably the best way to honor the gift of life. . . time is there to serve us . . . I like to believe that time will always be there for us when the Universe deems it a critical ingredient of our endeavors." These are profound assertions Silvio and I resonate with them very much. I actually find myself using both contexts, switching from one to the other—too little time, and infinite time—quite often. I can enjoy both approaches depending on the moment I find myself in. But I've never heard the ample time perspective described quite in this way and I'm taking the time to luxuriate in it, or maybe the time is taking me.
Love the story telling. I feel like you are leading me by the hand, allowing me I to your journey