Before And After

Hello Universe 162

Today’s poem is about those points in time that change you from one type of person to another.

Alright, poem starts in 3… 2… 1!

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For every choice I chose to choose,
for every path I picked to go.
For every fight I fixed to lose,
for every speed I sped too slow.

For every person in my past,
for every lesson that I learned.
For each regret that I surpassed,
for every corner that I turned.

For every heart I did not win,
for every place I did not see.
For every virtue, every sin,
for sadness too, or times of glee.

There was a life I could have seen,
there was a man I could have been.
But I can't let that get me dim,
for he's not me and I'm not him.

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That’s it! Thanks for reading edition 162 of Hello Universe.

I’ve been thinking a lot about decisions that I made that led me to the path I find myself on. Recently my mother shared a great quote with me that inspired me a lot. It said, “You can’t read the rest of the book if you keep re-reading old chapters.” Thank you Mom for these words of wisdom.

I’m curious - which quote did you encounter recently that prompted you to think deeply about your own life? Did it prompt any change?

Share your experience with the Hello Universe community in the comments below!

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Some Fun Stuff

1. Read Where Am I by Daniel C. Dennett: This is a fun, philosophical, and brain tickling type of science fiction. Something that will make you think really deeply about who you are, while keeping you entertained and smiling along the way. Check it out!

2. Listen to “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield: This weekend I met one of the “Faraway Friends” I wrote about in last week’s poem. Him and I go back 15 years, he is my best friend from the undergrad days, and we had a great time reconnecting. “Unwritten” used to be his favorite song back in the good old days, and so, today’s song suggestion is a tribute to our friendship! In many ways this song is also a perfect fit for today’s topic, as today’s poem talks about the paths one did not choose, and this song talks about all the paths that one can now choose. Check it out, and it’s sure to put a smile on your face! :)

3. Watch this video on Berghain by Hoog: The allure of Berghain was strong when I visited Berlin a couple of years ago. It is notorious for being the most difficult to get into club in the world, and for good reason - even celebrities sometimes find their entry denied. This video gives a bit of background about Berghain, how it was created, how it looks from the inside, and weaves this information through a fun story about a girl trying to get in. Check it out!

That’s it for this week, see you next Tuesday!