The Moment Never Ends...

With such a beautiful weekend that has already started up in Hamilton, NY, along with the madness that is sure to ensue in the next 48 hours, I figured I'd write on the subject of enjoying life. As a philosophy major, I have studied some of the most prolific thinkers of all of human history. While a lot of what they talk about is mundane, and what people look to when they say they don't like philosophy, most of the philosophers are all preoccupied with the same theme. They all want to find out if God exists and what is our purpose in life. Without getting too in-depth with it, most of them conclude that there is evidence for a god. Because of that, they say that everything has a purpose and from there, they look to what the purpose, or meaning, of life is. What a lot of them say is that our "telos (philosophical term for purpose)" is to find happiness. As everyone is freaking out about finding a job and the stock market, a lot of people forget that what really matters is enjoying life for all of its endless pleasures. Time and time again, we all forget to slow down and enjoy life. As you might have suspected, I'll take this theme and relate it to Phish. While they have many quirky lyrics, and songs that don't seem to mean anything, and many that actually don't, some of their songs are full of life experiences and life lessons. Their song "Roggae" states, "If life were easy, and not so fast, I wouldn't think about the past." Another song with significant life advice is "Scents and Subtle Sounds", off of their last album Undermind. Here's a link to a live version of the song:

"Scents and Subtle Sounds" - Phish

While still incorporating their complex and psychadelic music, Phish tries to give us a meaningful life lesson with this song. The main point is simply to stop and smell the roses. I'll leave you with the lyrics to the whole song. I tried to cut it down but leaving any of the lyrics out doesn't seem to do justice to the brilliance of them. Remember, enjoy the weather, enjoy your friends, and enjoy life in all its glory.

"If you would only start to live, one moment at a time. You would, I think, be startled by, the things that you would find.

Like scents you never noticed, and many subtle sounds. Like colors in the landscape, and textures of the town.

Then the winds would lift you up, into the sky above. And you'd be treated to a view, of everything you love. And if the moment passes, you should try it once again. For if you do it right, the moment never ends"