LIVE, LEARN, & LOVE SERIES #77. Lion (film, 2016)

LIVE, LEARN, & LOVE

Do you take delight in watching films, listening to pop music, or reading books? For English learners, movies, songs, and books are one of the most wonderful sources to explore the language! You can indulge in your favorite pastime and still learn some expressions, words of wisdom, and oftentimes good lessons while you’re at it.

 

#77. Lion (film based on a true story, 2016)

This biographical film tells the remarkable
true story of Saroo, an Indian boy born into a poverty-stricken family. As a young child, Saroo and his older brother took on odd jobs to help support their parents. One day, while waiting at a train station, Saroo fell asleep on a bench as his brother went off to work. Before his brother left, Saroo asked him, “Bring me two thousand jalebis,” never imagining that those would be the last words he would say to him for many years. When he woke up, confused and alone, he found that his brother was nowhere to be seen. In a desperate attempt to find him, Saroo boarded a train, setting in motion a series of events that would leave him lost hundreds of miles from home and separated from his family for decades.

 

(Saroo asked Mrs. Sood, the director of ISSA- the Indian Society for Sponsorship & Adoption):

“Did you really look for my mom?”

(Mrs. Sood replied): “Looked everywhere.”

ð    This is one of the most heart-wrenching and frustrating scenes in this story. In reality, Saroo’s situation was far more complicated than the film alone can convey. Before he was placed for adoption through the Indian Society of Sponsorship and Adoption (ISSA), authorities made efforts to locate his family. His photograph was published in local newspapers, and he was asked to draw a map of his village. However, being only four or five years old at the time, Saroo could remember little more than calling his mother “Mama,” and to make matters worse, he mispronounced the name of his hometown Ganesh Talai as Ganestalay. Combined with the vast number of missing children and the severe poverty of the region, finding his family in a country of more than a billion people was next to impossible.

Saroo was eventually adopted by an Australian couple, Sue (played by Nicole Kidman) and John Brierley, and grew up in Hobart, Tasmania. Yet he never forgot the fragments of memory from his early childhood. For 25 years, he searched for clues and painstakingly retraced the route of the train journey that had separated him from his family. Using Google Earth and the memories he had carried since childhood, he finally identified his hometown of Khandwa and was able to reunite with his biological mother, Kamla, in an extraordinary and deeply moving homecoming.

 

(Sue said to Saroo):

“Saroo, our beautiful boy, may this bring you all that you could wish for. From the moment you came into our lives, you were all that we could have hoped for. More than we hoped for, really. …and uh, more work. That’s for sure. Very proud and very excited for this next chapter in your life.” 

ð   This touching moment takes place during a family dinner before Saroo leaves Tasmania to begin a hospitality management course in Melbourne. As an adoptive mother preparing to watch her son embark on a new stage of life, Sue reflects on the profound impact he has had on her family. The quote beautifully captures the essence of parental love. Sue expresses not only her pride and excitement for Saroo's future but also the reality that raising a child—whether biological or adopted—requires immense dedication, patience, and sacrifice. Her lighthearted remark about Saroo being “more work” adds warmth and authenticity, revealing the humor and honesty that often accompany deep family bonds.

More importantly, her words show that love is not defined by biology but by commitment, care, and presence. Sue wants Saroo to know that he was cherished from the moment he entered their lives and that every challenge along the way was worth it. The scene serves as a powerful reminder that family is built through love, and that the joy of watching a child grow and find their path is one of life's greatest rewards.

 

(Saroo said to his girlfriend Lucy who tells him to face reality):

“What do you mean ‘reality’? Do you have any idea what it’s like knowing my real brother and mother spend their lives looking for me? How every day my real brother screams my name? Can you imagine the pain they must be in not knowing where I am? Huh? Twenty five years, Luce! Twenty five! We swan about in our privileged lives. It makes me sick. I have to find home. They need to know I’m okay.”

ð    At this point in the story, Saroo is in the midst of a profound emotional struggle. Long-buried childhood memories – the Indian sweet snack Jalebi that he used to ask his older brother to buy for him in their poor childhood -  have begun to resurface, and he gradually realizes a painful truth: his biological mother and brother never stopped searching for him after he disappeared from a railway station near Khandwa. While Saroo has grown up in a loving home in Australia and enjoyed opportunities his birth family could never have imagined, they have spent decades living with uncertainty and grief.

The contrast between these two realities becomes almost unbearable for him. Consumed by guilt and a deep sense of responsibility, Saroo cannot accept the idea of simply moving on with his life. When Lucy tries to reassure him and encourage him to focus on the present, he reacts emotionally because he feels compelled to find his family and let them know that he survived.

 

(Saroo said to his adoptive mother Sue): “Sorry you couldn’t have your own kids. We weren’t blank pages, were we? Like your own would have been. You weren’t just adopting us but our pasts as well, and…I feel like we’re killing you.”

ð    In this scene, we see Saroo’s growing awareness of the emotional complexities of international adoption and the lasting impact of childhood trauma. He comes to understand that adopted children do not arrive as blank slates. They bring with them a past—memories, cultural roots, family ties, and often emotional wounds that cannot simply be erased by a new beginning. Adoption may provide safety and opportunity, but it does not eliminate the experiences that came before.

One of Saroo's most profound realizations is that adoptive parents do not merely welcome a child into their home; they also inherit the child's untold story. By adopting him, Sue and John Brierley embraced not only the little boy standing before them but also the loss, uncertainty, and unanswered questions that accompanied him. Love alone could not erase his origins, nor could it heal every wound left by separation. Saroo's painful statement, "I feel like we're killing you," reflects his recognition of the enormous burden carried by his adoptive mother. His adoptive brother, Mantosh, struggled with severe emotional and psychological difficulties rooted in his early childhood experiences.

 

** Jean’s Small Thoughts:

In the past in my home country, South Korea, countless children who lost their parents during Korean War had been adopted overseas. When they grew up, quite a few of them tried to find their parents or siblings through the Holt International - Child Sponsorship & Adoption Agency. In most cases, however, their efforts came to no avail.

As I was watching this film, I could sense the tension between gratitude for the life Saroo had and the pull of where he came from. Saroo loves his adoptive family deeply, yet he cannot ignore the bond he still feels with his biological mother and brother he lost as a child. His emotional outburst reflects the pain of living between two worlds and the human need to understand one's identity and history. Even after decades of separation, Saroo's memories, however fragmented, continue to guide him home.

People say that blood is thicker than water, but their words do not always capture the depth and meaning of family. Adoptive families remind us that love, commitment, and belonging are not determined solely by genetics. The bond between adoptive parents and their children is built through conscious choice, daily devotion, and unwavering care. Adoptive parents open their hearts and lives to a child, embracing all the joys and challenges of parenthood without any expectation of biological connection. Their relationship is forged not by shared DNA, but by years of nurturing, sacrifice, trust, unconditional love, and the unforgettable memories they have shared and would not trade for the world.

This movie is not a rescue story or a happily-ever-after ending. Instead, it presents a more honest and compassionate reality: adoption can be transformative and loving while also carrying grief, loss, and unresolved questions for everyone involved. Sue never views these challenges as a mistake or a burden she regrets in her life. Her love remains steadfast despite the difficulties. In turn, Saroo's realization reflects his maturity and empathy. He begins to see his mother not only as a caregiver but as a person who willingly accepted immense responsibility because she believed every child deserved a home and unconditional love.

I have come to learn from adoptive parents and children that love does not erase pain, but it can provide the strength to carry it. Family is not defined by the absence of hardship; it is rather defined by the willingness to stay tethered regardless of time and space and remain close for one another through it all.

 

*Saroo was devastated to hear that his brother was hit by the train on the day he got lost at the train station. Also, he realized he had been mispronounced his own name for 25 years until he reunited with his mother. His name was ‘Sheru’….. meaning ‘lion’.

"Why Does Life Seems to Fly by as You Get Old?" (Korean professor of Psychology, Kim Jeong-Woon)

Professor Kim, Jeong-Woon (Korean psychologist/ best-selling book author) encourages us to embrace life wholeheartedly and fill it with joyful experiences. According to him, as we accumulate meaningful and happy memories, time feels less like it is racing by. Rather than watching the years disappear like an arrow, we experience life more deeply and richly, making our later years feel fuller and more satisfying.

Here’s an excerpt from the interview with the professor Kim:

“Psychologists explain why life seems to speed up as we age through what they call the “reminiscence effect.” The idea is that when we have many memories stored from a certain period of life, that period feels longer in retrospect, whereas when there are fewer memories we can recall, that period feels shorter. In general, memories from childhood through adolescence are vivid and plentiful. That is why even elderly people can remember events from their childhood as clearly as if they had happened yesterday. In contrast, there is often nothing particularly remarkable about the memories from our 40s and 50s, the years we tend to think we lived the busiest and worked the hardest. Even though they were not that long ago, there is often not much to tell about them. We may have been frantically busy, but there were not many moments to which we attached special meaning.

In short, it is because we live without much fun. Childhood Christmases, a first birthday party spent with a girlfriend during adolescence, the memory of a first kiss, and so on. Most of the memories we have before becoming adults are overwhelmingly exciting experiences. In other words, each new experience repeatedly activated the information-processing mechanism that assigns meaning to experiences and stores them in long-term memory. As we grow older, however, everything begins to feel ordinary. We no longer think those experiences are worth remembering. Giving meaning to our experiences is what creates the milestones of life. Just as bamboo has its nodes, life becomes worth living when it has its own milestones.”

LIVE, LEARN, & LOVE SERIES #76. Sunday Best: The Untold Story of Ed Sullivan (Documentary film, 2025)

LIVE, LEARN, & LOVE

Do you take delight in watching films, listening to pop music, or reading books? For English learners, movies, songs, and books are one of the most wonderful sources to explore the language! You can indulge in your favorite pastime and still learn some expressions, words of wisdom, and oftentimes good lessons while you’re at it.

 

#76. Sunday Best: The Untold Story of Ed Sullivan (documentary film, 2025)

Although Ed Sullivan is best remembered for introducing Elvis Presley and The Beatles to mainstream America, this documentary shifts the spotlight to one of his greatest yet often overlooked achievements—his unwavering commitment to booking and showcasing Black artists on national television.

 

(Harry Belafonte said): “Everything that you have suggested I’m guilty of having done is true. But tell me something. When the Irish did battle with the British, the rebel mood was considered quite heroic by all the Irish citizens in the world. Explain to me what the difference is when those of us of color also strike out against the same oppression. The Irish rebels who do that are heroic. Black rebels who do that are not patriotic. We thought this was not about loyalty to the nation. It’s about loyalty to the human condition, and our humanity was being terribly brutalized. I left the meeting with nothing really resolved and I couldn’t have been back in the office more than an hour or two, then I got a call from my agent, and he said, “I don’t know what you said to Ed Sullivan, but you’re on the show.”

ð     This powerful story recounts a pivotal 1953 meeting between Harry Belafonte and television host Ed Sullivan that helped save Belafonte from Hollywood's anti-communist blacklist. Accused because of his progressive political views and civil rights activism, Belafonte chose honesty over compromise. Rather than denying his beliefs, he appealed to Sullivan's Irish Catholic heritage, asking him to consider the double standard in how patriotism was defined.

Belafonte pointed out that the Irish struggle against British rule was widely admired as a heroic fight for freedom, while Black Americans seeking equality and justice were often branded as unpatriotic or even subversive. He argued that true loyalty is not blind devotion to a nation but a commitment to human dignity and the courage to oppose injustice wherever it exists. His words deeply moved Sullivan. Despite pressure from sponsors and the climate of McCarthy-era anti-communism, Sullivan chose to stand by Belafonte and invited him onto The Ed Sullivan Show.

(Ed Sullivan said about the harsh criticism from a newspaper columnist Harriet Van Horne) “I hate adverse criticism. I am pop-off.”

ð     This is a famous quote stemmed from a long-standing feud between Ed Sullivan and the renowned television critic Harriet Van Horne. Van Horne once famously mocked Sullivan, writing, "Ed Sullivan got where he is not by having a personality, but by having no personality."

Although Sullivan was often criticized for his stiff on-screen presence, those who knew him recognized a very different side of his character. He was known for his thin skin and fiery Irish temper, yet he was also quick to admit when he had overreacted. Sullivan once said, "I'm a pop-off. I flare up, then I go around apologizing." His willingness to acknowledge his flaws made him a more complex and deeply human figure than his critics often portrayed.

(Ed Sullivan said) “I’m delighted that Jack Kennedy won. It’s time the younger men of the country step in and make the decisions which have been loused up so often by their elders.”

ð   Ed Sullivan reflected his optimism following John F. Kennedy's historic presidential victory in 1960. As one of the nation's most influential television personalities, Sullivan welcomed a new generation of leadership and believed it was time for younger voices to help shape America's future.

His comment captured the spirit of a nation experiencing a profound cultural shift. The election of the youngest president in the U.S. history inspired hope for renewal and progress. He embraced that same philosophy on The Ed Sullivan Show, consistently introducing bold, innovative, and youthful performers whose talent would redefine American entertainment and popular culture.

 

** Jean’s Small Thoughts:

Throughout history, it has never been easy to be at the forefront of a cultural shift or to become a revolutionary force in any field. My mother, who studied civil aviation the United States on a Korean government scholarship during the late 1950s and early 1960s, often told me about The Ed Sullivan Show. Although she was too busy with her studies to watch much television, she was well aware of its enormous cultural influence.

This documentary gave me a much deeper appreciation of Ed Sullivan and left me in awe of his courage. At a time when the entertainment industry was deeply shaped by racism and segregation, Sullivan challenged the status quo. He stood firmly against pressure from network executives, sponsors, and others who opposed featuring Black performers. More than simply giving them airtime, he celebrated their talent and humanity, helping to reshape American television and culture.

Today, I often see journalists, news outlets, and even self-proclaimed reporters turning journalism into a platform for sensationalism, clickbait, fallacious stories, and misinformation while there are bigger fish to fry such as dying people in GAZA strip and war zones. Too many seem to have lost sight of the profession's fundamental purpose and ethical responsibility. As a result, finding a truly trustworthy source of news has become increasingly difficult.

This documentary reminds us that even a television host could demonstrate greater integrity, fairness, and courage than many politicians or newspaper editorial boards during an era when people were recklessly accused of being communists without evidence. Ed Sullivan never hesitated to speak out against injustice or stand up to those in power. He remained committed to what he believed was his responsibility to the audience: introducing truly talented performers, regardless of their race or ethnic background, and allowing America to recognize its genuine treasures. I have found his straightforward and courageous attitude very attractive, because not everybody could stand up to a batch of clueless brickbats on them in public. In this respect, Ed Sullivan had not shrunk or stepped back in front of the hectoring social norms.

All my admiration goes to Ed Sullivan who became the lasting example of how integrity, empathy, and moral courage can overcome prejudice and political fear in society. He was the real star of his own show filling it with budding glitterati regardless of their races.

TIME TO PLAY THE PUZZLE FROM NPR ON-AIR CHALLENGE!

I'm going to give you two words starting with the letter B. You give me another word starting with B that can follow my first one and precede my second one, in each case to complete a compound word for a familiar two-word phrase.

Ex. Boot Box --> BLACK (bootblack, black box)

 

1. Beer Button

2. Blue Binder

3. Bounce Burner

4. Billiard Bearing

5. Busy Builder

6. Bar Bottoms

7. Baby Brothers

8. Bird Buster

9. Brick Boy

 

Answer keys

1.  BELLY (BEER BELLY & BELLY BUTTON)

2.  BOOK (BLUE BOOK & BOOK BINNDER)

3.  BACK (BOUNCE BACK & BACK BURNER)

4.  BALL (BILLIARD BALL & BALL BEARING)

5.  BODY (BUSY BODY & BODY BUILDER)

6.  BELL (BAR BELL & BELL BOTTOMS)

7.  BLUE (BABY BLUE & BLUE BROTHERS)

8.  BRAIN (BIRD BRAIN & BRAIN BUSTER)

9.  BAT (BRICKBAT & BAT BOY)

LIVE, LEARN, & LOVE SERIES #75. Wit (film, 2026)

LIVE, LEARN, & LOVE

Do you take delight in watching films, listening to pop music, or reading books? For English learners, movies, songs, and books are one of the most wonderful sources to explore the language! You can indulge in your favorite pastime and still learn some expressions, words of wisdom, and oftentimes good lessons while you’re at it.

 

#75. Wit (film, 2001)

This story follows a professor named Vivian Bearing (played by Emma Thompson), a renowned scholar of 17th-century poet John Donne. She has devoted her life to studying themes of faith and mortality in literature. When she is diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer, she agrees to undergo an aggressive experimental chemotherapy treatment led by Dr. Kelekian and his former student, Dr. Posner. As she confronts her own mortality, Vivian reflects on her career, relationships, and the deeper meaning of life and death.

 

(Vivian Bearing said): “Now is a time for simplicity. Now is a time for, dare I say it, kindness."

ð     In this scene, we could see the brilliant and emotionally distant professor Vivian Bearing realizing what a human being desperately needs facing the fast-approaching death. Throughout her life, she relied on intellect, wit, and academic excellence to make sense of the world. As her final moment is coming near, however, she realizes that knowledge alone cannot ease suffering.

Vivian acknowledges that life's greatest comforts are no longer found in complex ideas or intellectual achievement, but in compassion and genuine human connection. The phrase "dare I say it" reflects her awareness that she once viewed kindness as sentimental or secondary to intellectual rigor.

 

(Vivian recites John Donne’s poem):

“Death, be not proud, though some have called thee

Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;

For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow

Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me….”

ð     Vivian keeps reciting this passage from Holy Sonnet 10 by John Donne. This is how she confronts her terminal illness. As argued in the poetry, Vivian is trying soothe her physical suffering and fear by reciting that the power of death is neither mighty nor permanent. While the body dies, the soul lives on, making death only a temporary passage rather than the end of existence.

For Vivian, the poem represents both intellectual conviction and personal comfort. As she endures the pain and indignity of advanced cancer, the poet Donne's words help her face death with courage rather than fear.

 

(Vivian’s professor Ashford said): “Nothing but a breath—a comma—separates life from life everlasting. It is very simple really... It is a comma. A pause."

ð     In this quote, death is not considered as a frightening end, but rather as a brief pause before entering eternity. The scene centers on a discussion of punctuation in John Donne's Holy Sonnet 10. Vivian's mentor, professor Ashford, insists that the poem ends with a comma, not a semicolon. While a semicolon creates a stronger break between two complete thoughts, a comma suggests only a gentle pause. She explains that this subtle difference transforms the poem's meaning: death is not a final barrier but a seamless passage into eternal life.

This insightful scene is one of the film's most powerful moments, reflecting Vivian's own journey from viewing death as an intellectual challenge to accepting it with peace, grace, and dignity.

 

** Jean’s Small Thoughts:

The older we get, the more often we hear the news of someone's passing. When that person is someone we love or admire, the loss feels especially painful, raw, and deeply personal. This movie is not a typical story about defeating cancer or surviving against the odds. Instead, it shows a different kind of healing from restoring the human spirit and perspectives towards life and death. As Vivian's illness strips away her intellectual defenses and need for control, she learns to accept her helpless situation and vulnerability, acknowledge her limitations, and receive the compassion of others.

Although Vivian is never physically cured, she undergoes a profound emotional and spiritual transformation. Her journey reminds me that true healing can come through humility, human connection, and acceptance. The film leaves me with a powerful realization: a person can be healed even when they cannot be cured.

Many of us have encountered doctors who seem emotionally distant. While they may not intend to appear uncaring at all, their rushed interactions and clinical approach can leave patients feeling frightened, isolated, and powerless.

Throughout Vivian's illness, we see how empathy restores a patient's sense of dignity. No matter how intelligent, accomplished, or successful we are, illness reminds us that we are all simply human beings in need of kindness, compassion, and understanding, especially when the end is near. Watching this movie, I have come to feel a sense of peace, because it suggests that death is no longer an enemy to be conquered or something to be avoided as a taboo. Death may be a gentle passage into the afterlife, but life is where compassion matters most. I hope we learn to truly see and care for one another well before our short layover on Earth comes to an end. In the end, it is the kindness we share that gives our journey its deepest meaning.

Andy Warhol

 Have you ever been fascinated by the iconic pop artist Andy Warhol? Although he appeared eccentric, homosexual, and obsessed with fame, those who knew him described him as quiet, sensitive, compassionate, and deeply private. Warhol carefully crafted his public image, creating a persona that was very different from who he truly was, shaping how the world saw him.

I'd like to share a few memorable quotes from Andy Warhol that offer a glimpse into his unique perspective on art, fame, and life.

 

Andy Warhol (1928-1987)

1 – “We seek to last more than we try to live.”

2 – “My paintings never correspond to what I had planned, but I am never surprised.”

3 – “Don't pay any attention to what they write about you. Just measure it in inches.”

4 – “Art is already advertising. Mona Lisa could have been used to support a brand of chocolate, Coca-Cola, or anything else.”

5 – “I like to be the right thing in the wrong place and the wrong thing in the right place. Being the right thing in the wrong place and the wrong thing in the right place is worth it because something interesting always happens.”

6 – “You see, I think every painting should be the same size and the same color so they’re all interchangeable and nobody thinks they have a better painting or a worse painting And if the one “master painting” is good, they’re all good.”

7 – “Everything is more glamorous when you do it in bed, anyway. Even peeling potatoes.”

8 – “Making money is art and working is art and good business is the best art.”

9 – “In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes.”

10 – “If you want to know all about Andy Warhol, just look at the surface of my paintings and films and me, and there I am. There's nothing behind it.”

 

 

LIVE, LEARN, & LOVE SERIES #74. The Wisdom of Albert Camus: The Absurd, Revolt, and the Measure of a Human Life

 LIVE, LEARN, & LOVE

Do you take delight in watching films, listening to pop music, or reading books? For English learners, movies, songs, and books are one of the most wonderful sources to explore the language! You can indulge in your favorite pastime and still learn some expressions, words of wisdom, and oftentimes good lessons while you’re at it.

 

#74. The Wisdom of Albert Camus: The Absurd, Revolt, and the Measure of a Human Life

Albert Camus said “The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.”

This book offers a profound and carefully structured exploration of one of the twentieth century's most influential moral philosophers, Albert Camus. Camus confronted one of humanity's deepest dilemmas: our longing for meaning in a universe that remains silent and indifferent. Rather than surrender to despair or seek comfort in illusion, he forged a philosophy of revolt—lucid, disciplined, compassionate, and profoundly humane. This book follows the development of that vision, examining the absurd, the rejection of suicide, the defense of human limits, and the enduring pursuit of justice without violence.

 

(Albert Camus's The Myth of Sisyphus): “There is but one truly serious philosophical problem, and that is suicide. If life has no ultimate meaning, why endure it? Every other question – about truth, morality, beauty – presupposes that one remains alive to ask it. The decision to live is prior to all theories.”

ð   With this striking statement, Albert Camus does not glorify suicide or invite despair. Instead, he insists that before we concern ourselves with questions about morality, justice, beauty, religion, or truth, we must first answer a more basic question: Is life worth living?

For Camus, this is the foundation upon which every other philosophical inquiry rests. If life itself is not worth continuing, then all other intellectual debates become secondary or even meaningless. Philosophy, therefore, must begin not with abstract theories but with the concrete reality of human existence.

 

“Revolt, for Camus, is not rage. It is not ideological fervor. It is the steady refusal to give in to negation. To live without appeal is to accept that there is no higher court of justification and yet to persist. It is to say yes to life without pretending that life answers us. This is not optimism. It is defiance without illusion.”

ð     For Camus, revolt is neither an outburst of anger nor a call for political revolution. It is a deeply personal and enduring way of living—a conscious decision to affirm life while fully recognizing that the universe offers or naturally provides no ultimate meaning, no divine guarantees, and no final answers. Unlike rebellion driven by resentment or ideology, Camus's revolt is quiet, disciplined, and unwavering. It is the moral courage to continue living honestly without surrendering either to despair or to comforting illusions. Revolt is not an attempt to conquer the absurd; it is a sober determination to live faithfully within it.

 

“He would insist that poverty was not bitterness. In his Nobel address, he remembered “that poor house” as a place of dignity. Poverty, he suggested, prevented resentment from curdling into envy. It imposed limits early. It taught him that one does not possess the world; one inhabits it briefly.”

ð   Albert Camus reflects on his childhood poverty in Algeria as a source of wisdom rather than despair. Living with so little instilled humility, gratitude, and independence from material wealth. Rather than defining him by deprivation, those early years became the foundation of his philosophical understanding of life. His existential insight shows that poverty can dissolve the illusion of ownership. Realizing that we are only temporary guests on Earth allows us to appreciate the beauty of everyday life—the warmth of the sun, the vastness of the sky, or the sea—without measuring our worth by what we own. For Camus, this freedom from material attachment opens the door to a richer and more authentic way of living.

 

“For Camus, affection, friendship, and fidelity acquire weight precisely because they are finite. He rejected romantic illusions that promise fusion beyond time. To love is not to escape absurdity. It is to enter it more deeply. One loves knowing that separation is inevitable. Death or distance will intervene.”

ð   This passage reflects the heart of Camus's philosophy of love. Instead of chasing the fantasy of "happily ever after," he accepts that all relationships are finite. Their impermanence is what makes them deeply meaningful. In Camus's view, romantic ideals of eternal love can distract us from the absurd—the tension we feel between our longing for lasting meaning and an indifferent universe. By accepting this reality, we can love more honestly, appreciating each shared moment without relying on comforting illusions.

Albert Camus with his secret love, Maria Casares

 

** Jean’s Small Thoughts:

Growing up, I often heard my parents, grandparents, teachers, and other adults say, “Young people today lack patience and perseverance. They are too fragile to overcome life’s challenges.” I used to think those criticisms belonged to another generation and would eventually disappear. Yet here I am, catching myself saying the very same things about young people today. As Camus interprets, we all stand before a world full of mysteries that does not kindly explain itself. We complain about the ‘less-than-perfect’ young ones around us, the unexpected slaps in the face from life, the repetition of painful boredom, the weight of illness, tax, and death.

Reading Albert Camus has given me a different perspective on how we should approach a life that does not always unfold in our favor. We’d be happy if we were willing to revolt and refuse to flee from the indifferent universe. His philosophy has strengthened my belief that nothing we achieve in this world is permanent. As difficult as that truth may be, Camus encourages us to accept it without bitterness or anger and simply continue living with courage and dignity. Of course, his philosophy may not resonate with everyone. Many people still believe that love and relationships can last forever, even when they sense that the feelings have changed. Camus, however, reminds us that our greatest mistake is expecting permanence in a world defined by change.

To me, recognizing that life is finite does not diminish its value—it deepens it. It makes every experience more precious, every relationship more meaningful, and every moral choice more significant. That awareness allows us to greet each new day not with illusion, but with hope, cherishing every moment we share. In that sense, we can remain optimistic, grateful for the rare and beautiful encounter between two fragile human beings whose lives briefly cross in this vast universe.