There is a song, and maybe a silly one by the standards of all you higher-order thinkers here, but a song I first heard and absorbed as a teenager and that has somehow stayed with me for life. Take a moment and read its lyrics, or just remember it -- you oldie goldies:
In the morning of my life I shall look to the sunrise.
At a moment in my life when the world is new.
And the blessing I shall ask is that God will grant me,
To be brave and strong and true,
And to fill the world with love my whole life through.
(Chorus)
And to fill the world with love, And to fill the world with love,
And to fill the world with love my whole life through
In the noontime of my life I shall look to the sunshine,
At a moment in my life when the sky is blue.
And the blessing I shall ask shall remain unchanging.
To be brave and strong and true,
And to fill the world with love my whole life through
(Chorus)
In the evening of my life I shall look to the sunset,
At a moment in my life when the night is due.
And the question I shall ask only I can answer.
Was I brave and strong and true?
Did I fill the world with love my whole life through?
(Chorus)
Even though that song made such a big impact on me in the teen years (and no doubt on many others who first heard Petula Clark crank it out in "Goodbye Mr. Chips"), it faded for me in my late 20's as a settled good life with The One, career, sport, politics, friendship, and life in general dominated my days. I forgot much of that pure idealism. I did some good, but not enough, to "fill the world with love". I can't say I've really done a very good job in living up to its hope -- not even here in the past 7 years at DKos. Probably fought more than I've loved here. (And to those I've fought, my Progressive brothers and sisters, I am truly sorry for that -- and will be again, should I lapse here shortly!)
In fact, I forgot the song entirely -- and every piece of its message -- until a few weeks ago. That was when I met a mid-20s young person, way too young for me by conventional thinking, who somehow got through my desolation of a profound life loss and lifted me back up and, yep, the punch line: filled my world with love. And you're thinking: hoo boy, "Death In Venice" time here. No, no chasing by a lovelorn elder. It was all his doing. And now, I can't get him -- or that song -- out of my mind.
He's so damned idealistic, it still shocks me. He thinks on such a different level. And frankly, my level doesn't feel so superior to that anymore. So, I'm re-living idealism now, through another's eyes. Can't tell you how much beauty there is in that, or how much salve it is for someone who didn't want to go on another day for at least 12 of the past 15 months. I was shutting down. He brought me back. Life after death. I am so happy, I want to shout it (and I think I just did). Maybe this time, I will fill the world with love before the night is due.
PS -- no tips needed. I'm going to bed soon. He's wearing me out.