Archives for February 2013

Ah, yes… Ernest Hemingway. Beloved author of classics such as “The Old Man and the Sea,” “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” and “The Sun Also Rises,” who also lived an amazing, adventure filled life that would be hard to describe in just a few sentences.

For example, on a fishing trip in 1931 he fired a submachine gun to ward off sharks that wanted nothing more than his catch of the day. During the entire ordeal he also shot both of his own legs, proving the man had his priorities in order.

Still not convinced that Hemingway was just the ultimate man’s man? He used to hunt for German U-boats, equipped with a submachine gun (again) and hand grenades. It’s never mentioned whether or not he found any, but let’s assume he did for the sake of his reputation.

The FBI also may have caught on to his crazy misadventures. It’s been reported that the bureau had an open file on Hemingway after World War II. They suspected Hemingway of having close ties with Cuba and there were rumors afloat that he shared friendship with Fidel Castro. Tragically, the FBI’s surveillance of him may have driven him to suicide.

Regardless of rumors and his crazy antics, he is indisputably one of the greatest writers ever. Hemingway is the paradigm of what a man strives to be. He was fearless, passionate, and just the right amount of insane (arguable.) His words were profound not only in literature, but through his core beliefs. Here are 10 wonderful life lessons from the great writer.

I was sitting in the campus café with my friend as he recounted his mental checklist of what he is looking for in a woman; he listed qualifications for the ideal woman. The one person out of over 7 billion, the match made in Heaven just for him. I ridiculed his romanticism, but my beliefs don’t make it any less true for others looking for love.

He mentioned the protagonist Ted Mosby in “How I Met Your Mother,” a hopeless romantic who the audience knows eventually finds “the one” and falls in love. All I could think of was “500 Days of Summer,” with its much more realistically heartbreaking theme.

Perhaps I’m just cynical, but I think the idea of one out of 7 billion to be nonsense. I believe maybe there could be only one “type” that is out there for you, but statistically, there are probably thousands of this same type that would make you the happiest person on earth.

I think it’d sound silly, but maybe I can call these special types “the ones.”

Einstein must have been very humble to believe he did not have a passion and a talent that was uncommon. Surely the man who was “passionately curious” had some sense of direction. Then again who really does?

I’ve pretty much never had any sort of direction in life or a feeling of passion. The question of “What do you want to do in the future?” always made me feel confronted. I felt as if I had to give some sort of satisfactory response to put the questioner at ease as well as my own doubts.

No one ever liked the fact that I didn’t know. I could sense their worry and sometimes pity. Oh God, poor child without direction. How was I supposed to really know? Life is complicated and scary; life’s complex. I can’t just find my passion. There’s no sign that is labeled “Passion” in nice clear font.

Stoicism, my favorite philosophy, is what I believe to be the ultimate self-help ideology. It contains amazing techniques that can be practiced for exponential happiness.

The book that guided me through Stoicism and gave beautiful examples of its techniques was “A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy,” by William B. Irvine. I believe it’ll be great for you, the self-improvement seeking individual. Partly because Mr. Irvine does a wonderful job of modernizing Stoicism and debunking common misconceptions. Contrary to their dictionary definition, they are not emotionless individuals who wander around bored out of their mind like robots.

Irvine’s book got me through some rather dark times where I doubted myself and everyone else. It gave me a deeper understanding of life and provided insight into my own psyche; it rose me back up when I was at my darkest hours and shaped me into who I am today.