One Apple A Day #81
Paolo steps on the stage. His legs feel so weak while he walks to the microphone. He put the few sheets with his commencement speech in front of him. His hands are shaking a little. He raises his gaze for the first time, and he sees them. Hundreds of eyes staring at him. Teenagers thrilled in the expectation of the party that will come after this. Parents already moved by the idea that their kids are not kids anymore. All of them looking at him, waiting for some wise words, some funny jokes and, most of all, a short speech.
“You know, I’m not sure between me and all of you, who’s more anxious to finish soon. Yes, the reasons are different. You are in a hurry. You have a beautiful life in front of you, and you can’t waste time. Most of all you surely have parties to attend. In my case is a bit of fear. When they asked me to do this speech I thought they were crazy. What kind of advice can I give to a group of smart guys and girls who are going to smash the world? I mean, look at me. Paolo Mir, 43 years old. I graduated in this school with some difficulties. Then I completed a master degree at the University in something I don’t remember. I went straight to work, and I work hard. For 15 years. I founded two companies, now closed. I never became rich. I have a motorbike, but I don’t have a house. Oh, I almost forgot. A failed marriage and no kids. Yes, I have a lovely partner and a cat, but it doesn’t seem cool enough for this speech. To be honest, according to Facebook cats are always cool, but I should show you a video at least. Instead, I have only words. So, no cat.
For a few days, I thought about what I could say. I thought about it while I was walking in the woods, while I was training in the gym, while I was writing in a café, during my flight from India. And then it struck me.
I was seating in a lovely café in Goa, nothing more than a small bungalow under the palms. I love to go there to write in the morning. It’s quiet, the beach is small, so there aren’t many tourists, and the locals arrive only later in the day.
So, I was there, breathing, watching the waves, listening to the wind, when I saw a dolphin in the distance. She was jumping in and out of the water. She was freedom. I felt free. And I understood. I was going to talk you about freedom.”