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Enjoying the good things in life
There is a scene in Creed where the antagonist calls Creed Junior a “false creed”, a pale imitation of his father. This remark spurs Creed on, lighting a fire under him to prove his worth. It is a line that has stuck with me, even though I barely remember the rest of the film, because it serves to remind me that there will always be those who think you are fake or a pale imitation of the real thing. 2023 has been an interesting year for me, part of which has involved me fighting back against feelings of fakeness and that I am an imitation of the things I strive to be. In many respects I have found my voice again, got my confidence back, and come through a year where enjoying the good things in life in small ways has given me much more joy than any of the larger things possibly could have.
When you begin to study legal philosophy a concept called the dolce vida, the good life, recurs again and again. Indeed, much of general philosophy revolves around attempting to frame this. It took me three years of reading and engaging with philosophy to click into this mindset, that everything we do as humans revolves around carving out the dolce vida for ourselves, and that often it is the small things that give us the most satisfaction. In a society where grand gestures are thrust upon us in adverts and marketing, go on holiday here, drive this car, wear these expensive clothes, often what bring us…
