Our Essence, by John Elvis

Over the years, along my walk, I have been following the growth of so-called “fake news” and, especially, of “fake people”. People who wear masks of good people, of friends, of right people, of exemplary citizens, but who, in fact, are only seeking what they have set as a goal for their own lives.

And to achieve that goal, they don’t mind overstepping anyone.

Well, well...

From a very young age, I learned from my old father one thing that I carried with me throughout the minha vida: loyal friends, true friends, are one of the most important things we can have on this walk.

Because friendship and loyalty go together.

During the minha vida I met a lot of people. People who have crossed my path in personal life and also in professional life. Some were fantastic and left memories that time will never be able to erase. Others, not so much.

And, unfortunately, I also met bad people.

And there is something curious about it all: often, precisely these people are the ones who swear to stand next to and boast to the four corners of the world that they are the best citizens of the universe.

Aff...

But time has a very particular way of putting everything in its proper place.

You can fool some people for a while. You can wear a mask, create a character, build a beautiful image, make speeches about honesty, friendship, character and loyalty.

But there is one thing no one can hide forever: the essence itself.

Because we can change the address, the profession, the financial situation, the appearance and even the opinion.

We can live moments of glory or go through extremely difficult periods.

We can be rich or poor, up or down the pit.

But there is something that remains there.

Our essence.

And I'm glad it is.

Because in the end, when all the masks fall, when the applause ends and when time finally puts everything in perspective, it is what we really are that remains.

There's no point in looking good.

You have to be good.

There is no point in talking about loyalty.

You have to be loyal.

And perhaps this is precisely where one of the great lessons of life lies: character does not announce itself. Character is demonstrated.

Life passes too fast to spend our time trying to please those who do not deserve it, trying to convince those who have already decided not to understand or carrying with us people who only know how to walk by our side when everything is okay.

Value those who have been with you in difficult times.

Thank those who reached out when many simply disappeared.

And, above all, do not allow the falsehoods of others to transform what exists of true within you.

Because in the end...

We are all dust in the wind.

And if we are just passengers on this immense journey called life, perhaps the most important question is not how much time we still have.

But, yes, what are we going to do with the time we still have.

Then save the rest of your life.

Start again, if necessary.

Change the path.

Leave behind what no longer makes sense.

Get closer to who really matters.

And never think it's too late.

It's never too late to start all over again.

After all, as long as there is life, there will be time to change.

And as long as there is truth within us, no lie will be able to erase our essence.

JOHN ELVIS RIBAS RAMALHO

BNT COLUNIST

PRESENTATOR OF THE ROCK CLUB 🎸 LIGHT

94.1 FM COMMUNICATION

 

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