The Most Important Thing

I had an epiphany. I mean, it was something that I already KNEW, but hadn't yet experienced to the full extent. Of course, I have had tastes of it in the past, and knew it was great, but I didn't really GET it until just now. I now understand. I am englightened.

Now, as a precursor--not to sound ridiculously hubristic--I'm pretty smart. I don't mean to say that I am the SMARTEST person ever, but I know how to talk to people pretty well. If someone would have asked me, "So Matt, what is the most important thing in life?" I would have, without skipping a beat, said, "The people that you surround yourself with." And I would have meant it. I have beleived this to be the case for a very long time, and still do beleive it--but whenever asked this question and my answer given, I would feel somewhat hypocritical. I wasn't living it.

I have spent a lot of time in the past playing computer games, and reading, and writing, and just being by myself. I do 100% think that there is some value to a lot of these things. (In reasonable moderation of course) Harnessing creativity, keeping mental sharpness, excercising the imagination--all of these are things that I fully condone--but at the end, what are they worth?

Just now, literally minutes ago, I realized that without other people, life is empty. No, not simply realized, or learned; I gained wisdom. Wisdom cannot be learned, it must be experienced. I had been answering the correct answer to this question for years, but this is not just a headsmart answer to a life question.

What's the point of being creative if you have nobody to share your creativity with? What's the point of using your imagination if you have nobody to show your new world to? What's the point of having a nice car if you give no rides, or a nice house if you live alone, or a lot of money if you never buy something for someone? What's the point of being mentally sharp if you live alone in a room, never interacting with people or a vibrant world full of problems to solve?

My past choices and life experiences have made me who I am today. Yes, even the experiences of sitting alone in my room watching movies and reading and playing video games have had an impact on my current personality, and I do not regret them. But now, I look forward. Forward to the future and to new choices that I will make. People are important. More important than anything.

I was in my room, by myself, thinking when I realized it and that is an irony in itself. My ephiphany? There are some people worth giving everthing you have to spend your life with. All your time, all your posessions, all your creativity and imagination. Why? Because they give back to you. They are the most important. Find them and don't let go.