Breathe
By Jacqueline M. Camacho Rivera
A few months ago the story of Momo by Michael Ende came into my life. When I got my hands on the book I felt that this story would change something inside me, and from the first page that intuition became certainty. Without spoilers and if you haven't had the chance to read it yet, Momo is the story of a little girl who possesses a wonderful quality: the ability to listen deeply to others. More than a skill, Momo wants to help people humanize their lives, especially when the gray men - those cold characters who want to "save time" - decide to take over one of people's most precious commodities: time.
Sometimes, I think we all carry within us a little gray man. Every day we choose, consciously or unconsciously, whether we feed that part of us that cares about "time saving" or cold and distant efficiency, or whether, on the contrary, we choose to live from love. Gray men exist in every moment we live without questioning where our time goes, in every occasion we sacrifice our passions and joy for a supposed future benefit. How many times have we given ourselves to that gray man who steals our soul, our breath, our life?
A few days ago, I listened to a podcast that talked about the real importance of our decisions: which is more valuable, time or money? They offered a simple and powerful example: would you accept making $100,000 a month if it meant that your mental health deteriorated, that you didn't have healthy relationships, that you didn't share your talents and that you hated your job? That example made me think deeply about what we value and where we are investing our lives. What are we giving our time to? Where are we sacrificing our essence?
And I remembered that in this life there is something fundamental: sharing. Because true happiness lies not only in what we do, but in doing it with those we love. Living from love and passion is also an act of connection, an invitation to share experiences and create memories with those who make our life meaningful. Perhaps the secret lies in focusing our minds on creating our life and connecting to that genuine happiness that is built in company. Each time we direct our energy toward those moments of true connection, we give purpose to our time. It's not just about "making the most of time," but about living it and sharing it in a way that enriches our existence and the existence of those around us. Sometimes, we reach a kind of "living death", as they say: there are people who die at 20 and are buried at 90. We live according to expectations, performance and efficiency, forgetting what is essential, what really gives us joy and meaning.
Perhaps the real challenge lies in learning to use our time with love, passion, joy and mental freedom, as Momo did. She, through her ability to listen, to connect with others and to live fully in the present, shows us the power of a full life. And perhaps we need to remember that every time we live a moment from love and not from urgency, we take some power away from those gray men. We rediscover ourselves and stop being "productive" and start being human.
So, I came to the conclusion to question myself: how have I lived my life so far, being a gray man, caught up in the rush and "saving time", or allowing myself to live life my way, connecting with what truly gives me happiness and peace? Now, I extend you an invitation to reflect on it, to take a pause and ask yourself: where and in what are you investing your life? What would be more valuable to you at this very moment?
Thanks for reading me and for making it this far. I'd love to know your opinion: have you read Momo, would you like to read it? Leave me a comment and tell me what you think about what we invest our lives in and how we choose to share it.
The opinions expressed are the responsibility of the authors and are absolutely independent of the position and editorial line of the company. Opinion 51.
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