A lot of big, tragic and important things have happened to this wonderful country of ours since April 2014. None of which I have covered. I was too busy writing about hungover parenting, ancient philosophy and my dog Colin.
Out of the 536 columns I have written, 27 were about that guy. Far too few. He is such a good boy, he deserves an article a week.
Today is the end of an era for me, and whenever these final events pop up in our lives, we can’t help but think about the ultimate end.
Everything we do, we will one day do for the last time. That’s why you have to enjoy things while they are around. It’s not just big events like leaving a job, house or loved one either. Whatever moment you happen to be in now, you will never get it back, and you don’t know how many more you have.
Everything we do in life, from eating pizza to spending time with the people we love, to driving, writing, drinking or breathing, we will one day experience for the final time. It might happen tomorrow. This can be either a depressing or an inspiring thought, depending on how you look at it.
A few years back in this column, I interviewed professor of philosophy William B Irvine, of Wright State University, Ohio, on this very topic. He put it this way on a Zoom call: “Recognition of the impermanence of everything in life can invest the things we do with a significance and intensity that would otherwise be absent. The only way we can be truly alive is if we make it our business periodically to entertain thoughts of the end.”
Today’s column is very meaningful to me because it is my last. Like the last night with a lover before she goes overseas. And just like a lover, there have been some half-arsed efforts put in from me over the years. Last week, for example, I spent 750 words moaning about how bad my cricket team is. But the truth is that any of my columns could have been the final. If I had reminded myself every week for the past 10 years that the end is inevitable, I may have been more grateful for having a column and appreciated writing them all as much as I am this one.
While everything we do could have more meaning with a focus on finitude, some things are inherently more worthwhile than others. There is no doubt my column “The pros and cons of wearing Speedos” from November 2022 was less meaningful than most things in this world. That was a waste of everyone’s time. So, if we only have so much time, how do we pick the best things to do?
Well, Oliver Burkeman, the author of Four Thousand Weeks – Time Management For Mortals, suggested this to me in a 2022 column: “Ask yourself, does this choice enlarge me? You usually know on some unspoken level if it does. That’s a good way to distinguish between options.”
With that in mind, I don’t feel great about my 2018 article on “New Zealand’s best hole”. That didn’t enlarge anyone.
There will be people reading this column right now who have loved my writing in the Herald and are sad to see it end. Others will have hated it and are glad to see me go. Many won’t have any opinion at all. But for those in the first camp, I have good news. I have a book coming out on May 28 called A Life Less Punishing – 13 Ways To Love The Life You Got (Allen and Unwin Book Publishers). It’s a deep dive into the history, philosophy and science of not wasting our time lost in anger, loneliness, humiliation, stress, fear, boredom and all the other ways we find to not enjoy perfectly good lives. It’s available for pre-order right now (google it if you’re interested).
A Life Less Punishing took me two years to write and is equivalent in words to 100 of these columns. Which would be a complete nightmare for those in the hate camp, but as I say, great news for those who want more.
Anyway, thanks to the Herald for having me, thanks to the lovely people who make an effort to say nice things to me about my column nearly every day and thanks to the universe for every single second we get.
Bless!
“Not Doing a Very Good Job of Being a Mother,” Angelina Jolie Appeared With Her Son Pax, Sparking Public Outrage
Angelina Jolie attended the event, as always, accompanied by one of her children. This time, the actress was joined by Pax, who had been involved in a serious accident over the summer. His appearance sparked a negative reaction from the public.
49-year-old Angelina Jolie and her 20-year-old son Pax Jolie-Pitt turned heads on the red carpet. Angelina embodied old Hollywood glamour in a stunning black gown that draped elegantly over her figure.
The sleeveless design added sophistication, and she accessorized it with long black gloves that extended over her elbows. Her blonde hair was styled straight with a middle part, perfectly framing her face. Her minimal yet radiant makeup highlighted her flawless complexion.
Pax, still recovering from his accident, walked confidently beside his mother. He wore a sleek black suit, matching trousers, and patent leather dress shoes. His look was completed with a crisp white dress shirt, a black tie, and dark sunglasses. Despite the visible scars on his forehead and an arm cast hidden under his jacket, Pax exuded confidence.
Pax Jolie-Pitt met with an e-bike accident and is recovering from the traumatic incident that occurred when he collided with a car in Los Angeles. The accident happened during rush hour on July 29, leaving witnesses fearing the worst. Pax lost consciousness at the scene. Paramedics revived him, and he was quickly taken to the hospital, where Angelina stayed by his side. Pax had been riding a Talaria Sting R MX4 electric bike, a popular model priced around $3,000.
Pax was hospitalized following an accident that occurred around 5 p.m. on Monday, July 29, in an area of Los Feliz Boulevard. A week later, a source revealed that Pax was “still recovering” after being discharged from an ICU in Los Angeles. “He’s uncomfortable and will require additional treatments. Still, he was very fortunate,” the insider shared. “It could have been much worse, especially since he wasn’t wearing a helmet.”
The source also mentioned that Jolie was “shocked and concerned” when she received the call about the accident, adding that her other children were “doing their best to support Pax.”
Despite the harrowing experience, Pax was in good spirits at the premiere. The bond between him and Angelina was evident as they posed for photos. However, many fans expressed their concern and wondered if it was a good idea for Pax to be on the red carpet while still recovering from the accident. “If he was so seriously injured and is still rehabbing, why did she take him to an event in Toronto?”, commented one. “Why is she always dragging her kids to premieres??…why never a date?” wondered another.
One commenter wrote, “A totally spoiled Pax, and I’m sure his siblings are exactly the same. Raising children without rules and guidelines will nearly always result in youngsters thinking they can do just as they like.” Another added, “Not doing a very good job of being a mother.”
Meanwhile, Brad Pitt took his relationship with his new girlfriend, Ines de Ramon, to the next level: they made their debut as a couple at the Cannes Film Festival.
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