This Very Moment

"If I should die this very moment
I wouldn't fear
For I've never known completeness
Like being here
Wrapped in the warmth of you,
Loving every breath of you,
Why live life from dream to dream
and dread the day when dreaming ends?"

Tonight I'm watching Moulin Rouge, and this is by far one of my favorite quotes of all time. I have actually been pondering this quote for a few days, and I think that there is no more appropriate time than Valentine's Day to contemplate this idea. What is completeness? I think that for many, this is the ultimate goal of life, whether it is realized as such or not. If you've not seen the movie, I would highly suggest not reading the rest of this post. If you have, however, you know that this story is an immense tragedy, but, that the main characters unquestionably loved each other for the brief time they spend together. I suppose I must contradict myself on my previous posting and defer to my "hopeless romantic tendencies". The meaning that I get from this quote is that living on dreams, or dreading the end of those dreams is futile. If we don't live in the present moment, then we might miss being "wrapped in the warmth of somebody else" (whether that be a romantic love or other). Completeness, at least as stated in the quote, is a current state of affairs. I don't think that you can be complete if you're placing your hopes on some future (or past) state of affairs, dreams, or unrealized hopes. All we have is the present moment. Why not allow ourselves to be happy right now- without all the conditions and stipulations? Christian (the lead male character) ends up going through a horrible experience. The woman he loves dies in the end, and he is sent into an intense depression. Many would argue that because of his involvement with a "forbidden woman", one who he "should have left alone", that he finds himself in the depths of despair. I would argue, however, that Christian did the right thing. Not knowing the future, he dedicated himself totally and completely to the present moment and what he really wanted. He ultimately had an experience that was so rich and full and... complete, if you will, that he was fulfilled- even for just a short time.