The Main Character

These are people that will hang on to every word that comes out of my mouth. I am carrying the weight of my credibility as this philosopher and all philosophers yet to emerge. Fuck, this is all a lot to deal with right now. I don’t know his past work. I don’t know what the standard is. I can’t stand on this stage and Google ‘myself’. Fucks sake!

I have just swapped bodies. I’m forced to live out as someone else. Then the right words come to me, and I let the audience in to a little bit of honesty.

‘Life is about understanding others in order to understand ourselves. The more we learn the stories that other people carry with them, the more we understand how that story impacts their life and our own. We will never have the full story with all the details that make that person up, but we can take what they present us and invent a story for that person. Those around us teach us the most. Turn to the person standing next to you and understand that the exchange you have with that person will shape your memory of tonight.

It’s all very strange but the meaning of human life is to understand and be understood, even if we believe we know nothing useful in society. I’ve learnt more about myself and what life means to me standing in front of you then all my years of research and my philosophies. When we walk in one another’s shoes, we never truly understand how short-lived it is. Occasionally it feels longer than you expect it to and right now I wish I could return these shoes I walk within.’

After my speech, the crowd erupts in applause and cheers. They come to greet me and thank me for inspiring them, giving me a glimpse of insight into their lives. The words I exclaimed are once again true.

When I return to my body, I will have gained wisdom beyond my years! I think I’ve learnt to be more conscious about those around me and what meaning I give to each and every single person I cross paths with.