You have the time!

'You have the time!'

This is my friend’s favourite affirmation. And until yesterday evening every cell of my body would have agreed. But this morning I woke up and I realised that it is the 1st of July = 😱😱😱 = where has my first half of the year gone???

I have a controversial relationship with time. I confuse the days of the week and I find this 24-h system quite complicate. No surprise that I learnt to read a clock later than my peers. But Veronika taught me that there is a way to befriend and even amplify time: giving life your all, every moment!

In the novel by Paulo Coelho ‘Veronika Decides to Die’, Veronika survives an intentional overdose with sleeping pills. She becomes a patient of Dr. Igor, who tells her she has only a few days to live due to a heart condition caused by the overdose itself. 

Once Veronika understands that she does not have anything to lose, she finally allows herself to be herself and to experience all the things she have never allowed herself to experience, including hatred and love.

Veronika does not know that she is completely healthy, and that Dr. Igor is lying to her because he would like to ‘push’ her into wanting to live by using her imminent death as an excuse.

I find the ending scenes of the movie based on the novel an absolute precious gem. Veronika and Edward are kissing at sunset in front of the sea; Dr. Igor’s voice is narrating:

‘I took a risk in lying to her about her condition.
I decided to test the only remedy I’ve come to have faith in.
Awareness of life.
Until she finds out from some doctor that she’s perfectly healthy…
She’ll consider each day a miracle. 
Which, in my view, it is.’

Each day is a miracle. Give life your all. Now.

(Photo by Sonny Mauricio on Unsplash)