Willard & Debussy Understood the Assignment
Live like Clair de Lune
Clair de Lune has long been my favorite piece of classical music. Perhaps ever since I first watched Seven Years in Tibet (1997) and was captivated by the beautiful music box central to the story. Recently, I brought my daughter one back from Germany. Certainly, there are many different renditions of Clair de Lune. But in my opinion, second to that ethereal music box — the best are played solo on piano, and they all sound the same. I know it when I hear it, and instantly in the first few notes when I don’t.
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I want my life to be lived like Clair de Lune was always meant to be played: Unhurried. Slow and intentional, savoring every resonating note, and with equal deserved passion, emotional feeling, and depth.
“You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life,” Comer quotes Dallas Willard in The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry (2019). With age comes a heightened situational awareness and understanding of the passage of time. I flew through my 20s and 30s. Now in my 40s, I want to savor every moment. Not. Rushing. Through it.
