A Closer Look at the Game of Life

Since time immemorial, man has always been bombarded by innumerable questions revolving around the mysteries of life. The unfathomable enigma of its existence in this world still remains to be a puzzling reality almost everyone has been trying to solve. It is an endless quest that puts many, especially the geniuses, into a state of personal conundrum, using every sliver of their time dissecting suspected proofs to justify their conjectures. But despite being submerged in the puddle of unanswered questions about life, we continue to live and play the game.

People are in search of so many things like power, freedom, love, revenge and a thousand more. They arrive at a conclusion that seizing these could portend the accession of peace, happiness and the achievement of their irrevocable desire buzzing deep within them—and they are consumed by the agony of possible defeat or failure. Who wants defeat, anyway? We are not gearing up to embrace debacle, but success. If we fall, we usually rise.

One of the imperishable literary architecture of antiquity and the most poignant embodiment of loss was in English poet John Milton’s “Paradise Lost.” It’s a work of genius originally published in 1667 which has become his heritage to the contemporary world. After four years, he released “Paradise Regained” with so much ebullience and rhapsody for reclaiming his eyesight, and euphoria for perceiving once again the infinite beauty of the world around him. These two literary masterpieces put, in a nutshell, the quandary of man who once ignored the world.

The truth, however, tells us that there are things we cannot regain once we lose them—valuable time, remarkable people, life-changing opportunities, good name, precious possession, and many more. True or not, we have to treasure and hold everything dear to us tightly and carefully—like it's the only thing that matters. Regret will never come first, so let us avoid smashing what is important to us for we cannot mend what has been broken. And if we did fix it, no matter how flawless it would seem to look, it is no longer the same as before it was shattered.

In the modern world, man is spellbound in his infinite quest for perpetual happiness. He is more predisposed to greed, which is actually the damnation of what he tries to find. Oftentimes, he has an inclination to disregard simple aspects in life and aims for the radical and Byzantine. He forgets that in doing so, he deprives himself of adequate consideration for his spirituality and the aesthetics—the depth and greatness of the culture and the arts which are essential in absolute development.

This aphorism is not shared by the majority. Emphatically, those who acknowledge its worth, adhere to this belief or judgment with vehemence. Not only by paying hypocritical respect to their purpose, but by categorically exercising their advocacy. Not merely by the unhampered flight of the imagination; but by undertakings and activities that provide clear meaning to their dreams.

Such is the case of the celebrities who indulge in a life of unprecedented fame and glory and whose names become legend in Hollywood, but at some point in their lives tread a byway that tossed them into a chasm of plummeting stardom. We expected them to revisit their lives in the limelight but we recognized no positive undulation until they opened their eyes and found themselves in new skins, ready to fascinate the world once again.

When Robert Downey, Jr. survived to vindicate himself in 2008 with the blasting Iron Man, after losing to narcotics, spirits and jail, I saw a champion right away. Chauvinists for movies were enraptured by one of the most vanquishing superhero films of all time. And true to the validation of Downey’s fans worldwide, he has joined the crème de la crème as one of the highest paid thespians of Hollywood.

Drew Barrymore’s analogous flight also didn’t dodge the public eye when she quickly indulged in partying at a very young age and ended in rehab when she was 13. But her tenacity and grit reinforced her in turning her career around once more—and making it even more stellar. When she came back to the big screen, in various ads and as a director, it was redemption.

There are many other prominent superstars with similar stories as Downey and Barrymore. The likes of Britney Spears, Mickey Rourke and some others went through the same hell, but came back with renewed devotion and sky-scraping goals. Those who have seen them recoup their names knew that these luminaries have triumphed prodigiously than they could ever earn in their profession—a new life. And we can affirm that the dozing titans have awakened and redeemed their lost paradise.

In the game of life, it is either victory or defeat—Paradise Lost or Paradise Regained. This is the true substance life is made of, and it makes life worth living.