In my mind I am free
I am currently in Bavaria in the company of some of the finest minds I will ever encounter all of whom work in the fields of Astronomy and Astrophysics. It seems ironically fitting as I repost this piece in meager tribute to Stephen Hawking who has passed away over night at the age of 76. In his mind he was free, now perhaps he is really free in whatever firmament he is flying and the world below might feel it is ever poorer for his loss – but to be poorer you must once have been richer and used wisely his legacy not simply of his work but of his continual dogged determination to keep going and to live the fullest of intellectual lives despite being trapped in a broken body, that is surely the glittering example that we can and should all carry forward throughout our own lives – to not be deterred but rather to rise above and continue to expand our minds and our hearts. RIP Professor Hawking – I will never forget you.
It could be interesting if you described or just told how and why you feel free . It might give other people some ideas or paths . For inner freedom and inner peace seem to go together well, and let’s dare to say it, joy and happiness are never far as well .
Good you saluted the ET who just left us in our purgatory ..
I had a really interesting conversation with a fellow recently about consciously deciding to be happy and going through a process to get to the point where one can relish the good and accept the bad in life and count the positives at the end of the day and bin the negatives. I guess this would be recognized as freeing the mind at some level. Inner freedom and inner peace and contentment are vital to the process. I may decide to write a little about it. Actually I will. I just need to give it some thought so that I avoid sounding righteous and preachy which would be horrible!
We seem to have learned the same lesson independently from each other but learned we have it….!
So long as we learn and continue to be open to lessons, it matters not what the process is 🙂
That’s so nice to know…
An example to all.
And a timely reminder of what is really important.
Indeed he was and I hope his legacy will continue to remind us all that we can if we will, that there is no such word as can’t and that the bumps that life throws need not fell us.
Stephen Hawking – a great thinker, a great scientist and an exemplary human. Our world is the poorer today for his passing.
Thank you Bernadette, ever word well said.
Osyth,
Wow….What a post….Stephen Hawking eas an extradinary man. We certainly can learn alot from him. Thanks so much for sharing this. Glad your health is progressing in a positive direction. Hope your hubby is doing okay back there in Massachusetts with all the snow storms on-going there. Luv Gary
Thank you so much, Gary. I was fortunate. My cancer was diagnosed in 2011 and in 2016 I was given the five-year all clear. I never lose sight of the fact that I was lucky. And I never lose sight of the fact that so many are not. Hubby is here in France (actually we have been in Germany for a few days) but travels back to the US on Wednesday …. doubtless the weather will greet him!!! Love to you from us both
Perhaps, as Hawking said of someone going into a black hole, his mass energy will come back out.
I like that notion.
RIP, Sir Stephen… one of the greatest scientists of all times, a genuine example of courage, determination and devotion…
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emotional and admirable tribute, Miss O… <3
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N.B. 1000 MERCI Ă Mel Lewis qui m'a signalĂ© ton post…
Thank you so much MĂ©lanie and thank you to Mel for pointing you to the post. He was all of those things and it is for us to make sure that his rich legacy is built on
I re-read that post with pleasure in honour of Mr. Hawking’s passing. I am humbled and astounded as are you by the purity of that mind. We were indeed lucky to have it all those years. You were especially privileged to have met the man and observed all the wit of his self-deprecating humour. As for the quote, I am working on becoming freer in my mind. Some of us are slower learners but if we realize that life is a journey while we still have time, we will indeed be free to make the most of it. xx
I’m a slow learner too … I met a wonderful man at the Boffin conference in Bavaria who spoke of his wife. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s some time ago and she struggled, as is entirely understandable, to come to terms with it. Last year she consciously decided to become happy. It took her 6 months and I won’t go into all he told me but she now accepts the bumps in the road and doesn’t dwell on them, counts the good things at the end of the day and discards the bad. I’m a slow learner too but I hope to get there in the foreseeable!!
Amazing how the shit life throws at us really can be a catalyst for growth. It really is so inspiring to hear stories like that! x
He was a remarkable man, but I love the fact that he appeared on ‘The Simpsons’. His way of taking his thoughts to the public. Bravo!
He really was a brilliant man in every way and that was one of his moments of true genius!
My other half is a significant fan of Stephen Hawkins and felt slightly taken aback when I told him he had passed away overnight. We had been out to the beach and hadn’t checked the news before leaving! The considerable achievement was his ability to keep functioning and contributing the science field to the age of 76 when his life expectancy was around the early 20’s if I am correct.
Lovely to re-read your post and an eloquent tribute to a truly remarkable man.
Oh Osyth, I was just telling my husband about Stephen’s death. So sad, the world has lost a truly remarkable human being. Rest in God’s peace Stephen Hawking….
Thank you so much for this post Osyth. You were indeed fortunate to have met the incredible man. What a grand thing the human mind is, and to think that each of us has that same potential but very few come anywhere near.
I was extremely privileged …. you are so right, we all have this extraordinary organ in our heads but so few really manage to realise it’s potential. I have wondered quietly whether there was a cause and effect aspect in Professor Hawking …. after his diagnosis, perhaps he became more determined to extract the max from his brain?
Yes, and I think the comment from Sharon Mann re his “free mind” is very apt. He used what he was able to use to the utmost. Researching and formulating equations and theses without being able to write, scribble, and doodle, was an amazing daily feat.
A lovely and loving tribute to a great man Osyth.
Thank you, Andrew. I felt it the right thing to do.
Beautiful post today to honor the “free mind” of Stephen Hawking. Thank you Osyth.
Thank you so much for your lovely comment, Sharon.
What a wonderful tribute to a great human being. You were very blessed to hear him speak.
I really was …. he was the rarest of souls 🌹
What a great farewell to a great man. Thank you!
Thank you so much …. he deserved all the good things.
I love it when you repost your work, as it uncovers more of your captivating writing for me. Loved every word and thought.
I was saddened to hear of his passing, but as you said, maybe now he’s flying.
Ah you are far too kind and I am extremely flattered. Most of all I hope he really is flying now because if anyone earned that right, he did 🙂
A touching and beautiful ‘hommage’.
Thank you Arati, I appreciate your kindness 🙏
Lovely, as he was.
Thank you Claudette, that is a lovely thing to say
Beautifully written. Both pieces.
Thank you so much, Mike
He certainly was an inspiration to so many people, both as a thinker and as a mortal
He was indeed …. the most remarkable human being.
Beautiful. May we all be free in our minds, and someday free of what physically ails us.
Yes, indeed Sarah …. that is certainly something to hope for 🙂
You and your husband were the first 2 people I thought of when I heard the news. I hope with all my heart he is running with the wind and happy as a lark where ever the ever after has taken him, your in my thoughts XXkat
What a lovely comment, Kat – from a lovely woman. Xx
Osyth, beautiful post . Amazing tribute to a wonderful man..
Thank you so much Ruchi … it is kind of you to comment and I am glad you enjoyed the words which were all I had to mark the passing of a truly remarkable man 🙂
The essence of freedom comes to me in the night when my mind runs away from the lurid events of a world rife with discontent.
Moi aussi ….
Amazing person on so many levels. I can’t really put into words how much I admire how some people conquer adverse physical disabilities and achieve greatness beyond what I could ever contemplate with a fully functioning body, give or take a few glitches. Truely driven and thank you Mr Hawkins for your legacy to mankind.
Professor Hawking is one of the few that I can really count as legendary in my lifetime. It is that simple. His was indeed a great mind but it was actually the way that he battled his crippling condition, his dogged determination and his ability to bring an acutely complex subject to the masses that are his legacy. Many will argue for his science, I cannot. I am a layperson and I can speak for those masses – all the people who became captivated by the Universe. I can think of no greater thing to leave behind than igniting interest in the many 🙂
Stephen Hawking is such a gift to humanity…may he rest in peace and yes indeed he is free…it is fitting to say that while i am more of the literary type it is with exception that i love his scientific pursuit of understanding the universe…
That was his greatest legacy …. that he was able to reach those who otherwise might not have been interested. The irony is that if he had not suffered his catastrophic illness, he probably would not have reached so many
That is so true Osyth…his illness was also a blessing in disguise..
Your post was the first of many to bring to my attention the passing of this truly outstanding and exceptional human being. Thank you for a touching testimonial and some personal experiences. You are blessed too, you know – to have been in the presence of this great man.
I have since re-read everything I could find about him and I’m in even greater awe for the world has well and truly lost somebody irreplacable. RIP and thoughts to his family and friends.
He was a unique man. I am glad you have taken the opportunity to read more about him. X
He was a truly inspiring man and the world has lost one the greatest scientists ever. Let’s hope there will be someone who can carry on the torch of enlightenment!
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Not the same, I am sure, but equally certainly there will be bright lights that call us on again xxxxxxxxxxx
I believe he once said that his illness gave him the time and liberty to think, which is a remarkably philosophical way of looking at such a life-restricting malady. I wish I could have heard him speak.
I was very fortunate 🙂
This is beautiful
Check out my post on the mind
https://prevailinspire.wordpress.com/2018/03/05/your-mind-and-how-it-affects-you/
Thank you so much 🙂
Such an opportunity! We have so much to be grateful for… Carpe diem! Hope you are doing well (in Bavaria or France or stateside or wherever you might be at the moment). Safe travels 🙂
We do have so much to be grateful for and we should all always try to search for the silver linings even though often it is hard to do …. those are the lessons hard one by the truly great. You are right about one of the locations and I will be making a big (haha) announcement on exactly that in the coming days. I can tell you can barely contain your excitement! Hope all is blossoming and beautiful in your world. You are one of life’s true lovelies.
Hello Osyth, I just read your posts, great tributes to Stephen Hawking, you’re very lucky to have been in the same room with him, he must be even freer now
I was thinking of him again the other day and imagining him finally free of his tiresome broken body and able to let that mind run wild!