There is a Light that never goes out.

Before we start I want to make it clear that there will be spoilers about the gorgeous novel by F.Scott.Fitzgerald - "The Great Gatsby" (absolute must read) so if you are currently reading/intend to read then I suggest you leave and kindly shut the door on the way out :) I have been having this discussion alot recently - English class and with a few friends so it has been on my mind a good bit :)

So yes, well done to those that realized the title of this blog was a reference to the sensational song by 'The Smiths'! I felt it was quite appropriate due to what this blog is about. The song is about love and hope, the songwriter's single most important thing in the world is their partner, they give the beautiful lyrics:

"To die by your side, Is such a heavenly way to die" - The Smiths

Which really hits home that all they want, is to be with their partner, the light that never goes out is the feelings of love and the promise of hope that the feelings will never change. This is very true of our good friend Gatsby I mentioned above.

To cut a long story(or rather a whole novel) short Gatsby falls madly in love with a girl called Daisy when he was young but could never marry her because he is poor and from a much lower social class than she is. She becomes the most important thing in his life. Then the poor ole sport goes off to fight in World War one, fast forward the clocks a few years and Daisy has married the equivalent of say a modern day posh professional footballer and Gatsby is left with nothing. Nothing but the hope of some day winning Daisy back. So what does he do? He reinvents himself, the way he walks, the way he talks, becomes a multi-millionaire by illegally bootlegging alcohol, buys the most amazing elaborate house he could find which is across the lake from Daisy's house - all to merge himself into the upper class in the hope that he an Daisy could be together. 

Now here's where things start coming together. At night a green light lit up at the end of Daisy's house that could be seen from Gatsby's garden. For years this green light was the only thing that reminded Gatsby that someday him and Daisy could maybe be together, it was a beacon of hope, a promise that he can have what he desires more than anything, his entire purpose in life was reduced to one simple green light...and it changed his life.

So now I ask you to consider... what is your green light? Your purpose, the thing you long for more most, why you bother getting up when your alarm is blaring early in the morning, what makes all the hardships of life worth it, the reason you keep on going, your very reason for living, here is a great quote from 'The Matrix reloaded' about purpose:

"There's no escaping reason, no denying purpose, for as we both know, without purpose, we would not exist...It is purpose that created us, purpose that connects us, purpose that pulls us, that guides us, that drives us, that binds us, it is purpose that defines us." - Agent Smith - The Matrix.
Not sure what your green light is? Don't worry, your not alone, I think it's no understatement in saying that one of the biggest things people struggle with in life is finding their purpose, some never do, and if you have; well then I tip my hat to you and congratulate you on completing one of lives greatest challenges! :)

However, there is another lesson to be learnt from our dear Gatsby. Yes Gatsby, got the girl. He and Daisy were together, but only for a very short time. You see Gatsby was clinging onto the past, he longed for things to be the way they were and unfortunately time is cruel. 

"Change is inevitable - except from vending machines" - Robert C. Gallagher. 

People change, places change, everything changes and sadly he realized that Daisy had changed, the dream he had been chasing failed to satisfy, expectation did not meet reality and Daisy left him and Gatsby was left with nothing. The brilliant lyrical wisdom of Mumford and Sons spring to mind:

"Where you invest your love, You invest your life." - Awake my Soul - Mumford and Sons.

Be careful what you invest your life in, be sure to choose the right green light, because if you get it wrong like Gatsby did it will destroy you.

I think it is dangerous to have a green light based on money and possessions, all you need to do is look at the amount of unhappy rich people in the world but hey I’m 16 and  don't have (and probably never will have) very much of either - so what do I know ;)

A scene (this one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBDoRCfbMjo&feature=related) from the end of the amazing movie "It's a wonderful life" really hits this idea that money does not = happiness home for me, the main character (George Bailey) lets just say - is very poor but has helped the whole town beyond imagination and through a twist of events he has ended up quite bad debt. But he is surrounded by friends and family (who all chip in and help him) laughing and singing, he absolutely broke in terms of wealth but his brother comes out with the very memorable toast: 

"To my big brother George , the richest man in the town." - Harry Bailey - It's a Wonderful Life.

I think it’s safe to say that George Bailey (if he was real) was one of the richest men alive.

"True wealth is not measured by the amount of treasure in your chest, but by the treasure in your heart" - Matthew Thompson.

Anyways enough about wealth that is a whole different blog and I try not ramble. and besides I can't tell you what your purpose is, you have to find it for yourself, only you will truly know when you find it.

As always don't be afraid to get in touch or suggest a blog topic, I’m not that scary, if you have me on Facebook you can grab me there, or if you a beautiful blogger drop a me comment :D!

Twitter: Mattt_Thompson
Email: MrMatthewJamesThompson@gmail.com 

So yeah guys, get thinking, start building treasure, find your green light, let it shine brightly and may it be a light that never goes out! :)

"It is better to die with hope than to live with regret" - Matthew Thompson

Have a great day and enjoy yourself!

Life a lot not a little! Thanks for reading :)

Matt.