Leonardo BALDISSERI ALLANIC

None of Us can make it through this life without suffering some kind of pain.  Having lived through my fair share, I can tell you the most difficult to endure is loneliness.  Adam was right. Life is a game, and one that We must play.  No matter how careful We are, there is simply no way to go through this life unscathed.  But, fortunately for Us, its a game We don't have to play alone. Forever ! May-5/2015

Forever ! Apr-21/2015

Every human being on this Earth knows that life is not without pain. For most of Us, it's an inconvenience, a trial to be endured or avoided. But there are a select few who seek it out, who use it as a tool to create something so beautiful that it transcends this world and makes them immortal. There are moments in all of our lives when We are compelled to ask ourselves, "How far are we willing to go for what we want? How much are we willing to risk, to sacrifice, to endure?" Because it's one thing to yearn for something... but quite another to find the strength to achieve it. Forever ! Apr-7/2015

They say memories make Us who We are, that the past defines Us, but We can't forget to grow, evolve, because sometimes a memory can be so powerful that We get stuck in it, frozen in a moment. Yes, some memories are precious... and We need to hang on to them. But Emily Dickinson wrote, "Forever is composed of nows", and She's right. If We root ourselves too deeply in the past, We'll miss what's right in front of Us. Forever ! Mar-31/2015

Every person who has lived long enough has something in their past that must be forgotten, a moment when they failed, or when they simply went right instead of left, and that simple choice changed their life for the worse. So We cover it up and forget. But deep down, We know it will come back to haunt Us. I believe that 99.9% of everything can be explained scientifically. There's no fate, no magic, no curses, except for one, my own. A great alienist once told Me that We must face those moments We chose to forget. Only by confronting our fears are We able to grow, to change, and to be able to face our next. Forever ! Mar-24/2015

Perhaps privacy is a thing of the past.  In the future, everything about Us will be available with the touch of a button...  Who's fallen in love, who's gotten sick, who's having an affair.  Maybe it's a good thing, a future without secrets.  Of course, those of Us with a few more years value Our privacy.  We've made Our mistakes and survived them.  It's not that We want to keep these secrets from others.  Usually, We're keeping them from Ourselves. Forever ! Mar-3/2015

We are told that those who ignore the past are doomed to repeat, while those who dwell in the past would love nothing more than to repeat it over and over again. But memories, like photographs, have a way of fading with time. Some memories are so powerful that they never fade... memories which become more powerful every time We remember them... thus making our present lives seem a little more faded. But let's not think about that now. Forever ! Feb-24/2015

Why do We feel compelled to trace our roots? Those names in the family tree are just that names and yet the kinship We feel to them is powerful. Does the fact that We're rooted in history make Us feel more secure in our present. But what if our family trees are more like vines, twining aimlessly throughout the ages? The truth is each of Us is related. It's just a question of how far back You trace your family tree. Deep down, all of Us have shared blood in our veins. Although, individual tastes may vary. And if We're all related, then all of Us have royal blood. Which is why every child should be treated as a king or queen... no matter how old our children may be. Forever ! Feb-10/2015

The average person is said to apologize 12 times a day. Often, it's to atone for a past wrong, an attempt to heal an old wound. But there are some wounds that can never be healed. They run too deep. Atonement can take many forms, a heartfelt apology, a grand gesture, a silent prayer, or something more complex, more gray, more difficult to decipher. And while it's true that no amount of atonement can ever change the past, it does have the power to heal Us, to restore relationships and connections We thought were lost forever. Forever ! Feb-3/2015

It is often when one least expects it that fate arrives at our door. We can't foresee it any more than We can escape it. No matter how hard We run or hide, fate, like death, will always find Us. Fate can be cruel. A minute here, a minute there, and lives can be lost. But fate also gives Us moments of impossible grace... moments in time when We come together and connect in a way that is profound... chance occurrences so precious that they almost make one believe in the divine, that there is someone out there looking after Us. Forever ! Jan-13/2015

There is risk anytime We venture into the unknown, whenever We are compelled, for whatever reason to push away the safety of the familiar of family and home. And there is the notion that this impulse is, indeed, for the best, that whatever doesn’t kill Us makes Us stronger. Unless, of course, it does. Committing fully to the protection of another can often engender a kind of paradox.  In doing so, We are tempted to put ourselves at risk, the very thing most likely to cause pain in those whom We are trying so desperately to keep pain from.  Over time, however, One learns that the choices of those We love are impossible to control. Forever ! Jan-6/2015

It may come as a surprise, but I still fear death. Tonight my anonymous caller faced it without hesitation. I realized two things in that moment, He is immortal, and He's completely insane. We all have secrets. There's nothing wrong with that. But We all need a confidante, a friend to share our secrets with. In a way, the shared secret tells Us who our real friends are. They're the people we trust the most. Forever ! Dic-9/2014

What We try to hide about ourselves in life is revealed in death -- our fears, our insecurities, but most of all, our secrets. Does no one understand the difference between nobility and royalty? The best impostors have many gifts. They can change their voice, their look, their manner. But there's a rule every imposter learns. The one truth we cannot hide is love. Forever ! Dec-2/2014

No matter how We live or die, We all end the same, in silence. All of Our hopes and dreams in life become mere echoes of a tale cut short. But if We're lucky enough, Our stories live on. Our song finds voice in the hearts of those who remember Us and loved Us. It has been said that a man is not dead while his name is still spoken, that We are only truly gone when We’ve disappeared from the memories of those who loved Us, meaning a great artist never dies. As long as his books are read, his paintings admired, as long as Our songs are sung, We may each of Us live forever. As for Me, maybe it’s time to learn a new song. Fortunately, I have an excellent teacher. Forever ! Nov-18/2014

Sex, drugs, skydiving.It’s strange that the things We do for a thrill, in order to make ourselves feel alive, are the same things that may kill Us. The same is true when it comes to human relationships. The people We love the most are the ones capable of hurting Us the most deeply. It's a fine line between pleasure and pain. Our body feels pain to warn Us of danger. But it also reminds Us We're alive, that We can still feel. That's why some of Us seek it out, while Others choose to numb it. Solitude has always been my analgesic of choice. But what if feeling nothing is the worst pain of all? What if the sharing of pain connects Us to Others and reminds Us that none of Us is alone as long as We can feel? Forever ! Nov-11/2014

Every crime, like every person, has its secrets. Some are never revealed, while others are hidden in plain sight. You know, You live long enough, You learn a thing or two. We can train Our bodies to forget. But not Our minds. And one thing living forever teaches You is that your past, your secrets, mark You always, like it or not. There are things for all of Us that even all the time in the world wouldn’t be able to erase. Forever ! Oct-28/2014

Murder is never an easy thing to look at. When You examine the body of a victim, You don't see the reflection of their life, but the person who took it. You see whether the killer felt anger or betrayal...or worse...if they felt nothing at all. We may never understand those who kill so easily for spectacle. But perhaps that's why We're so fascinated with them. We read about their exploits out of curiosity. Our fascination with the macabre makes it all seem unreal. But the truth is that everyone has the capacity to kill. The real question is, how do You live with yourself afterwards? Forever ! Oct-21/2014

Every generation likes to think they're improving on the last, that progress is inevitable, that the future holds less misery and suffering than the past. But the truth is, some things never change. History has a way of repeating itself. It's just most people don't live long enough to see it happen. Rats have been known to carry Lassa fever, hantavirus, salmonella, and, of course, let's not forget the black death. I highly recommend that You don't get bit. But some things do change. Years ago, boxers fought bare-knuckled. In 1855, one bout lasted 6 hours, 15 minutes. Back then, the so-called ring was an actual ring, made up of rowdy, bloodthirsty spectators. That's not to say that fights are fair today. The big guy's gloves are still loaded a little heavier, but it's no reason to stop fighting. Forever ! Oct-14/2014

For the dead, all is forgotten. But all is not lost because They're remembered by Us. Some We think of fondly, others less so. A few are remembered by many, and many by only a few. Forever ! Oct-7/2014

There is a whole litany of things We can do to keep death at bay, exercise, eat well, put on sunscreen. And though You might try to bargain with death, bear no delusions. It will find you. So if you spend all you time hiding from death or, in my case, searching for it, I guess the question is were you ever really alive? As sad and dreadful as death may be, it forces Us to cherish every moment because the truth is... life is precious because it’s finite.  When You are immortal, You have to be reminded of beauty. Days stretch into years, stretch into centuries. Time can lose its meaning.  So however long You live, even though that might prove a very, very long time... You must tell yourself to live every day... every hour, as if it could be your last. Forever ! Sep-30/2014