About

How Nature will help you enjoy your Bentley.

On a recent visit to a physiotherapist, I heard a song on the radio that sounded very familiar but couldn't place it. Later, I discovered It was "If I Never Sing Another Song" sung by Danny Lyndon. The lyrics of this song, present a very interesting case for comparative analysis with another very famous song, "Like a Rolling Stone" by Bob Dylan. Both songs explore the theme of a fallen star—someone who has lost fame and success—and offer unique perspectives on the emotional toll of such a fall. The fallen star in Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone" is a complex character, embodying the loss of privilege, security, and self-assuredness. This figure once lived a life of wealth, admiration, and comfort, oblivious to the struggles of ordinary people. However, their circumstances have drastically changed, leaving them adrift and exposed to the harshness of reality. In contrast, "If I Never Sing Another Song" provides an introspective reflection from the viewpoint of the fallen star himself. The song captures a deeply personal reckoning with fame, emphasizing the emotional cost of living in the spotlight. It acknowledges both the triumphs and the burdens of their life, accepting their retreat from fame with a mix of melancholy and gratitude. Unlike Dylan’s critique, this perspective humanizes the "fallen star," focusing on self-awareness and the bittersweet nature of their journey.
This journey into stardom and wealth always poses the threat of a downturn. And here is where nature comes into the conversation and the notion of The Sublime.
The sublime is the power or force of the beauty of nature, that is so great that it exceeds our ability to comprehend it and we stand before its immensity in awe and terror. It became a critically important idea in the period after the Enlightenment. This immensity of nature escapes our power of judgment and makes us feel insignificant and miniscule. The German painter Gaspar David Frederick painted "The Wanderer Above The Sea of Fog" in 1818, where he depicted a gentleman looking at the beautiful, vast nature in front of him hence conveying the message of how small we are in front of nature. Irrespective of our greatness, our wealth, and our fame we are practically an ephemeral species in a world where huge mountains, the sky, and everything around them will greatly outlive us. The Wanderer is a famous painting, but not the most representative of the idea of the Sublime. Usually, humans are portrayed as minuscule in the vastness of the scenery.
As if the sublime is rooted in our DNA, we all take photos of beautiful sceneries and vistas, we aim to find such locations and we put great effort into taking back memories of spectacular nature back home. Subconsciously we are drowned in nature and its peace, serenity, and greatness. Many famous photographers like Ansel Adams who was the first and best at it, gave us unforgettable depictions of the sublime in Black and White. The more you feel connected with nature, the more you realize that wealth and fame are an ephemeral pursuit, and the more timid and thankful you become. They remind us of the fleeting nature of human achievements. No matter how luxurious a Bentley or how bright a star shines, the mountains, the oceans, and the sky will endure far beyond us.
Perhaps this connection to nature is why we find peace in its vastness. It places our struggles—and our triumphs—into perspective. As Dylan poignantly put it, “Nobody ever taught you how to live out on the street, and now you’re going to have to get used to it.” In nature’s embrace, we can begin to understand that life’s true richness isn’t measured by fame or possessions but by our ability to find meaning in the ephemeral.