Strange title, considering I've never actually been to Rome. It's on the bucket list somewhere after bungee jumping off the bridge in New Zealand. I've always been fascinated with Roman culture. I took a mythology class in college and it was one of my favorites. For history's sake, around 44 BC- about 400 AD, much of the world was under the rule of the Romans. The reality is they were considered to be cruel and controlling. That's not the Rome I'm talking about. I'm talking about the Rome that exists as the pinnacle of so many of our modern day legends and comparisons.
Rome was a dream or ideal initially. The idea that government, knowledge, art, religion and philosophy could progress to somewhat of a state of perfection. Rome is often spoken of in romanticised tones or a place in time where harmony existed. Of course it was far from it. The Roman Empire eventually fell apart but the grand remnants remain to be enjoyed by all.
I asked myself, "At what point in my life did the dream of Rome exist...the idea of perfection on this earth. Was there a moment in time that if I could recapture it, I would live in that state forever?" (Yes, I think strangely sometimes.) Initially, I thought there is, there has to be. Maybe it was sometime during my marriage when all of my family was together, maybe a holiday, or a vacation, or a warm fire in the winter...it had to exist somewhere in time and that was probably the closest I could come up with.
The fact is, in this life, perfection seems to happen for only moments at a time. Once you perceive that it is present, time moves forward and new levels of discovery and change are reached. Nothing stands still. Fond memories taint the surrounding circumstances that existed in an imperfect world, but allow us to remember the world as we might like it to always be. Have you ever noticed that good memories are always perfect.
Sometimes, perfection can crumble, just as it did in Rome. But a beautiful city has been rebuilt around it that is even richer in culture brought on by the Renaissance. The idea of perfection was redefined and the dream of Rome lived again. I take that lesson to heart. Memories are great things to build on. Take the good things and focus on that verses the bad things. It's ironic, but you always get more of what you focus on..good or bad.
I remember my Rome...it has existed all throughout my life. The dreams, and hopes, and wishes all colliding into perfection at one moment in time, and then another, and on and on. It's heartening to know that Rome can be rebuilt even better than it was. If you aren't living proof that it can be and that it is time after time, then something is terribly wrong in your life. Just understand, Rome wasn't built in a day...the old adage applies well.
And at some point, in another place and time not on this earth, perfection does exist and to me, that is not a dream, but comforting knowledge to look forward to, to build on, and to plan for. I'm excited for that Rome.
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