And you: are you done or are you doing?

How do we select the words to define our own situation is a determining act that reveals our attitude. The expression on the title finds its origins in an anecdote regarding Camilo José Cela, a celebrated writer, Nobel Prize in Literature, and member of the Royal Spanish Language Academy (RAE).

In a really boring meeting, Mr. Cela was resting with his eyes closed, when another academic told him:

– “Mr. Cela, you are asleep!”

-He, while opening one eye, said: “I’m not asleep, I’m sleeping”

-The academic said it was the same thing, to which Camilo replied: “It’s not the same to be fucked, than fucking, right?”

That’s an illustrating example that shows the importance of the words concerning our situation and vital attitude. And it is amusing if we apply it to our current circumstances; It is not the same using a verb in participle than in gerund:

CHALLENGED or CHALLENGING

DEFEATED or DEFEATING

SURPRISED or SURPRISING

DONE or DOING

LED or LEADING…

We are beings in constant evolution, the verb form that defines us is the gerund. It determines the action that day by day transforms us. If we make ourselves aware and responsible for that action, we will be leading our acts, in other words, our life.

It’s not the same to be ALIVE as to be LIVING.