"Rien ne s'est vraiment passé tant que cela n'a pas été décrit"

Imagine you're on a road trip with friends. The scenery is breathtaking—rolling hills, a sunset that paints the sky with impossible colors, and a moment where you all share a laugh so deep it feels etched in your bones. You might think that these experiences are what matter most. But what if you couldn't share them? What if there was no way to convey what you saw, felt, and experienced?

That's the heart of the idea here: experiences gain meaning and permanence the moment we describe them. It's like snapping a photo—capturing a fleeting moment in a way that others can see and understand. Without that description, those moments might as well be ghosts, invisible to anyone but you.

This notion pops up throughout history, too. Think about the great explorers—Columbus, Marco Polo, or the astronauts of Apollo 11. Their discoveries only truly became part of our shared history because they were described, written down, and communicated. Columbus' voyage, for instance, fundamentally changed the world because he didn't just sail; he returned and shared his findings. Without his description, his journey would have been a personal adventure, not a historical milestone.

Let's bring it closer to home. Picture a scientist who discovers a new element. They could marvel at it privately, but what changes the world is their ability to describe it, to write a paper, to share their discovery with the world. Take Marie Curie and her pioneering research on radioactivity. If she hadn't meticulously described her findings, her work wouldn't have influenced countless scientific advancements and treatments. Her descriptions transformed her observations into a cornerstone of modern science.

So, how can you apply this wisdom? Start by recognizing the power of your words. Whether you're journaling, composing an email, or just chatting with a friend, understand that your descriptions bring your experiences to life. If you want something to matter—to really matter—you need to find the words to describe it. Maybe you witnessed an act of kindness that moved you. Telling that story could inspire others. Or perhaps you achieved a personal goal after months of hard work. Describing your journey not only cements it in your memory but also motivates those around you.

Here's a scenario for you. Imagine you're at a family reunion. Your grandmother starts recounting tales from her youth, stories you've never heard before. She describes the old country, the way the air smelled after it rained, the sound of her mother's voice singing lullabies. Those moments, once described, become vivid and real—not just to her, but to everyone listening. You can see it, almost smell and hear it. You're transported. And one day, you'll pass those stories on, describing them to your own children, weaving a tapestry of shared memory that stretches across generations.

In the end, it's about connection. Describing our experiences allows us to share our inner worlds, to make our moments part of the collective human experience. So, next time something beautiful, strange, or profound happens, don't just let it slip by. Find the words. Describe it. Because in doing so, you make it real—not just for you, but for everyone who listens.