The Philosophy of Life i4

by Naulia Bennett

This week, I had the privilege of interviewing Samantha Berlanga, a 19 year old from New York, United States and her responses were nothing short of beautifully selfless. I hope that her story can encourage people to let their imaginations run wild, live freely, as well as love themselves unconditionally.

NB: “In your own words, what’s the meaning of life?”

SB: 1. “The meaning I give to my life is to love. To be and create from a space of love. To learn from the world. To understand and get to know myself intimately. To not simply enjoy existing, but to live. That means taking the leap of faith against all odds sometimes. Trusting in things that you or science can’t explain. Listening with my heart. Letting go and growing with the world. Dancing through the chaos.”

NB: “What’s your aspiration in life? What do you hope to achieve from it futuristically? Is there someone in your life you particularly look up to in terms of this aspiration?”

SB: 2. “My aspiration is to bring a community of artists together. To be able to provide a safe place for those artists to express themselves. To not only empower my own voice but others. To be a voice for the voiceless and that voice be one of compassion. In the future, I hope to continue to bring people together and focus more on my art. For the community I’m bringing together to grow. To learn from that community and learn new ways of self expression. My dream is to be a director and actress. To find my voice in the film and media world. To make that a voice that can’t be ignored I look up to Brit Marling, she is a writer, actress and an artist who inspires me deeply. I feel that her work reflects not only her vulnerable humanness, but brings people together. It moves people and brings people closer to their compassion. She is a very special person to me”

NB: “If you could tell your younger self one thing, what would it be?”

SB: 3. “To fear love less, to fear the opinion of others less and to continue to step more into my power. It’s okay to say no, because saying no is also saying yes to another part of yourself. Learn to love pain too, appreciate it. And let it go when it’s time to. Allow yourself to dance and try things, because you can handle it. Whatever scares me, whatever I fear, I can get through it. I would tell her, everything is going to be okay, even when your head can’t make sense of the world around you. And that I deserve love, I deserve passion and I deserve to be seen. Keep going, despite. Keep loving, despite. Love yourself recklessly.”