A Window To The World
Interview with Elio Mariotti
by Maria Teresa De Donato
Writing
is the passion of many. After all, every writer and author has an ultimate
goal: to communicate a message to the reader and to share experiences,
sensations, feelings, thoughts, reflections, and sometimes, even life lessons
learned.
This
is also the case of Aurelio (aka Elio) Mariotti, a dear friend, and fellow
writer whom I have the pleasure of introducing to you today. By his own
admission, this book of his is "... a diary of dreams, hopes, and
feelings, special pages like only those of a diary can be ..."
Elio's
story is special, but let's let him tell it to us
MTDD: Hi, Elio, and welcome to my Blog and Virtual Cultural
Lounge. Thank you for agreeing to participate in our interview.
EM: Hello everyone and thank you Maria Teresa for your invitation.
MTDD: Elio, I would be pleased if you introduce yourself to
our readers and tell us a little about yourself: where you were born, what
studies did you do and any other information you would like to share with our
readers.
EM: I'm Elio Mariotti, I'm 42 and I live in Sardinia. I
graduated from scientific high school and have always been passionate about
politics and literature. From the age of 15, I have been working in the hotel
industry.
MTDD: Before proceeding with the presentation of your book,
would you like to tell us about that day that completely revolutionized your
life? What day was it and what exactly happened?
EM: It was December 19th, 2009 when I had a serious
car accident after spending the evening with some friends. Returning home, the
world suddenly collapsed on me ... I woke up after three months in a coma in
the hospital of Oristano, without memory and awareness. I didn't even know
where I was!
MTDD: That terrible accident you miraculously survived was
followed by a long and intense period of rehabilitation in which not only your
family was close to you and supported you in every possible way, but also your
fellow citizens showed extraordinary human solidarity and, I would add, also a
great affection for both you and yours. Would you like to tell us about it?
EM: After a year of hospitalization in Oristano, they sent me
back home, but with still serious walking problems. After doing a fundraiser,
with the help of my fellow citizens, whom I thank today, I was able to go to
Bratislava three times to a specialized physiotherapy center where I was able
to slightly resume walking. I was also hospitalized in other Italian
rehabilitation centers because the path to take was very long.
MTDD: During your rehab, you decided to write a book. Why?
What exactly did you want to communicate with this publication of yours and
whom, in particular, did you think to address it to?
EM: First of all I wrote this book to remember. My cognitive
problems at the time were so extensive that I confused reality with dreams. As
I wrote, I realized that it could be useful to other people with experiences
like mine. I then decided to continue with emphasis. I wanted to communicate to
the world that in life we take too many things for granted, like walking,
moving, talking, understanding… The basic things. We should appreciate the
simple things more. Sometimes we despair about trivial things, while when we
have this, we already have everything.
MTDD: Too often the human being takes for granted the gift of
life, its fragility and any activity related to it that is considered 'normal',
'daily' - such as walking, running, moving freely, perhaps doing healthy
exercise and, why not, playing a sport. Sad to say, we often only realize the
value of this when we are deprived of it.
What
can we all learn from reading this book of yours and from your personal
experience?
EM: I really wanted to reiterate in this diary that goals can
only be achieved with will, constancy, commitment, and perseverance. By taking
so much for granted we forget the importance of simple things. We should be
more aware of our luck and love life in all its forms.
MTDD: One of your sentences particularly struck me: "This
accident bent me but not broke my wings ..." Could you elaborate this
concept?
EM: I meant that this accident destroyed me physically, but it
didn't take away my ability to dream.
MTDD: Una finestra sul mondo (A Window To The World) –
published by Albatros
Il Filo Group in February 2019 – is a beautiful and evocative title.
How
did you come to this choice?
EM: When I stayed a year without walking, I used to smoke in
the bathroom of my house. From its window I saw the world move and I realized
that I could not stop moving either. This prompted me to react. Hence the title
of my book ...
MTDD:
Is there any other aspect that you would like to mention or other information
that you would like to share before ending this interview that we have not
covered?
EM: I would like to say again that the love of the family, and
not only theirs, can save. So it was for me.
MTDD:
Do you have any plans for the future?
EM: I would like to take a step forward in my life, resume old
habits, and be more independent. Now I'm finishing my second diary, in which I
analyze how my life has been in the last 5 years and what has changed since A
Window To The World ...
MTDD:
I'm happy for you. No need to say that it will be my pleasure to have you again
as my most welcome guest as soon as you publish it.
EM: Thanks, it will be an honor for me to come back and have
another discussion with you.
MTDD: Thank you, Elio, for having participated in our meeting,
for having presented this beautiful publication of yours and for having shared
with us your extraordinary and equally significant life experience.
How
can those who wish to get in touch with you do so or order your book?
EM: It’s quite simple. The book can be purchased on Amazon,
Ibs, Mondadori, and Feltrinelli sites or in bookstores.
