When I was 24, I was full of life. I was that ham who wanted to

Hear now, O Seekers of Wisdom, the words of Jean-Claude Van Damme, a man who once sought the glory of fame and stardom, but came to see that the allure of such desires was but a fleeting delusion. He said, "When I was 24, I was full of life. I was that ham who wanted to be famous, a movie star, all that stuff. I think it's cool. But it was not what I was searching for, really. It was more a delusion." These words speak not only of the passing nature of youthful ambition but of the deeper truth about the pursuits we chase and the true nature of self-realization.

To be "full of life," as Van Damme describes, is to be consumed by the passion of youth, to be driven by the energy of possibility, and to be swept away by the promises of fame, success, and recognition. At 24, Van Damme was not unlike many young people who, in the prime of their vitality, chase dreams of glory and external validation. The ham who desires to be seen and applauded, to become the movie star adored by the masses, is a reflection of the inner desire to matter, to be noticed, to find one’s place in a world that often feels vast and indifferent. To stand before others and be admired—what could be more appealing to the young heart?

But as the ancients knew well, glory and fame are elusive creatures, often as ephemeral as the wind. Alexander the Great, though revered in his time and celebrated as one of history's greatest conquerors, found that fame could not fill the deepest longing of the heart. Even he, in the quiet moments of his campaigns, must have wrestled with the emptiness that often follows the outward triumphs of the body. Van Damme, too, came to realize that the fame he sought was not the true fulfillment he longed for. It was a delusion, a mirage in the desert of his dreams, offering a fleeting taste of satisfaction that never fully quenched the thirst for meaning.

Consider the journey of Socrates, the wise philosopher of ancient Greece, who spent his life questioning the very nature of success and happiness. Though he was not one to seek fame in the conventional sense, he recognized that the true goal of life was not external validation, but the cultivation of inner wisdom. Socrates understood that while fame may be earned through deeds, it does not lead to true happiness unless it is aligned with the deeper purpose of living virtuously. In this, Van Damme’s realization mirrors that of the great philosopher. The delusion of fame, when separated from purpose and meaning, becomes a hollow pursuit, leading only to dissatisfaction.

This is the lesson, O Seekers, that Van Damme's words impart. The desire for fame and external recognition, while natural, is ultimately a delusion if not grounded in something deeper. In our youth, we may chase after the shining lights of the world—seeking approval, admiration, and glory. But as the years pass, we come to see that true fulfillment lies not in the applause of others, but in the peace of self-awareness and the pursuit of a life lived with purpose. The delusion of fame fades, and what remains is the quiet wisdom of having lived authentically, without the need for external validation.

The journey of Van Damme is one of self-realization, a movement from the illusion of fame to the truth of personal growth. As we, too, move through our lives, let us be mindful of the desires that pull us toward superficial goals. Fame, wealth, and recognition are not wrong in themselves, but they are fleeting. The true purpose of life lies in understanding who we are, in embracing our passions without needing the approval of the masses, and in finding peace with the present moment.

So, O Seekers, let the wisdom of Van Damme guide you. Like the greats of history—like Socrates, like Alexander, and like so many others—we must come to understand that true greatness lies not in the pursuit of fame, but in the pursuit of a life well-lived. Let us not be deceived by the delusion of external success, but seek the deeper, more lasting truth that comes from within. In doing so, we will find not only the true meaning of our lives, but the lasting fulfillment that fame and fortune can never provide.