Michil's thoughts

Giulan!

Believe me, nothing dies in the universe as a whole,
but it varies and changes its aspect.

Ovid

At the end of the Maratona we have changed, of course, because everything is a mutation, even after a great and sublime effort. But how have we changed? We hope for the better, more aware, more sober in the face of so much Dolomite beauty. More ready to understand that, in the face of the great changes taking place on our planet, we too should change in spirit, as poets know how to do. May the Maratona that has just ended be the bearer of good thoughts that flow through us like clean energy, giving us the strength to change while remaining ourselves. Giulan for riding this great Maratona.

michil costa

July 08, 2024

This is it!

We have arrived at the race. And how did we get to the start line? We have changed a little during this long wait. Yes, because with each passing day we mutate. Clinging to the handlebars of life, we stubbornly try to remain ourselves, or at least still be ourselves in this metamorphosing world. After all, mutation is a law of nature that nature imposes on us as a condition of life and to which we often put up strong resistance. We do not want to change too much because there is a conservative, not to say reactionary, spirit in us. But if we are to exist and resist in a world that is changing at an unsustainable rate, we are obliged to do so.
We cannot remain as we are if we want to be there tomorrow. And this is not just an idea, an idea in transit, changing, passing and leaving. It is a fact. The changes and mutations that man's actions have made to his home over the years of his visit to the planet have thoughtlessly altered what was a perfect home. And if man changes the nature of space to make it better to live in, we cannot exempt ourselves from demanding a change, a new mutation that is now responsible to our neighbour and also to the whole of which we are guests.

michil costa

June 29, 2024

MUTATIO is the theme for the 37th edition of the Maratona

In the nocturnal silence of the Dolomites. Everything is Anatta, as taught by the Buddhist. The lack of a permanent self, of its independence. Nothing is self-sufficient, everything that exists lacks its own autonomy. The body parts, even the legs that serve to push the pedals, the hands that grip the handlebars, the eyes that gaze at the Dolomites, are a non-self, and we humans can only exist when we are in relation. In relation to others and in relation to the non-human. This is precisely the principle of “mutatio”, because everything changes continuously. Will the Maratona change? Certainly, it will change. Just as you change now, as you are reading this. Panta rei, everything flows. See you on July 7^th.

michil costa

September 26, 2023

Umanité.

Umanité. Humanity. Being human. In the dual sense of humans and humanitarians. Perhaps we are forgetting that we are human. And that we are terrestrial beings. We should realise this now, more than ever before. Because if we don’t realise it immediately, that we are from Earth, we will disappear altogether. Not in a few million years’ time. Just a few dozen. Since we are human beings, we have the chance to choose. Who knows what we will choose? For now, in our small insignificant world, we have chosen to hold a very special Maratona. Dedicated to terrestrial beings as supportive, altruistic, empathetic, available. Human, in fact. Enjoy the ride filled with humanity.

michil costa

September 26, 2022

It’s not long now

It’s not long now. There will be lots of you and you can enjoy the landscape, actually you will be the landscape. Because the landscape only exists inside us, in our perception. Therefore, the natural landscape is a creative construction of ours and, through our actions, we determine what it is. For better or for worse. Taking part in the Maratona means constructing a beautiful landscape inside us and, for once, we switch off our car engines and switch on our desire for freedom.

May 25, 2022

Only a few months have passed since the 2021 edition but we are already busy getting ready for a new Marathon. Which will naturally be even better. Why? Because we are all nature so there couldn’t be a more suitable dedication: flora, in all languages; but we are Ladin people, so we wanted to call it Ciüf, the word for flowers in our language. Flora is beautiful, flora surrounds us and also reflects the nature of human beings. Some flowers seem to smile while others are a bit sad; some are a bit scary, like carnivorous plants, and others almost seem suspicious, just like some of us. There are simple ones, straight, curved, and fortunately also those that turn their heads to look for sunlight. And it’s those ones that we need for looking forward to another successful Marathon. To anyone dreaming of taking part, have a wonderful autumn - the larches here are yellow, some are already on fire. That’s also how the flora affirms its expression of the absolute.

michil costa

January 09, 2022

Bun Ann Nü. Happy New Year

Let us hope to learn from roots. They are otherworldly spaces for us; but they, the roots, transform the narrow into life, the underworld becomes paradise. They grow, develop and feed on what they find.

Observing roots to gain a new awareness and finally begin to feed on what we have, accepting what is because it cannot be otherwise. With lightness and not superficiality, because life, made of obstacles and hindrances and lack of light, remains an immense gift of colours, scents and beauty.

May it be a good year, with the wish to love each other.

michil costa

January 01, 2022

Welcome Maratona

Abandon hope is written over that gloomy entrance. Yes, the huge problem still exists. Small hearts understand each other, they have small problems; but big hearts have big problems, just as great minds have to address unsolvable problems. The bigger the issue, the more difficult the solution. No, the comedy does not end divinely, Dante’s task is not fulfilled with Heaven. Now it’s time to put things in practice. What can we do?

June 01, 2021

This year’s draw will be a little different than usual. The good luck of those who’ll be there, and also the good luck of those who won't - because luck doesn't give itself away, it merely lends itself. Bad luck is also just a passing thing, and not seeing each other over the last year will only increase our desire to meet up again. We must all stop waiting for our lucky day and take our lives in our own hands, putting the wind in our own sails to carry us forward. Let's hope there’s good weather along the way.

michil costa

November 20, 2020

Autumn. The season when the beautiful wind blows

by Michil Costa

Autumn. The season when the beautiful wind blows. The “in” season, not a season that we’d otherwise call “out”. The seasons are not merely a result of tourism - far from it. It would actually be much better to get rid of “tourist seasons”; at the end of the day, beauty can be found in all seasons. Autumn is beautiful, a strange one this year.

August 07, 2020