The Keanu Reeves Philosophy of Life

Keanu Reeves is a wanted man these days. Even the sight of him walking into a room in slow motion can birth a thousand memes.

But what is it about Reeves that makes him so fascinating and almost universally liked?

There are many handsome Hollywood action stars, and Reeves is one of them, but there's also something else there. He's enigmatic—difficult to define.

There's a groundedness in him not often found in the flimsy world of Hollywood.

We often see pictures of him alone. No bodyguard (not like he would need one), the mysterious guy in the corner of the crowded party or alone on a city bench.

A part of him always seems to be contemplating humanity's place in this chaotic universe.

The simple act of paying attention can take you a long way. - Keanu Reeves

Reeves isn't scared of death. He's witnessed it firsthand too many times.

And yet, his perspective on the subject flipped the grimness of death on its head. By now, everyone has heard Reeves touching response to Steven Colbert's question (meant to be a joke), "What do you think happens when we die?"

I know that the ones who love us will miss us. - Keanu Reeves.

The reason Reeves probably doesn't get depressed by the prospect of death is that he spends so much time celebrating life. He lives life the way he envisions it should be.

Places like the infamous Chateau Marmot suit him (he lived there briefly) with its anything-goes free spirit.

Though he's more of a wallflower than a rager. In a place with this heavy of a pulse, Reeves will be the guy in the corner playing chess.

Reeves fell in love with motorcycles as a ten-year-old kid in Toronto.

In 2011 he founded Arch, a high-end custom motorcycle manufacturer with his friend Gard Hollinger.

“Riding your bike is one of the greatest things you can do to clear your head." - Keanu Reeves

Even though he's worth $360 Million, he gives most of it away to fund children's hospitals, buy expensive gifts for his crew, or just bless random strangers.

I want to enjoy life and not stress myself building my bank account. - Keanu Reeves

Reeves is often referred to as being "zen," but that term can mean many different things.

At its highest and purest form, zen relies on no support or technique. It requires someone who is completely open and alert and free of all thought.

Without the burden of overthinking, Reeves is free to spring into action. He is a student of the martial arts and really enjoys the process and preparation of doing complex fight choreography like in the John Wick films that took "gun-fu" to new heights both artistically and at the box-office.

Even at age 54, Reeves will still physically train for six months just to make the fight scenes as real as they can be.

Some famous people live incredibly sheltered lives. They never venture out of their bubble to mix with the real folks who buy their albums or see their flicks.

Reeves isn't afraid to be among the crowd. He entertained stranded travelers on a bus for hours earlier this year (2019). His fun-loving presence turned a stressful circumstance into a joy ride for the delighted passengers.

The "nicest guy in Hollywood" talk surrounding Reeves is strange. He's just being himself, but it's almost like people of fame and privilege are excused from being kind and down-to-earth.

When you truly understand karma then you realize you are responsible for everything in your life. - Keanu Reeves

Keanu Reeves is not a saint. And he doesn't want to be. His name means, "cool breeze over mountains," but he still gets stressed. He still thinks life sucks sometimes.

The difference is, he also takes time to observe the beauty in life and to be curious about what the future holds.

Destruction sometimes means rebirth - Keanu Reeves

Reeves is well adjusted because he puts in the time to take care of himself. Sometimes, the healthiest thing a person can do is take a step back to gain some perspective.

The person who was holding me back from my happiness was me. – Keanu Reeves.

Once in a while, I have the moments, where you drink the whiskey and you get the records out and you start doing the DJ thing until four in the morning - Keanu Reeves

Reeves doesn't take himself too seriously. He celebrates the people he works with, the one's who help produce his blockbuster franchises, as well as, the indie filmmakers he'll cut out and split a six-pack with after work.

He's cultivated a healthy self-awareness of where he's at in life's journey. It's appropriate that the closest Reeves has ever come to describing himself was in the second-person point of view, because while so many millions around the world look up to him, he sees bits of himself in us.

If you have been brutally broken but still have the courage to be gentle to other living beings, then you’re a badass with a heart of an angel. – Keanu Reeves