Self-Discovery

I’m a movie buff. I’ve always been an indiscriminate fan of movies. Anything from the black-and-white classics to the latest releases, from big Hollywood blockbusters to the constantly under-rated, yet thoroughly enjoyable Indies (Independent films for those who don’t know). I’ve always loved them for multiple reasons, but I think mainly due to the amount of time & effort taken in making a totally believable script. But I think that my main fascination in a script is that they are written by people. Albeit literarily gifted people, but people nonetheless. Meaning that every now & then, there’s an element of wisdom spoken.
One movie that comes to mind is “Sabrina”, starring Julia Ormond, Harrison Ford & Greg Kinnear. The plot revolved around a young teenage girl who falls for a man who her father works for, but leaves for Paris, only to return as a stunningly beautiful woman who is noticed by all, including the aforementioned man. One line from that movie always got to me. “I found myself in Paris”. It does explain a lot, since later in the movie, she’s chased after by virtually every guy who meets her, including the aforementioned guy who was to be engaged, but why spoil the ending of an old, semi-classic, yet commercially moderate movie.
People have always sought to be bigger, better, more than they are. And while that is not an impossible thing, they are however constantly discouraged. The whole world doesn’t help matters much with it’s insistence on people being a certain way in order to be happy.
If we were to break it down in plain old mathematics, then the formula for success would be Money + Looks + Character = Success, Happiness, the 6-figure salary, house on the hills, pimped-out ride wit the spinners, the hot girlfriend/boyfriend & all that jazz. Unfortunately, that formula is wrong.
“I found myself in Paris”. It’s not a line that sold movies, but it’s a line that inspires. The main protagonist didn’t just find herself in Paris, the same way Beyonce or J-lo found themselves with big asses & the whole wide world starring at them. The protagonist came to a place, not necessarily Paris, where she was allowed to explore not just it, but herself as well. She was able to find her calling & discover just what she was capable of, specifically through photography & other related arts, although in life it is not strictly related to those things, in terms of finding confidence in who you are through discovering your confidence in what you are good at.
The road to self-discovery is one of the most treacherous paths travelled by anyone, because it is practically riddled with pitfalls & traps, on the psyche & confidence of virtually anyone who walks along it. To be hurt along the way is inevitable & to claim otherwise would just be sheer nonsense. However, that path has an eventual end, a destination that can be reached. It’s not impossible, merely difficult. But it’s that difficulty that will build you up into the person we are all capable of being.
In life, the learning never ends. We learn to be strong, we learn to be smart & we learn the things we need to survive, physically, emotionally & psychologically. We are taught to be intelligent in whatever we do & through hardship, we develop character. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "Intelligence plus character, that is the goal of true education." There is no greater education than life & in life, the goal is to succeed. Our success will only be determined by what we achieve, not just in the world, but within ourselves as well. And eventually, we’ll find our place in the world.
“The scariest thing in the world is not knowing your place in it”. This is more or less a paraphrase of a line from “Unbreakable”, starring Bruce Willis & Samuel L. Jackson (in a remarkable role, providing a very sound performance, but having received a ridiculous wig). I suppose that is a scary thought. But you’ll have to forgive me for quoting a movie line. But hey, what can I say, I’m a movie buff.