Let's Be REAL

What do you want man?

I just wanna be real.

Let’s face it. Most people are not real. At least not 100%. Most of us are trying to maintain a facade. We are trying desperately to uphold an image of ourselves that in reality is not an accurate reflection of our true nature, of our true feelings, and of what it is really like to be us. We live with a filter. We constantly scrutinize and criticize ourselves, we feel that who we really are is inadequate or unworthy, and we ultimately feel like there is something wrong with us. Like we are not enough. So we strive to express this contrived version of ourselves in an effort to be liked, to be accepted by the group. But at what cost? 

We pay with our freedom, with our divine authenticity, which is our absolute birthright. We pay the greatest cost that there is to pay. And what do we get in return? A soft congratulations? A measly pat on the back? Well done my friend, you have hidden your pain from the world, you have hidden your vulnerability, that which makes you authentically human, that which makes you real. And you have lived to see another day. But are you really living? Are you really expressing yourself at your utmost capacity? Are you tasting the fullness of what life has to offer, or are you imbibing in the mere shadow of your fullest self? So I say to you, let go. Be free. For what do you really have to lose? Absolutely nothing. And what do you have to gain? Well that, my friend, you will have to see for yourself.

I want something REAL. Something that I can taste. Something I can hold in my hands and never let go of. Something that keeps me alive. Something to indulge in, to breathe in, to love. Something that renders me powerless to the absolute vulnerability of the moment. Something that returns me to the essence of who I really am. I can’t taste that through a filter. I can’t achieve that through a fucking screen. It’s not REAL! It’s a contrived and fictitious version of reality. What happened to real human interaction? What happened to looking into another’s eyes and truly witnessing the reflection of their soul? Since when is second hand cyber communication good enough? 

In reality, it is not. Not even close. It is a continuous deluge of thought streams, of mental phenomena with no real humanity. It is nothing compared to the reality of human connection. It is a bland and empty shell of the truth of who we really are and what we are actually capable of. So dump the screen and become SEEN. Let yourself really connect with another BEING. Go out and explore the truth of this Universe, touch the unfiltered rawness of this absolutely wondrous and majestic world. Taste reality for its fullness of astounding flavors and textures, for its miracles and tragedies, for it’s hope and it’s devastation. See it for what it REALLY is. Then, and only then, will you come to know the Truth of who you REALLY are.

The Magic of Movies

Examine the plot line of most films. The character, at the beginning of the film, exists in a certain state. The character is faced with a problem or a challenge, and is therefore forced to find a solution. The character finds a solution and consequently exists in a new and improved state. The reason why these films are so widely and thoroughly enjoyed is because they are universally relatable. They may be projected on a seemingly grandiose scale, however this is merely a magnification of the dilemmas that we are faced with in our everyday lives. The magic of movies, therefore, does not come from their superhuman or larger than life nature, but rather from their all too real portrayal of the common challenges in the life of your average joe.

A good movie, I believe, presents you with a relatable character. With an authentically human character, with realistic flaws and vulnerabilities. With natural imperfections and idiosyncrasies. This character is always faced with a challenge and is often forced to either transcend or transmute their character flaws in an attempt to rise to the occasion and solve the problem at hand. Because what magic would there be in a film where everything was perfect, where there were no flaws or challenges, and the main character or characters lived in a verifiable utopia where nothing could go wrong? What enjoyment could one receive from a film like that? Probably none. It is the inherently dystopian and troublesome aspects of a movie that make it captivating and worth watching. The angst and suspense derived from watching a character struggle within its imaginary circumstances ignites a delicious interest and curiosity in the viewer. A desire to observe the character’s ability to effectively deal with these difficult circumstances and find a practical and successful solution.

This is precisely what makes the human experience itself so interesting. And although it may often seem like a curse of magnanimous proportions, like a stain on the fundamental beauty of life, these challenges are actually what make life worthwhile. And the more difficult, the more taxing and seemingly insurmountable, the more inspiring and captivating it becomes. I think this is why people often become addicted to their problems, to the drama of their lives. And this is also why people become so infatuated by the magic of modern cinema. Because this is precisely what makes life, and movies, so fascinating. This is what makes you feel alive.  

Yet, in the end, this transfixion on problems is not the true magic of movies and is not the true beauty of life. It is really the remarkable quality of being able to transcend and overcome these challenges that creates the inherent magnificence in the human experience, and in its microcosm of film. The capacity to fully face these difficulties, the trials and tribulations woven into existence, and instead of giving up, instead of turning away in fear, you do anything and everything in your power to find the answer. And if you do this with an open mind and an open heart, if you do this with a sincere devotion to life and its constant wonder, then you will always find the answer, the solution, the way. Always.