Living in a nation that is in the midst of redefining itself, I think a lot of us are doing some of that reevaluation where it comes to our own lives. Where it comes to our government, especially one as diverse as the United States, rarely do any of us get all we might want-- sometimes not any.
As individuals, we also have limitations based on talents, age, training, economics, DNA, etc. Having a good life means making the most of what we do have. Because of even perceived limitations, some choose to live in a dream rather than the reality around them.
A good example, of the latter is the novel, Life of Pi. When you finish the book or the film, you aren't quite sure what actually happened. Was it what the man wished had or what really had?
Can a fantasy become reality for someone? If a dream does, I think it better be our dream, not someone else's. That's easy to have happen but it takes us out of control and put someone else in our driver's seat. This happens most easily when it's a reaction.
There is a quote in the film The Holiday where Arthur Abbot is talking to Iris about her life. He says, "Iris, in the movies we have leading ladies and we have the best friend. You, I can tell, are a leading lady, but for some reason you are behaving like the best friend."
We can make that mistake in not seeing ourselves as the star of our own lives and letting someone else dictate what we do and even our dreams. We might not have total control over what we can have, but we should not find ourselves living someone else's dream.
I made a couple of memes on creating our own world. A few words are sometimes better than many especially if they have the right photograph or painting with them. Again all the images and quotes are from Stencil where I have a membership. If you've never been there, you can find hundreds of images and then bring it to the quotes where with various font choices, you create the meme.
So if you are in the mood to rethink yourself, looking at such images and thinking on the words can be a helpful exercise. Writers do it all the time.
5 comments:
Nice memes. I think it is much easier when you are older to be the star of your life. When younger there are many important others in your life.
That is true. Nobody wants to control us. The lesson of being the star of our own lives, seeing ourselves as having valid dreams, that's for younger folks :). By my age most of don't care if we please others to the same extent. Maybe we know we can't.
I'm nearly 75 and am delighted to find I still have dreams and plans. And I think many of us still are decent people so I'm not concerned about what others think of my plans unless they think I've launched into something I won't recover from. And then it's still my life.
Thanks for the post on my page about the birds. My sisters in Portland have seen their hummers hanging about too. I have food out for the finches but so far very few have appeared. Think I will contact our local Audubon for suggestions. Maybe it's the feeder.
I think, plan, and live as though I'm going to go on forever. Number-wise I'm well aware of the life span statistics, allow for that, but give little more thought to it. My husband went to sleep one night and didn't awaken in the morning which I'm sure he didn't expect to happen then, nor did I, so we never know. Mostly there's only me for me to consider now, here -- except for children and grandchildren, but they're totally supportive of how I want to live my life and what I want to do. So, am feeling quite content with my personal life for however long this phase lasts.
That's how my mother died, Joared and a good way except for the ones left behind especially when it's before it was expected. I am well aware that my years left aren't that many given my family's usual age span. I don't think about it except in terms of trying to be responsible for what I leave behind. I think it'll be harder to make a choice to get pets as I get further into my 70s and I worry even now what would happen to the ones I have.
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