While I was working yesterday, I seemingly found myself lounging in the sofa one lunch break. I thought it be just for the 10 minutes away from the computer so not to irritate my eyes too much. So, there I was in the living room, for a change. I came across the Oprah Show. And I was just trying to see if the episode wasn't too emotional because that moment I really didn't want to burst into tears. I'd rather be entertained than to go that route.
True enough, it was something really interesting. Tom Shadyac happened to be her guest to promote his then film 'I AM'. He was a famous director for Liar Liar starring Jim Carrey, Nutty Professor, and Bruce Almighty. All went to box office. But then along the success, money and fame, he found himself lost and unhappy. But, he had everything, a 17-bedroom house, huge swimming pool and people working for him. He had the most luxurious lifestyle from travelling top class and just the status it brings. But you wouldn't figure out why he gave up all these to stay in a modest home and studio. He only uses bike as his transportation. Imagine that!
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| Tom Shadyac, Movie Director |
One of the things he said was that when you take off all the unnecessary things in your life and all the excess, you will feel lighter, and happier. I think this is true. If you think about it, we don't really need much. It's the dictate of the society, what has now become the mandate that if you have more, you are more powerful. We are somehow consumed by this thought. In some way, some of us and I am not excluding myself on this that we are craving for money, fame and material things, for what?
In his documentary film, I AM, he talks about how science can prove that cooperation is more of our nature than competition. It is in our brain cells, carried by our design as humans that we would feel for other creatures. In some cosmic way, all of us are connected. So, we shouldn't be surprised that if we see someone who are in dire help, that our gut instincts will tell us to do something. But what has now become an evolution is that we are trying to compete with each other. Who has the best car? Who earns more? Who has better fortunes and assets? It's all about that. And we forget that our true calling is to really be there for each other.
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| I want to see this film. |
It's been seen with animals and even insects that the way they do things are always with their flocks. They always travel with their own breeds and hunt with their own kind in bulks! Because that's how the world works. That's how we are designed. Now, the explanation why we are somehow not in the path that we should be is that we are somehow still a young group of mammals. We did not live long enough like other species so, we are still learning what we ought to be.
I nod with total agreement. Later that evening, it has been a tradition in the house that we watch Will Time Big Time. I know the show has mixed reviews. Some like it, some are super fans and some still flinch just with the thought of it. I am not the super fan but it's still entertainment, what can I say. We all know that most audiences of the show if not all come from poor to very poor families. One mother told her daughter that she didn't like her son in law to be because he didn't have work. She didn't want that her daughter who was a teacher will be the only one working if they ever get married. She told it out loud when the guy was sitting next to her. It was really funny. But what caught me was that Willie said to the mother, you know it's not all about material things. You can lose everything in a single snap. What do you want for your daughter, a man with riches but will hurt her? Or a man who will work a clean living but will love and respect her? He said, let's not be overpowered by that material wants. The most important thing are building and maintaining relationships.
No mother or parent would ever want something bad for her kid. The mom had the best intentions, I know that. I guess, it's all about balancing. I mean from the Oprah Show to Wil Time Big Time, it all in some way connected. One good lesson learned, we work to make a living but our happiness does not depend on what material things we have but on what matters most like the people we share it with.
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| Family is always first. |
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