Our world gets a little crazy sometimes. I doubt anyone living in modern society doesn’t have that experience from time to time, some worse than others. The ever-elusive pursuit of happiness, which for the most part we, as a species, mistakenly seek externally. The things we want, the things we “need”, the relationships we wish for & the ever-growing, unfulfilled bucket lists we keep. All of it grounded in fear. Be it loss, failure, success, perception… or whatever else one’s psyche clings to.
Life in this incredible industry can really exacerbate the sense of that grind. Particularly between jobs. When I reflect on my own choice to invest myself in the entertainment industry, I’m a bit surprised knowing this. For the most part I try to keep focus & clarity about my motivations & interests in doing this acting/writing/creating thing. As anyone around the business will confirm, rejection is everywhere. Truth is, it is really just a microcosm of the global pandemic of fear, fitting in & trying to carve out a life in the world we didn’t ask for but strive to survive & dare to excel in. Meanwhile the forces of media, politics & advertising play on those fears in perpetuity.
Now I’m certainly not implying I have the answers, but do I have & still find things that work for me to keep me grounded, at peace (mostly) & content. So while meditation, new experiences & changing environments are all tools that can help, I believe the idea of letting go is probably the most practicable, effective & easy. Like most things in life, these too take practice. But they definitely help when you don’t get the gig, or that new car’s out of reach, or the vacation tanks or your boss declines your long-overdue raise.
Steve Cutts’ short film is a delightful meditation on the human condition & a poignant reflection on the soul of us all in this day & age. Gets me every time. Enjoy.