Risky business

(P.S after rereading I realize this is a bit self-reflective, but hey it's my blog, so if you don't like it feel free to make like a tree and get the hell outta here!)

I saw Cast Away this weekend and took away more philosophy from it than was probably intended. Like a 12th grade English student analyzing the various themes of a four-line poem. There's a period in the film where Hanks is floating on his makeshift raft, having braved and conquered the huge wall of surf that surrounded his mini-paradise/hell of an island. This is in the 'anorexic sun-burned, dreadlocked Hanks' stage of the film, after the Robinson Crusoe theatrics and blood-stained volleyballs and Survivor-like ingenuity. He's taken a leap of faith, determined to escape, and lands up drifting, at the complete mercy of a fickle ocean.

I think I've taken risks in my life. I've travelled, lived abroad, tried different careers than the norm. As the years pile up, I am forced to reflect on whether these risks were worthwhile, life-changing events or whether I was simply drifting through life on the back of ill-advised, life-stunting follies. I don't think I'll ever know. I guess it all depends on whether or not you believe life is about the journey or the destination. Hell, regardless I've had fun. Live and learn, as they say.

In the end, Hanks is rescued and returned to a life of normalcy, even though he could never sleep on a proper mattress again. His risks paid off. I hope mine and yours do too.

cheers.