A lot of the time I wonder what it would be like to “be
something.” As a young person living in Los Angeles I often think about what it
would be like to be a writer. Or an actor. Or a director. Or a waiter. Well
actually not that last one considering my managers are looking to promote me in
the coming months and I’m pretty sure I’m going to get a sense of what that’s like
very soon. But the point is we all aspire to “be something,” and we are told
from a very early age that we must “be something.” Something big. Something prestigious.
Something that makes a lot of money. Making all the hot girls we lusted after
in high school wishing they would have gone to see that movie with us or let us
take them to prom or, oh I dunno, be a way better boyfriend then that jerk
Stephen, who we all know was cheating on you with Krista in the dark room of
Mr. Alpers photography class, Carly!
But I digress…
To “be something” is
an aspect of life we all strive for even if we don’t fully realize it. However,
some people do realize it and they try their hardest to “be” that “something.”
But what most people fail to realize is that they strive for the wrong “be.” You
see their “be’s” are far too small and trivial in the grander scheme of things,
even though they might seem grand themselves, rarely resulting in the “something”
they wanted. Take me for instance. I want to “be” George Clooney in hopes that
the “something” I get in return is millions of dollars in movie deals and the
endless attention of attractive females from around the world. But that’s just
not gunna happen.
Speaking of Hollywood,
most people there want to “be” famous in the hopes that the “something” they
get in return is self-satisfaction and confidence. Allow me to get slightly dark for a moment as I present you a
short list of “self-satisfied” famous people:
Kurt Cobain: Self Inflicted Suicide
Philip Seymour Hoffamn: Heroin Overdose
Mama Cass: Death by Ham Sandwhich…? (And also a bad eating
disorder).
The list goes on and
on and gravitates to sadder passing’s than “death by deli meat.” Sure there are a lot of famous people who did find the qualities they were looking for. But none of these
people found the self-satisfaction, confidence, or happiness they were seeking
through fame.
People also seek happiness
when a person wants to “be” in a relationship, looking for the “something” that
is love, trust, and intimacy. At this I ask you a question. How many drunken,
spur of the moment Las Vegas marriages don’t
end in annulment? Your times up. The answer is none. They all end in annulment.
Sometimes even divorce. Which is pretty much the same thing so I don’t see why
we have to use a fancy term like “annulment” to describe it.
But I digress…
The point of all this
is that people tend to mix up there “be’s” and “something’s” and there’s a
simple way to fix this problem. Just reverse your “something’s” to “be’s”. For
instance, if you want to “be” happy then the “something” you get in return will
be a loving, trustful, intimate relationship. You should want to “be” confident
and self-satisfied and the “something” you’ll get in return is a confidence and
sense of self that you’re actually worth something. And if you want “something”
like George Clooney then… Well it doesn’t really work for the last example but
you get my point.
So try and get your “be’s”
and “something’s” right way round. Think bigger with your “be’s” in hopes for
broader “something’s” It’ll help give you a clearer vision of what you want to
do with your life. I’m currently working on a “be” myself right now. Well, let
me make that a little bit clearer. I’m working on “be-ing myself.” The “something’s”
I’m hoping for in return are pretty much all of the above; happiness,
confidence, and success.
And a life like George Clooney’s.
