I recently watched the film, I AM, in which the director, Tom Shadyac asks the question, “What’s wrong with our world, and what can we do about it?” A heavy question to tackle in a limited space, but certainly one that deserves thoughtful consideration during this 2011 holiday season.
I personally had the opportunity to experience a “heavy” dose of, “what’s wrong with the world” when I plucked the Thanksgiving Day paper out of the mailbox. It was massive and must have been 75% Black Friday ads!
Yes, as I see it, this year is proving to be no different than the ghosts of holidays past —a designated time for the ever deepening commercialization of the holidays as evidenced by mass consumerism. A time to accumulate more “stuff,” most of which we don’t really need, but have been taught through time, tradition, and the media will make us happy.
Sadly, these messages, or as Shadyac calls them, “stories” or “lies,” cast a dark and hypnotic shadow over the true meaning of the holidays. And, because as a society we have become so entrenched in a consumeristic story of stores open at midnight domination and competition, there is an increasing willingness to achieve happiness at any cost—even actions that feed a Grinch-like desire to be significant at someone else’s expense.
Take for example, the California woman who decided pepper spray was an effective way to keep others away from her prey—a 32 inch flat screen television. In an instant, a competitive and dominant “me against you” mentality went into overdrive and won out over cooperation and peace. It’s as if in a brief moment, shopping became an unofficial Olympic event! To win gold, this woman acted less like a respectful citizen and more like a consumer ninja! Yes folks, it’s true—greed, like anger, makes us stupid.
All humor aside, one particular inspirational message that I AM brings forth is that the notion of separateness or individualistic “me against you” is simply one reality. A story told over time of man as machine; a lie that leads us to behave in ways that deprives us of our innate communal spirit —with nature and each other.
The good news I AM shares is that stories such as these are not static and lies can be coaxed out of the shadows and unmasked. In his film, Shadyac offers renewed hope for the survival of values such as cooperation and peaceful co-existence. Yes! Love, kindness, and compassion remain laudable values and CAN make the world go round. In fact, a study highlighted in the film, shows we as humans are actually hardwired for compassionate response (mirror neuron theory).
Think about a time where you watched a sad movie and were moved to tears as you felt the emotion of the on screen character. Human emotion creates an energetic field that in turn evolves into a mass mind—conscious awareness linked to a conscious world.
So there you have it Virginia. If we only choose to believe, the notion we are separate is just a story. Better yet, if we choose, the man as an island story can be altered. Instead, the story can be about humankind, connected and living in a loving, unified world. It takes only one person to write and share the story. That one person can be any one of us.
Truth be told, gifts from the heart—cooperation, kindness, peace and a unified spirit—are just as likely to bring joy as a 32 inch flat screen. Besides, they cost nothing and you don’t have to stand in line!
Wishing you a joyous and peace-filled holiday season!
“To discover joy is to return to a state of oneness with the universe ~ Peggy Jenkins
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