I just finished watching the movie entitled The Pursuit of Happiness. The movie is about a guy (Will Smith) who never caught a break and is trying to provide for his family. He works really hard and tries to become a broker – which of course he eventually does. It was good and I enjoyed it but it was long and you knew how it was going to end. It’s like watching Titanic – you know it’s gonna sink.

Watching this movie, like most of the movies I watch, displays a person who is in a struggle and wants to better them self or get ahead. Have you ever thought though, what happens to these people after the struggle? Like in the pursuit of happiness, after Will Smith gets the job, then what? He has money, he’s happy; he gets a new house, a new car and then a dog. But then what? If the movie continues, it would probably start to suck. No struggle, no drama, nothing too overly exciting. Maybe there is a good deal going on at Ikea and he goes and buys a new couch or maybe he got a bad deal on his new car. The developmentment of a pretty typical life.

I evaluate. I try to take this movie and apply it to my life. I see the struggle, respect it and can relate to where Will Smith is at in this movie. But then that’s the thing though; I have been there. I was in school, didn’t have a penny to rub together and I have now gotten past it. I live a life that has fought the battle and have overcome the tight periods.

Now I live in the mundane. I go to work, try to keep fit (emphases on try), pay taxes, go to bed at an appropriate time, drink occasionally, hang out with friends, hang out with my girlfriend and I pay off school. That’s my life in a nut shell. There is no struggle, no defining moments, no chance nor risk. It’s pretty calculated from here on out. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining, I love my life and the people in it but I feel as though I can’t relate with these types of movies anymore. I am past the struggle and needing encouragement stages now.

I know you can always use encouragement and it’s always welcomed but from a society stand point; I am pretty set. All I have to do from here on out is go to work, pay my taxes and pay my bills on time; that’s it, there is nothing dramatic about it. Strip down all the things you do for excitement in your own life and that is what you are left with: work, taxes and bills.

With no struggle there isn’t much going on in your life. Maybe this is why people create their own struggle. Its as though people go looking for it. Placing themselves in things they would never imagine if they stepped back and analyzed the situation. Taking a look at sports today you notice people do this. Basketball and Hockey just isn’t cutting it anymore so people are partaking in crazier and more defying sports.

People are bored, they’re not oppressed so they start creating blockades for themselves like breaking records, making things, thrill seeking or buying stuff.

Maybe that’s why people are so inspired by sports or movies like the one I just saw. People who don’t have struggle can at least appreciate other people’s dilemmas.