Something New
Yesterday, I watched Kissing Jessica Stein, which was about a young woman exploring lesbianism after several horrible attempts with the male race. It was definitely one of the smartest and better movies I've seen lately - though the movies I've seen lately consisted of Swimfan and A Walk to Remember. But it was a quote in the movie from the poet, Riike, that lingered long after I finished the movie:
"It is not inertia alone that is responsible for human relationships repeating themselves from case to case, indescribably monotonous and unrenewed. It is shyness before any sort of new and unforseeable experience with which one does not think oneself able to cope, but only someone who is ready for everything, who excludes nothing, not even the most enigmatical, will live the relation to another as something alive."
Maybe this quote made such an impact because I could see myself and others in this quote. It is the fear of the unknown, of rejection, of humiliation that we are encased in this shell. There are rare moments when we can break from our shells, but it is to create a safe haven, the network of close and intimate friends, never to break from that shell again until we need to create that safe haven once again. A never ending cycle...
Our fear of the unknown, our unwillingness to experience something new and vibrant that will lead to our downfall. No, not a mortal downfall, but the downfall that we will experience at the end of life; the gnawing regret that we might've failed to connect with that special someone - either romantically or friendship wise - because of our fears.
"It is not inertia alone that is responsible for human relationships repeating themselves from case to case, indescribably monotonous and unrenewed. It is shyness before any sort of new and unforseeable experience with which one does not think oneself able to cope, but only someone who is ready for everything, who excludes nothing, not even the most enigmatical, will live the relation to another as something alive."
Maybe this quote made such an impact because I could see myself and others in this quote. It is the fear of the unknown, of rejection, of humiliation that we are encased in this shell. There are rare moments when we can break from our shells, but it is to create a safe haven, the network of close and intimate friends, never to break from that shell again until we need to create that safe haven once again. A never ending cycle...
Our fear of the unknown, our unwillingness to experience something new and vibrant that will lead to our downfall. No, not a mortal downfall, but the downfall that we will experience at the end of life; the gnawing regret that we might've failed to connect with that special someone - either romantically or friendship wise - because of our fears.