Shilo Rayne Photography

"Another Life"

I remember starting BoJack Horsemen in the summer of 2020. And the last episode of the first season always stuck with me because of what Diane says to BoJack when he gets his big gig as Secretariat but he still feels so empty inside: "That's the thing with life, either you know what you want and then you don't get what you want, or you get what you want and then you don't know what you want."

We think this other life that we have envisioned in our heads will be the most important goal that we need to reach in life. But if we make it to that long, sought out goal we often find ourselves looking around and wondering why we aren't happier. And if we don't reach that final goal we sell our happiness short because we believe that if we had only achieved A, B, and C then, and only then, could we be happy and fulfilled.

I think this quote is important to appreciate from both ends: That sometimes no matter how hard you strive to achieve something great for yourself you'll inevitably fall short or things just dont pan out, but when that does happen there is still so much more that you can appreciate and be grateful for. And when the day does come that you reach that milestone that you set out for yourself it's important to stay grounded while you relish in it. Life is not measured by grand accomplishments and if we placate our happiness on those moments then we either find ourselves underwhelmed when we make it there or we don't allow ourselves to genuinely be happy in other parts of our lives that are more intimate and precious. Don't let the build-up of an idea of how that moment will be overshadow that moment when it actually comes. Take your time with this life, I promise you're doing just fine.

"What Lies On the Other Side?"

This is to signify the death of our country's infrastructure, the death of a society, the death of habits. Many things have broken and the seedy underbelly of our flawed way of life has been grossly exposed. People thought we were safe and infallible, that us being in "America" was enough to get us through it, but even the Titanic sinks to its own faulty structure. The foundation of our system was built on sand but we sold it as steel. A false projection of what we wanted to be perceived as, versus what we really were. Our government was not quick to act to take care of its citizens when the pandemic came to a head, but they were quick to assemble militarized cops and the national guard to disband protestors of racial injustice. Where do our priorities lie as a civilization?

We clung to nostalgia to help us survive while lamenting on "better" days. But it is time that we look back on our life through the lens of hindsight. Nostalgia only clouds our judgment and we tend to romanticize a life that was volatile; hindsight allows more clarity for us to remove the blindfold and to not reflect on "what was" but rather learn from the past and focus on "what can be."

What lies on the other side? I don't have an answer for that. For me, I see changes coming, and that there will be hope and healing. Whatever it is, it is far better to take the leap of faith and strip our old ideas and beliefs from their bearings. It does no good to try and revive the life we had before this; that life has passed and cannot be resuscitated. Some things are better left dead. There is no better time to welcome change than at this moment right here. We said this was our year to be innovative and fearless, so seize this opportunity to be bold and brave. Change is uncomfortable but it has to start with us before we can expect to see it anywhere else. It is time for a rebirth, to let the curtain fall on our period of mourning and begin finding the ways that we can start living.