Life isn’t a television show or a video game

I don’t watch television.  My daughter sends me links on Facebook that say, “Watch this one next.  You’ll like it….” I look it up on Netflix and stream the entire series in the background while I work.  If it’s interesting enough to cause me to want to actually watch it, I’m pretty impressed with the writers.  Most shows she sends me are pretty consistent in content. 

I find a character like this occurs in pretty much all of them (animated or not).  Typically, the figure is shadowed, feared, and has power of some sort.  Therefore, unless you watch the show, I could conceivably post a glowing eyed scary individual from any of them and you’d think, “hmm, interesting bad guy.”  While I’m on the subject, if you play video games, you probably have the same opinion.  I would imagine, it’s because you’ve seen this glowing eyed individual in a cut  scene or fought him/her/it on a boss level.  Of course as a gamer your opinion is likely leaning toward evil as opposed to interesting.  In any case powerful, glowing eyed, shadow person is a bad guy. 

This a common perception.  However, not all intimidating figures are bad or intentional antagonists.  I suppose we’re brought up in a world with preconceived notions of good and evil.  However it’s not always the case.  Life isn’t a television show or a video game.  It would be far simpler that way.  People don’t follow scripts or behave according to predetermined patterns.  You don’t have the insight from a flashback, flash fore ward, or a cut scene. You have to deal with real uncertainty and unpredictability.   On the topic of reality, your boss, co-worker, parent, or relative isn't evil and doesn't have some hidden agenda.  The barista didn't try to poison you this morning.  The driver of that car was just reckless.  No one tried to intentionally kill you.  If you're thinking this way in the back of your mind, you might consider a vacation from technology.  Otherwise, if you are so inclined for a little while, you can visit another place created in the mind of a writer or developer.  It’s almost always an interesting trip. 

On the subject of trips, this is certainly something I'd recommend.  Whether it's in a car, on a train, plane, just around the block, in a book, on television, through your computer screen, tablet, console or by closing your eyes at some point everyone requires rest to properly handle daily life.  Your state of mind influences your decision making process.  Therefore when you're faced with uncertainty or something unpredictable occurs you're well equipped to properly manage the situation.  Being rested also impacts your senses and memory.  Having control of your faculties ensures you don't over look items of importance.  Having a sharp memory allows you to learn from past mistakes so you can truly move fore ward.  There is no rewind or reset on life.  However, if you learn from your past both good and bad, manage not just your uncertainty but also your time and your small victories, remember your decisions are your own, and take responsibility for all your actions -- you don't need them.  You'll do fine.