To get the right answer, you have to ask the right question. I learned that from the film “I, Robot.” Mankind continuously seeks to better its existence by posing existential questions about the meaning of life and the roads to happiness.
These questions, like why are we here, what is the meaning of the universe, why is the sky blue or why does the road less traveled always seem so distant and ephemeral have no concrete answers, and they don’t seem to offer any respite from the uncertainty they’re asked to clarify.
Philosophers have spent thousands of years gazing into the heavens and their hearts for answers. I feel confident, some may say pompous, enough to suppose all these “great” thinkers are wrong.
There is really only one question we need to ask ourselves when we wake up in the morning, wipe the fog from the mirror and look into our own eyes: Are we Ferris, or are we Cameron?
There is a reason the movie “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” is so popular Sure, it gets to the heart of teenage angst and rebellion, but at its core, it forces you to consider what type of person you are and what type of person you want to be.
In the film, for those wretched souls who haven’t seen it, Ferris Bueller is a high school senior who frequently skips class yet somehow manages to have everything work out for him.
The film focuses on one of these particular days and the many adventures that ensue. His best friend, Cameron, is a hypochondriac who resists at every turn the subversive and liberating exploits of his rebellious friend.
Before you ask yourself which one you are, it’s important to figure out which one you want to be. I think, if most people were honest with themselves, they would express a desire to be Ferris Bueller. And why not?
He’s the hero; he is the one who lives passionately and outrageously. There is no fear of consequences, and the risk is always worth taking.
No one wants to be Cameron. No one wants to live in fear of living. Cameron seizes up with panic after they put too many miles on his father’s Ferrari. You know this kid even if you haven’t seen the movie: “Guys, that’s not a good idea, guys, that’s not safe, what if we get in trouble?”
I know that guy, because he is me in some ways. But, that’s the point. There is an ultimate disconnect between who we are and who we want to be.
Most of us go through the motions of our lives, respecting the boundaries, rules and expectations placed on us. We slowly but surely acquiesce to societal norms to the point the extraordinary causes us anxiety. We accept we can live vicariously through the men and women behind the glass; we even call it “reality.”
We read books and watch movies and tell stories of the feats of others, all the while making excuses for why we are not those people and why we can’t be. We get on Facebook to see what everyone else is doing, and at the end of the day, we do what we are told.
The question then becomes “how do you fix that?” There’s no definite answer, but be a little subversive. Do something you might not normally do, I don’t know.
It’s tough to do it yourself, but that’s why Ferris Buellers are so important. They don’t have to try and live life, it just happens for them. They are a rarity.
If you find somebody who pushes you beyond your limits and beyond the comforts of your own fabricated space, then you need to hang onto this person. I don’t expect people to parade down main street singing “Twist and Shout,” but at least recognize the mediocrity we all seem to trend towards.
Stick it to the man once in a while.
