Weak Points and Strong Points

It's been a long time since I've put up a post. I apologize for that. Life is an art form, and with that said, I needn't go into detail about how life introduces you to things that either knock you off your course or aid you in fulfilling your goals. My life is a combination of both, as is most people. But enough talk about me and let's get on with discussing this art form we call life.

I only mentioned something about my personal life to elaborate further on the topic of this blog entry: one's weak points and strong points. It is irresponsible of anyone to deny the fact that they have areas of weakness, and it is just as irresponsible for anyone to exaggerate their strong points. Life is all about becoming aware of one's own weak and strong points and knowing how these either hinder or assist one's ability to think and act in the world. No one needs to be reminded of the fact that life is not perfect. Life often throws us curveballs and brings us moments of sadness, inadequacy, fear, and loneliness but, at the same time, it presents us with opportunities to learn, grow, mature, and rise to face the obstacles that may be on our path. I specifically want to address weak and strong points as it relates to one of my favorite films of 2012: Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained.

I am fully aware that this film came out over 4 months ago and that my contribution to the dialogue about this film is late--and possibly repetitive--but I will not let that stop me! I will make my comment brief and I hope that I give you a thought to think about. Just like Django, we are all slaves to something or someone in this world. This is not debatable--this is a true statement that you may not like to (or want to) admit, but it is nevertheless true. It is an unfortunate position to be in; we live in this world and because it is intricately designed, we are participants in religious and political movements, philosophies, and/or ideologies that are already functioning the minute we are born. Our parents, teachers, politicians, family members, and friends all try to sell us a bill of goods and it is up to us to either adopt or reject those goods. The invisible chains we wear everyday are just as iron-clad as the metal chains of slavery; they may not resemble metal in the slightest and you may not think that you are helping someone else profit off of actions, but you will have to think again. Every person is different and I cannot elaborate on every person's set of chains (or more than one). But they are there, they are real, and we are constantly trip over them.

The only difference between us and Django is that Django knows how to free himself from his chains. For us, it is a lot harder, for the world is a lot more complicated than the world of 1863. The first step, however, to freeing ourselves from our chains is to admit that they are there. This takes a lot of reflection--not just of yourself but also of the world around you. This awakening is definitely a test of your weak points and strong points. It will either help you understand that the world you think exists is actually a lie or it will only solidify your initial perspective about your position in the world, and cause you to reject anything that opposes your perspective. For those of you who begin to see that the bill of goods you have been sold is not immaculate, you are becoming stronger. You slowly become aware that the bill of goods you were sold helps make you weak and this is no longer acceptable. Now, you will begin to feel your chains loosen and become less restricting.

From here, you must embark on a long journey; not necessarily a physical journey, but a journey nevertheless. The  journey you begin will steer you in many directions, as it will test you to really think about all the things you think you know, believe, and have faith in. This journey is not for the faint at heart--again, it is only for those who want to free themselves from the chains that bind them. Everyone's journey varies but there is one common factor: there will be at least one person who will want to keep you in your chains. That is what the character of Stephen represents in Django Unchained. And the world is full of Stephens and they come is various shapes, sizes, and colors. You two may have to duke it out with each other a couple of times before one of you is victorious. The question, however, is simple: are you willing to do whatever it takes to be victorious and free yourself from chains that you know are holding you back and keeping you in a limited place (physically or psychologically)?

YOU are the only one who can answer that question. YOU can either control the situation or YOU can let the situation control YOU. I don't advocate for weakness. I advocate for transforming weakness into strength. This brings about true happiness and freedom. Don't continue to make the mistake and think that you are free. How do you expect to create a work of art out of your life if your chains continue to trip you up? Be better. Be wiser. Be stronger!