Something to share

I was watching the movie, "Good Will Hunting" on TBS this morning. I got up and let the dog out and then poured myself a glass of orange juice, cut open a blueberry muffin and spread cream cheese on it. The glass and the plate sit next to me now and I still haven't taken a bit from the muffin or sipped from the glass.

I was watching the first part of the movie and the two main characters were struggling with establishing their relationship. Sean wanted to get inside the mind of Will to help him work to create an academic life despite his impoverished background. Will was working hard to throw up a wall between himself and Sean so that his life would remain an enigma.

At the first meeting, they discussed the books in Sean's office. After not getting anywhere, Will discovered a painting that Sean had painted. Will used the painting to discuss what he saw as Sean's weaknesses. As he found a sore spot in Sean's life, he pushed the button and Sean attacked Will and told him not to discuss Sean's relationship with his wife.

At this point, the two men met a week later and Sean led Will to a park. Sean told Will that he had angered him with his talk about his wife. But then he divulged that he had figured something out about Will and that he would not make the mistake of getting angry about whatever Will might say about Sean.

At this point, he makes a point about understanding Will. He says that if Will is an orphan, he can't understand that by reading "Oliver Twist." He basically denigrates the life experiences that Will has encountered and explains that he, Sean, has more life experiences because he has lived through war as a soldier, been married, and lost his wife to disease. He ultimately connects with Will by explaining that his experience is more full. He creates a relationship by setting his reputation. Suddenly, Will is made to understand that Sean has something to teach him from his personal experience.

When I watched this, I suddenly remembered myself as a young man. I was sure of my knowledge and sure that I understood a lot about life. But my life at that time was very inexperienced. Safe within the cocoon of my family and my neighborhood and my parents' affluence, I had really not experienced much of life's struggles. That would come later.

Now, I have experienced the joy of connecting with my one true love. I have experienced the sweetness of having my wife birth our daughter. I have struggled with trying to establish my place in a community, to build my work practice. I have seen the loss of my affluent past. I have acknowledged my weaknesses and tried to identify my strengths. I have seen the aging of my parents and the growth of my daughter. Perhaps I now have something to share.

We shall see.