Over the weekend I watched several movies as I worked through my pile of notes and papers that I am organizing in preparation for my graduate school exit exam (yay!). One of these movies was Its Kind of a Funny Story starring two of my faves, Emma Roberts and Zach Galifanakis as well as a newcomer Keir Gilchrist who effectively portrays a high school student becoming overwhelmed by all that is his life. As a psychology major I have always been fascinated by movies involving mental illness and this one was exceptionally good in its honest portrayal of the many levels of mental illness and the impact of stress on our mental well-being.
As a quote person and as someone who is actively working to embrace life no matter what that looks like, the last scene of the movie was fabulously simple. It involves Keir checking out of the psychiatric ward and talking about what his life will not be like. Although there are portions of this quote that clearly mean nothing to my own life (like making out with Noelle, obviously), but I believe that you can get the idea that I am going for here. Keir’s character Craig ends the movie by saying:
“Okay, I know you're thinking, "What is this? Kid spends a few days in the hospital and all his problems are cured?" But I'm not. I know I'm not. I can tell this is just the beginning. I still need to face my homework, my school, my friends. My dad. But the difference between today and last Saturday is that for the first time in a while, I can look forward to the things I want to do in my life. Bike, eat, drink, talk. Ride the subway, read, read maps. Make maps, make art. Finish the Gates application. Tell my dad not to stress about it. Hug my mom. Kiss my little sister. Kiss my dad. Make out with Noelle. Make out with her more. Take her on a picnic. See a movie with her. See a movie with Aaron. Heck, see a movie with Nia. Have a party. Tell people my story. Volunteer at 3 North. Help people like Bobby. Like Muqtada. Like me. Draw more. Draw a person. Draw a naked person. Draw Noelle naked. Run, travel, swim, skip. Yeah, I know it's lame, but, whatever. Skip anyway. Breathe... Live.”
Sometimes we can get so caught up in the things of life that we forget that living is a blessing in and of itself. Waking up each morning with air in my lungs and the potential that each day brings is the blessing that God has given us and I know that I personally desire to choose to embrace each day and to focus on the positive rather than the negative. I choose to skip anyway.
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