Log #3

2017.03.21

Log #3

This weekend I watched the movie Collateral Beauty. It was the kind of movie that brought me to tears. Reading the plot summary, I made up my mind to watch the movie. The leading role, Howard, writes letters to death, time, and love. I am crazy about the concept of writing letters not to human beings but to abstract things. That was creative and yet innovative. Even though I watched it with Chinese subtitles, the use of language was so beautiful that I want to share with you two of my favorite lines, which are so profoundly meaningful in two different ways that they can actually be used as gifts and give away as gifts to those in need: The people who are lost in searching of the true meaning of life, just like Howard, who lost his six-year-old beloved daughter Olivia. In the following two paragraphs I would like to share the two lines, my reflection on them, and who I want to send the "gifts" to.

"What is your why?"

Howard said the line when he was trying to boost the morale of his employees three years before his daughter died of a deadly cerebral disease called "CBM" for short. It reminded me the saying: Everything happens for a reason. We ought to be conscious of not merely what we are doing but what the outcome can be. I want to present this line to everyone because all of us need this consciousness.

"Death is so much more vital than time. Death gives time its value."

The line comes from Brigitte, who played "Death" in the movie. Things that you cannot sell and buy are priceless. Time, from my perspective, is probably one of the most precious things in the world, it really is, however, seldom do we treasure time. That is, we do not make the most of our time for the most part. Death thus gives time its value. This line reminds me of the article Three Days to See by Helen Keller. Only the time when we know the deadline of the things such as sight and life, which are important or even indispensable to us, do we start to complain how short the time is and feel regret for what we should or should not have done. In other words, we take things for granted. I also recall the scene in which Brigitte told Simon, who developed multiple myeloma (a cancer of plasma cell), that he was not dying right. He should tell his families the truth so that they could have the chance to say goodbye to him. I totally agree. Those who are important to you should be prepared for the loss of you before they really lose you. I consider this conversation between Brigitte and Simon to be one of the most tearful scenes. (I type the conversation below!) As it turns out, the line appears to be right at first glance. However, as a matter of fact, death does not give time its value. To me, it is the men who use their time wisely that give time its value. This line is especially for the ones who tend to waste time being a phubber. People are supposed to spend more time with their families, best friends, and lover rather than caring what others are doing and what others think about themselves. I cannot think of anything worse than phubbing without a stop and anything better than keeping significant others company and having a good time with them.

The conversation between Brigitte and Simon

Brigitte: '' You live well live right. But my friend, you are not dying right.''

Simon: ''Are you going to tell me how to die?''

Brigitte: ''Have you told your family yet?''

(Simon shaking his head)

Brigitte: ''You're not helping them."
Brigitte: "You're just denying them what is right for you there."
Simon: ''Yeah. What's that? Pain? Atrophy? Disease?''
Brigitte: ''Yes. Yes. All of it. And the chance to say goodbye.''

Basically, this movie gives us a picture of dealing with bereavement. I was trying to put myself into Howard’s shoe throughout the entire movie. How would I react if I lost my parents? Who or what would I write to if I were going to write letters as Howard did? People always say that a man changes after undergoing a "catastrophe". If I were Howard, I would probably feel exactly the same way and live like a zombie plus a hater as Howard did. As for the second question, I think I would wrote to happiness. The word happiness just jumped into my head when I asked myself this question. What is my why? (I quote the first line!) Because I know I would undoubtedly be devastated by my parents’ death. I would not be able to feel happiness. Writing letters to happiness helped me record the feeling. By doing something pleasant like giving someone a hand, I wrote a letter. I could even keep a happiness diary to remind me what happiness was all about. In this way, I would not immerse myself into the sorrowfulness of bereavement.

I highly recommend you to watch this movie. I like movies that make people think. It provokes you to ponder over death, time, and love: How these three things that you cannot see, hear, and touch connect you and the others in your life.