Why Life Is Like LOST
May 25th, 2010
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Do you remember what your life was supposed to be like? Most of us once had a certain destination in mind, and we were all set to go there. But something went wrong. Despite our carefully arranged plans, we ended up someplace else.
At first we’re very disappointed to end up in the wrong place. This isn’t the life we wanted. We might even call it a tragedy. After some time though, we start getting used to it.
We’re not sure whether this is a good place or a bad place, but it’s certainly interesting. Maybe it’s best to withhold judgment. And since this is where we’re going to be for a while, we might as well make ourselves at home, and take a look around.
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We find ourselves surrounded by people of all different backgrounds. We wouldn’t necessarily have chosen to be with these people, and we might think we have nothing in common with some of them. But when we learn their story, we probably find that we can actually relate to them. Eventually, we may realize that we need each other.
There were things that we were so desperate to get back to, but now we can’t really remember why. Maybe we weren’t really supposed to be where we thought we were. Having left some parts of us behind, the past no longer matters. And looking ahead to the future is largely pointless, because there’s no way to predict it. All that matters are the experiences we have today.
A bunch of irrelevant crap will happen, sometimes for weeks at a time. We’ll often wonder, “What the hell does this have to do with advancing the plot?” Some of it will become significant later. Some of it won’t. What we think are our most important questions may never be answered, and we’ll get answers to questions no one asked. But the world wasn’t designed to answer your questions, and we can’t expect to be guided on a straight path from start to finish.
Bad things will happen to good people, and good things will happen to bad people. We’ll even lose track of who the good guys and bad guys are. We’re not sure what we’re supposed to do, what’s right and wrong, or even whether it matters. Are black and white really opposites?
We don’t really know what our part to play is. Are you supposed to learn to forgive yourself or others? Repair a relationship? Become a leader? Protect something? Get off drugs and act like a father? Stop torturing people? Kidnap people on a list? Shoot a polar bear? Set off a nuke? Push a button every 108 minutes? Study electromagnetism? Determine what happens to dynamite in 90+ degree heat? Turn into a smoke monster?
There’s really no one here to tell you what to do. And if someone is, you might not want to listen.
Many times, we’ll wonder whether this is all a test, whether our life has a purpose. Do we have free will? Do you believe in destiny? Are we here for a reason? You’ll probably be wondering right up until the very end, but you’ll never really know. Even after it’s over, everyone will still disagree about what it all means.
So, what then? Is life a hopeless chaotic jumble of teleporting islands, four-toed statues, doomsday numbers, mistranslated tattoos, sonic fences, magic boxes, invisible horses, fake beards, light and water wheels, and so on? Or is there a grand purpose to it all? I couldn’t tell you. But regardless, what can you do, other than making the most of each episode?
May 25th, 2010 at 2:08 am
I see where you’re going with this, thing is i think most people would rather be on that island than their real lives.
May 25th, 2010 at 10:01 pm
@ Joe, that could be true. But then, those people should ask themselves how they can get what they need without waiting to crash on an island.