“I’m trying to free your mind, Neo. But I can only show you the door. You’re the one that has to walk through it.” —MORPHEUS, THE MATRIX
The contentment question. Are you now content and why? I offer up this question while watching two year old Wyatt scurry this way and that way; he looks quite content, and ever so happy. For adults our happiness takes on a different form.
Happiness and contentment, depending on one’s age come down to stages in life; much like the little kid wanting my attention. At age one, two and even three years old, the kid will do different things, and in different ways. In my 30’s, 40’s and even 50’s I also did different things and in different ways; that I would now do quite differently, if given another chance. That’s coming from a 60’s year old perspective.
The same goes for working people and the newly retired or well seasoned folks. When people retire most seem to plan travel as their first adventure. This thirst for travel and adventure never seems to subside in some people while in others they are as happy as farmers in a field staying home.
This travel desire is a version of a walkabout. Something the aborigines figured out a long, long time ago that is necessary for our development as creatures. If this is what you also plan on doing, don’t overpack. And don’t plan a strict itinerary. Learning to cope with this new found freedom takes time.
The retirement man of today has figured out that in life, we are all heading to the same destination – some day. So, when it comes down to it the real treasure or gem in your life should always be that the journey – is the destination.
In the movie the Matrix; it suggests that everyone has an individual responsibility to make choices between the real world and an artificial world. The character Neo is the exemplar of free will.
Fate or good luck also plays a large role in his adventure of life as his CFO spouse stays home playing with the two year old while managing both his time and wealth. The good luck part is also not ending up as this middle-aged man married to such a strong-willed woman that you never ever get to experience that treasure or gem. But, I now regress…….
Morpheus explains that, years ago, humans developed Artificial Intelligence but lost control of it. In desperation, humans chose to create a nuclear winter, thinking that by blocking out the sun, they could eliminate the solar power the robots needed to survive. But the robots adapted, and now they run the ravaged world and harvest humans for bioelectric food.
The Matrix is a computer-generated dream world designed to keep these humans under control; similar to the way that radio and television does today. Remember that two year old above. Guess what he’s now plugged into?
Humans are kept sedated, effectively living a virtual life. Neo awakens in a bed back on Morpheus’s ship, and Morpheus further explains that one man was born into the Matrix with the power to change anything in it. This man freed the first human minds. An Oracle has prophesied his return, and Morpheus believes Neo is the reincarnation of the One.
Traveling on a motorcycle leaves me quite content. Is it because I’m using up all my memories just trying to stay alive, unlike this two year old who hasn’t a care in the world. Is this what contentment is then? A time to hit the pause button and think of nothing?
No wonder dogs look so happy when they are well fed. Happiness is having a full belly, and the more you question anything, the unhappier you will likely be. Ask any dog.
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