Chris McCandless (Credit: Chris McCandless)

Late this morning, I watched with much interest a great film: ‘Into The Wild’. Released last September, it was a film I really wanted to see and I’m glad I finally had the pleasure to do so. I was attracted to the basis of the movie, which is based on the true life story of Chris McCandless.

Frustrated with the ways of a material world and people, Chris began a journey of truth after graduating from college: He left his family, donated most of his life savings and hitchhiked across North America to explore the real true meaning of life. His journey and life would all end in Alaska, where he spent months in the wilderness with little gear, food or preparation.

Chris and ‘Into The Wild’ calls to mind what really should matter in life. As one who’s obsessed with the truth and meaning of life, Chris’ story hit home. At times, there were emotional moments during the film, because Chris reminded me much of myself: The highly conflicted young guy living in a world of fables, titles and numbers.

While I don’t think I’ll ever approach my journey in the way Chris did, I do intend to spend much time traveling this planet in search of many answers and experiences. If you haven’t seen this movie, please do. It’s not only enlightening, but also a chilling reality about who we are as people today.

Dear Melanin,

We’ve had a long history together. We entered the world in unison some 28 years ago, where you were faint and barely visible. I soon realized that we were members of a family where your cousins were also present in varying amounts. As we grew older together, you made your visibility as a friend more pronounced.

While I was too young in the beginning to understand the implications of our long-term friendship, I always knew that we both stood for something in life: Understanding. I know that your presence means no harm to my life. In fact, you are probably my best friend in the Summer, because you protect me from the Sun. You’re always there to shield me against the harmful UV rays radiating through space and our atmosphere.

Unfortunately, Melanin, you don’t shield me from ignorance. Why not? If you can protect me from the harshest element of life, why not people? You always seem to attract these outlandish assumptions to our friendship. You often even give me a bad name, and as much as I wish you didn’t, there never seems to be anything I can do about it.

Why do you attract people who think badly of us? Why do you attract women who’ve dated nothing but gang bangers and thugs? Why do you attract women who speak poor English? Or those with babies? Why does your presence always seem to come with so many liabilities? Again, I know you mean no harm, but why?

Why do you keep certain people that I want to meet at bay, Melanin? Sure, I keep my distance at times from people, too, but only because I know those people aren’t good for us. You see, I’ve always wanted the best for us. Always. But, for whatever reason, many people always seem to have an issue with our friendship. Why?

Is it fair, Melanin, that I should suffer in life because of my friendship with you? Why can’t people take the time to learn about us and who we are? Why do they assume our friendship is something bad and harmful? We’ve never done any harm to anyone. We’ve always done our very best. We’ve always been very accommodating and welcoming.

Still, Melanin, you sometimes give us a bad name and for no apparent reason at all. You’ve always been my most protective friend. I wish everyone else could see the same.

There are many of people today living soulless lives: They cannot realize true freedom, success and happiness in life. They have been told all their lives that they’d amount to nothing, have little success or ever be truly happy with themselves and life in general. They’ve been deprogrammed by family, strangers and friends alike to remain uninspired and unable to harness any real passion for life and their existence.

My heart truly goes out to these individuals, for life ultimately becomes a chore rather than a mission. They cannot see beyond the confines of the boundaries they’ve established for themselves. They are unable to dream, imagine and grasp life in ways which empowers them with new and unknown capabilities.

How can any human being deny another the ability to prosper in life? To taste freedom and happiness? What are THEY afraid of? What do THEY fear?

If you are one these individuals, I’d like to ask that you take a moment and dream. Seclude yourself. Revisit your childhood. Imagine the days of when you saw yourself as a super hero, an amazing public figure or famed CEO. You can do it. Don’t deny yourself the possibilities that only you can realize and nurture.

Good luck.

I was twelve years old when I got the news that my Father passed on. I was in a state of disbelief, numbed and confused. At his funeral, the tears fell like an April rain. Looking back, I’m amazed that so much time has passed since his death. I think there will always be a part of my life that’s unresolved, for even today, I still have the occasional moment of shedding a tear.

There are many life lessons and death is one of them. It cannot be avoided. It’s a fact of life. Unfortunately for my Father, his departure was just too soon. However, he made choices which shortened his potential here on Earth (although I am sometimes angered by the post-effects of Vietnam and its impact on families).

Eventually, I’ll leave the dreamy state of seeing my father’s smile, enjoying a walk together or talking about life in general. Yes, even today, I still wish the outcome was different, but life goes on. You learn to adapt, grow and prosper all on your own.

Despite my Father being gone, I am thankful for my Mom and her unwavering love. It just would have been great to have it from my Father as well. I often envy those with both of their parents. It seems like the greatest gift ever.

I am making this a featured post for the month of April in honor of Dr. Randy Pausch who died of terminal pancreatic cancer in July 2008. We all need heroes and Dr. Pausch is one of many for me.

On Wednesday, April 9th (2008), ABC aired its hour long Diane Sawyer special with Randy Pausch, “The Last Lecture: A Love Story for Your Life”, which details the touching story of a respected CMU professor who’s dying of terminal pancreatic cancer. Having blogged on several different occasions about Randy’s “Last Lecture” video (view the entire 1.5 hour video), ABC invited me last week to film an interview for the special.

Although ABC didn’t use any of the footage we recorded in New York last Wednesday, they did use the original video I submitted to them at the very beginning of the special. The main point used from the video: “Randy’s video inspired me.” I am happy that I was able to tell Randy that he’s inspired me to enable the dreams of others (I’ve achieved many wonderful dreams of my own), to continue dreaming (my dreams have never disappointed me) and to find the good in humanity (I can be cynical about the world around me).

Again, many thanks to ABC and most importantly to Randy.