Prison | Men’s search for meaning | Nelson Mandela

Last week, we celebrated the end of the Berlin Wall, and in doing so brought our own wall down. This week, I share life-changing thoughts coming out of four walls, or a prison. 

When thinking of the divides walls bring, it is rather sad to be on the wrong side of it. It is probably even worst to be surrounded by four of these walls, literally in a prison.

Do you know what the best rated movie is on IMDB? Shawshank Redemption - 9.3. 

Not sure if we should believe scorings in general (and clearly this is a discussion for another letter) but with 9.3 this movie tops all the other ones, ever. Have you watched it?

It is one of the movies that I have watched several times. Do you watch the same movies again and again? My sister has watched Titanic 9 times!

Whether or not you agree that it deserves the top spot, this movie is amazing full-stop. It is a masterpiece with some great actors in it and the rather simple plot of a guy wrongly accused of the murder of his wife and being sent to jail.

Many movies have great actors, the plot here is rather simple, and in all fairness the music, while good, is not memorable like Ennio Morricone or Hans Zimmer’s piece, so what makes it so special?

It is about…

• Hope

• Friendship

• Resilience

• Time

• Injustice

• Self-spirit

• Motivation through the hard and unpleasant times in life

Packed in 2 hours this movie shows various life lessons, finishing in a moment that makes everyone smile. Smile because it was about time for the freedom to take place. And in style!

Often, we are the prisoners of our thoughts and our own making, figuratively or physically.

Often, we bow down to what life, business, work, relationships throw at us. It’s unfair, it’s unpleasant, it’s not right, it’s not just, why me, it’s not my fault, etc. It is when we think it is not in our power to change that we lose control, lose our will and surrender to someone or something else outside of our own life. We are giving control of our life and actions to an outsider.

This is exactly when we should rise, stand tall, be proud and accept the now while having faith by building future resilience. Take ownership, take personal responsibility.

Andy Dufresne took his time, stood still, and eventually escaped.

QUESTION…

What meaning will you give to your next action, thought, step or smile?