Reflections!

It’s been a while since I had the chance to kick back and watch a movie during my leisure time. I’m a total movie maniac; you know, it’s my way of escaping from reality. Usually, I’m glued to series, episodes, or movies every day, but recently, life’s been throwing one thing after another my way, and I couldn’t catch a break to indulge in my favorite pastime.

I vaguely remember catching a movie clip where the main character was all about staying single and avoiding commitments, making it clear to his colleague that it was his life’s choice. I had this movie on my watch list for ages because of that clip, but somehow, I just couldn’t get my hands on it. Sure, I have an Amazon subscription, but this one was only available for rent. And being a typical middle-class Asian, I thought, Why spend money to rent a movie just to watch it on my mobile when I could save up for a theater experience instead? I finally got it through telegram (thanks, P.).

This (Up in the air) movie revolves around the character of Ryan Bingham, who holds the position of corporate downsizer. Ryan’s main job is to deliver the unfortunate news of termination to employees on behalf of their employers. His professional life requires extensive travel, making him a frequent flyer, and he relishes the sense of liberation that comes from constant movement and accumulating airline miles. However, the dynamics change when a young and ambitious colleague named Natalie introduces a cost-cutting proposal that involves remote layoff processes through video conferencing.

I am not going to narrate the whole story, yet it had some seriously attention-grabbing incidents that made me sit up and take notice. The flip side of terminator/downsizer, the backpack TED talk, stating why marriage is a choice for his colleague (Natalie), his sister’s wedding, and the way her fiancé questions Ryan, is his choice to take the causal relationship to the next level. All these explore the meaning of life, the importance of relationships, and the power of choices.

The resounding message of this move is that life doesn’t come with a one-size-fits-all manual. For some, a thrilling life of constant travel and detachment is the ultimate dream, while others find solace in the comfort of stability and meaningful connections. But here’s the thing—the choices we make in this grand journey of life have consequences that are both delightful and challenging. It’s about being awake and alive to the impact of our decisions, knowing that with each step, our story takes shape. Ending this with a quote from the same movie.

“Tonight most people will be welcomed home by jumping dogs and squealing kids. Their spouses will ask about their day, and tonight they’ll sleep. The stars will wheel forth from their daytime hiding places; and one of those lights, slightly brighter than the rest, will be my wingtip passing over”

– Ryan Bingham

Cheers!

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