On Finding Solace In A Hostile World
On Finding Solace In A Hostile World
The Movie "Kes" (1969) And The Quest For Freedom
Image by L.E. Wilson from RedBubble based on work by Cyril from Pixabay
When it is dark enough, you can see the stars.
Life will give you plenty of reasons to be angry and bitter—if you let it. The truth is that everything is indeed unfair, and every little gain you make is a struggle. What’s more, at any moment you can lose what you’ve worked hard to get, as well as those you most care about. But you don’t have to let life’s struggles conquer you and twist you into a resentful, aggrieved person who only sees the world as a menace.
And the reason why your state of mind is a choice and not a fate is because in spite of all the problems and the pain, there is still goodness in the world. Your own tenacity, good humor, and self-reliance will reward you. Moreover, these attributes will allow you to find that there are indeed caring people in this mean old world, as well as good things to be enjoyed, some of which are enlightening and beautiful.
Kes (1969) is a drama directed by Ken Loach, based on the novel by Barry Hines, about Billy Casper (David Bradley), a poor young boy from a dysfunctional family and in an abusive school system who teaches himself to train a kestrel falcon and finds solace in the process.
Life Lesson: The world can be a very hostile place, but you can still find friends.
🍿Movie Scene Link (movie quote)
If you want to see an example of such a trajectory, watch the 1969 British film Kes (1969). This drama follows Billy Casper (David Bradley), a poor young boy from a coal mining town who is bullied and abused by nearly everyone in his life, including his older brother, his teachers, and his classmates. Yet, there is no self-pitying, no rage, no malice coming from him. Instead he finds fulfillment and happiness in taking care of animals, in particular a kestrel, Kes, that he trains in falconry by teaching himself about it from a book.
Is your life really harder than Billy Casper’s? Are you the constant target of attacks? Does your future look bleak? Or despite all these hardships are you, like Billy, able to let bygones be bygones, let troubles roll off your back, continue to strive and move forward and find moments of solace and peace? How we deal with stressors depends heavily on our mindset, and this, in turn, informs our character.
Another way to look at it is to ask yourself the question: who would you rather be, a survivor who is open to experiencing the wonders of the world, or an embittered hostile person holding on to old grievances and making yourself a perpetual victim looking for retribution? Or more to the point, which of these two choices will make you and the world happier?
Be like Billy.
Find something you are passionate about and let the rest of your troubles melt away as you expand your horizons.
This way you may find what Albert Camus once did when he wrote that,
In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer.
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