Does Reality Suck?

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Q: Does reality suck?

The imagination (or fantasy) that the human mind is capable of, is both a blessing and a curse.

In our imagination we can be anything. And we can be brilliant at what we do.

In reality, maybe we will never amount to being anything special, just a run of the mill person. We'll enjoy the dance of life, with - at best - being average.

One of my favourite all time movies is the 1990 movie 'Total Recall'. And in it, there is this:

Bob McClane: What is it that is exactly the same about every single vacation you have ever taken?
Douglas Quaid: I give up.
Bob McClane: You! You're the same.


And very much we live in a society forever tantalized by an exciting fantasy that we are led to believe we can get, but the reality is so far off.

Examples

1) The Sportscar:

You are tantalized by sportscars. And one day, either through scrimping and saving, or finance, or a lucky windfall, you get your dream sportscar. 

Q: Does the dream live up to the fantasy?
A: No.

i: There's worrying about your precious (and probably expensive to you) sportscar.
ii: There's your drivng. The fantasy that you're a brilliant driver comes crashing down when you realize that, actually, you're more suited to driving Miss Daisy.
iii: There's all these fantastic adventures which you were going to go on, but you don't find time for them. Or when you do go, the reality of the open road comes crashing down when you're met be a never ending sea of Sunday drivers.

2) The Dream Vacation:

You are tantalized by a dream vacation. Say it is to climb Mt Kilimanjaro.

Q: Does the dream live up to reality?
A: Maybe.

In this case it is maybe, because the fantasy here is visiting somewhere, and it doesn't matter that you are you.

3) Your Life:

Q: What did you dream about when you were young? A great footballer? An astronaut? The designer of brilliant cars? Buck Rogers? James Bond? Genghis Khan? And did any of that come true?
A: No.

Fantasy is Always Greater Than Realtiy

Reality does always suck compared to fantasy.
Reality is reality though (or is it!?)

As the Buddha says "There is no path to happiness; happiness is the path" so we choose to be happy in the life we live. Perhaps the best advice is:

Live you best life!

And maybe, we can live our lives with a little fantasy. Like -
  • "Your are a one man technical army!"
  • "You are the best at what you do"
- and with belief in yourself, maybe that isn't fantasy....