Real vs Reel

I saw a wonderful quote today - Life's more like the real game than an episode of Sports Center.

It made me smile. Then it made me think.

In our world of constantly bombarded messages all competing for our attention, sexy often wins, hence the need to be louder, more colourful and create a bigger impact. In short, we're fed the highlight reel constantly and as a result we come to expect it.

The highlight reel is the best bits - the home run, the diving catch, the spectacular goal, touchdown or try. In short, it's the once-in-a-long-long-time-play that someone makes. When shown this type of feat regularly we start to expect it, but of course life's not like that. It's a counter-point to the movie montage scene where the falling-in-love couple play in the grass, look longingly at each other and go in paddle boats, all set to some sappy tune. The movie is telling us "this is the part where they fall in love". We all acknowledge that.

Except the highlight reel is worse as it doesn't come with that explicitly - it doesn't say this is the unreal part, instead it's implication is - this is how you should play. Or even - this is how you'll do when you use our stuff. (play any Axe commercial in your mind now for proof)

So is reel better than real - the humdrum, the long tedious times, and the days where you have bad hair, bad breath and a bad mood. Would it be better to live in short SPECTACULAR bursts ? Some people undoubtedly think that.

I don't.

Bring on the mediocre, test my patience with life and let me eat lots of average food. I want to wear clothing I don't always like, have unsatisfied cravings and be miserable some of the time. I need to know what that's like and be very familiar with it - for without that I can't appreciate the extraordinary. And I do want to - appreciate it I mean.