Before I went to bed last night, I decided to watch a film that a good friend of mine had been suggesting for some time. The film marked the first time the man in the thumbnail of this post and Robert DeNiro ever appeared on screen together. Does anyone know the name of the film? I'll give you a hint… despite being nominated for no major awards… it is one of the HOTTEST films in its genre!
Give up? The movie was called Heat, and it came out in 1995. And here's a wild coincidence, it just so happens that the man in the thumbnail of this post, Al Pacino, turned 83 today! I genuinely did not realize that when I randomly decided to watch this film, but if you know anything about me already, you know I don't believe in coincidences.
Now the main reason I bring up this movie is because of a dialogue that is repeated multiple times by DeNiro's character in the movie: “Don't let yourself get attached to anything you are not willing to walk out on in 30 seconds flat if you feel the heat around the corner.”
This dialogue makes sense in the context of the film for people who are always on the run, but does it still make sense for the world we live in today?
Certain philosophies in the world teach detachment from life… but I tend to argue otherwise.
Humans are naturally collaborative creatures and connecting to something else is part of who we are. If you have nothing to hold on to, does life really still have meaning? It doesn't necessarily have to be a person… it could be a job or a home or even just a loving pet. Heck, given the state of AI today, one day in the future you could end up connecting with a digital character.
In general, I think that attachments make us more engaged in the world and allow us to have a deeper relationship with our surroundings.
I say all this today to you as I read news article after news article about how Padmavati is delaying our Swayamvar because she isn't entirely sure if I am going to show up for her.
Since many of you know my story already, should I trust what Śuka has told me about Padmavati, even though we haven't met yet… or should I let go of the one attachment that has given my life its highest meaning?
Your answer could be the key… to unlocking our future!
-k