This afternoon I went to see "The Adjustment Bureau". It was probably one of the most enjoyable movies I've seen in quite a while and I just went through the 2010 Oscar season. It was really well written. Very interesting concept. The special effects were simple, but effective. The acting was great. The story is a man, on the road to becoming a very successful politcian, due to chance, meets a girl that will make him veer off his path. In comes "The Adjustment Bureau", a group of men who try to make changes to this man's world to get him back on track. Big snag, he accidentally walks in on them doing their thing and discovers what he thought was his own freewill isn't at all free. I won't go any further in the plot because this movie is so worth watching, I don't want to ruin it. However, it does pose some interesting questions about freewill and destiny. The one that stuck out to me the most. If you could see what the consequences to your actions were before you chose, would you make a different choice, specifically when choosing your mate.
Lets say you met your significant other. They are everything you suddenly want. They are companion, lover, and comfort. Then someone told you, okay, you have a choice. You can spend the rest of your life with this person, be perfectly content in the life you create together, and have the security of a wonderful partner. OR, you can forget you ever met this person and be successful at your biggest dreams. Which you prefer? Contentment with someone, or an extraordinary existence alone. If you knew your mate would hold you back from your dreams, or you would hold your mate back from theirs, would you leave them. It's a tough question. Ideallly your "perfect mate" would help you achieve your dreams, and better you. But that's not necessarily realistic. Sometimes, finding the "right person" makes you happy with what you have and you don't push as hard to achieve greatness. I know lots of people that went to school thinking they would be this or that, and ended up meeting someone they love and became a smaller version of what they pictured. Some of them are perfectly happy with their choice, some of them aren't. Of course, they may not of reached that original goal anyways. In fact, they might not have been AS successful without meeting their spouse. Something we in reality would never really know. I'm thankful we do not know the consequences to our actions before we make them. I'm grateful I can just live my life and see what happens. If such a "Adjustment Bureau" really exists, I think I'm perfectly happy being unaware of the fact.
I've made several big decisions in my life that completely altered my future. What if I had taken the scholarship to Rolla and graduated as an engineer? What if I hadn't left Oklahoma when I did and stayed with the guy I was seeing? What if I hadn't gone to work at Blockbuster in Texas, but instead taken the job at the University Bookstore? What if I had made different friends? What if I hadn't decided to move to Arkansas to be closer to my brother again?
All I know is if I hadn't done those things, I wouldn't have just been on stage singing in front of a bunch of friends to 1950s music. I wouldn't have met when of my best friend's and mentor Maureen who has helped me discover who I am and helped me gain back some of the self esteem I lost when I was young. I probably wouldn't see my brother, who is really my best friend, as much as I do. I wouldn't have gotten to know my sister-in-law Kristi as well as I do and found a sister in her. I might not be as close to my parents as I am today. I might not be the confident, independent, opinionated woman I am today. And hopefully the path I've taken thus far will someday introduce me to the man I will spend the rest of my life with.
If you have a free afternoon, consider seeing The Adjustment Bureau. It is well worth it.
The Adjustment Bureau on imdb.
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