Jerry Maguire's Mission Statement
The
things we think and do not say: thoughts
of a sports attorney
There's a scene in the beginning of this movie where the protagonist
has a realization. Although he's lived the life he's wanted to. Somewhere
along the line, his dream became perverted. Lost in the endless day
to day struggle, and the pursuit of material weath, he has forgotten why
he does what he does. He has disconnected his life from his inner passions.
Now suddenly wide awake, he begins to write. In the course of a sleepless
night he writes
down
his
thoughts,
his dreams, the events in his past which have shaped him, and the current
messed up state of things.
For the first time he's written from his heart, and putting on paper
his entire naked soul. Simultaneously,
he's a prophet, a lunatic, and at Kinkos printing out a hundred copies
for all to read.
It takes the rest of the movie for his soul to emerge, and for him
to discover who he might be.
Like all romantic movies he convinces a
single person to follow him. Ultimatley this will be the woman who
completes him in life. Though the rest of the movie, he is betrayed,
she leaves, he comes back, he finds himself, he inspires others and
and
we begin
to
see
that his little memo has inspired others to give up the petty struggles
in their lives and try to be better.
Read Cameron
Crowe's, entire Jerry Maguire tirade ... the script is at the end
too, if you enjoy
hearwarming
stories like that as well.
Conviction
I've had a lot of sleepless nights like that.
This is what I came up with.
What kind of writing
is so powerful that most people are inspired by it but do not act
out of
fear for
losing
what
they
cannot
possibly
hold. Once I drempt of writing such a note, and sending it across
the country to a friend. That somehow she would read it, and that I
would
say
"Look, don't do this.
You're better than this, you don't have to
settle for a life of mediocrity.
I once heard your dreams, who
who you wanted to become, and the things which you thought you
could obtain.
You could be so much more, you deserve better. You don't have to settle."
Instead I watched it go past, I watched as our lives went separate
ways. And although we still talk and get together occasionally, I always
look back and wonder what things might have been. I know it wouldn't
have been easy, and I wouldn't have become the person I am today.
I do not pretend that my writing has the power to convince people
of my ideals, or that it has the power to move people. It doesn't.
All that is immaterial. It only needs to be
able to move my own heart,
and only
by writing truly from my heart. I know I have to show my raw naked
soul. And expose vulnerabilites that may penetrate the carefully crafted
armor I have set around me. Even knowing these risks. I chose to carry
onward.
Know who you are, and be true to yourself.
modified 9.12.2003
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