Based on a True Story
For a story to be great, it doesn't necessarily need to be true, but if a story is unforgettable, chances are it probably is.
There's something about the phrase, "based on a true story." It stops you, it pulls you in, it carries weight, it lingers because it demands an explanation. It keeps you on the edge of your seat, leaning in, wanting more. It motivates, it inspires, and it encourages others. "Based on a true story," are the stories that all of us already instilled in us waiting to be told, and although many of us will never have the courage to express the type of vulnerability that accompanies the truth, when and if we finally do share it we all realize this simple fact; It's the easiest story we've ever told because it's already been written.
I believe this is an opportune moment for me to introduce myself properly and share my truth with you:
"Hi, my name is Derek, and I'm a child of God. I'm in recovery for a severe drinking problem, and I am currently struggling with anger and resentment issues."
[Hi, Derek]
Remember when your parents told you it's easier to be honest? Or when your girlfriend broke up with you because she couldn't see a future with you, knowing your differences? What about the time you said yes to something you knew you had no interest in saying yes to?
Harder to lie, don't want to lie, and ultimately afraid to tell the truth.
That fear of being honest? I see it everywhere, especially online. I'm referring to the curated highlight reels we refer to as the truth. That someone with thousands of followers actually has influence, or that someone with massive engagement isn't playing the game. Sometimes I catch myself wondering if what we're seeing online is real, or just noise dressed up as meaning. It's hard to tell. But it's even harder not to compare yourself to it. And although I'm not necessarily referring to AI, it would also be naive to assume it's not involved.
I recently read something about human behavior and trust, and it sparked my curiosity because it highlighted the difficulty we face in trusting someone with insecurity issues. It's not that I don't agree or disagree; it's the context in which the idea was presented. While breaking down what "we" struggle with (in this case, insecurity) provided no evidence suggesting they struggled with anything. As the author was neither a human behavioral expert or relatable, I could only conclude, that they were either patronizing me or full of shit.
Or it could be both.
As some of you know, and for those of you who don't know me, I can be pensive more than I can joyful, and with that inherent character trait, could also be perceived as insecure, and all I could think of was how I would likely always trust myself over someone who isn't, because of they're reluctance to share how they feel.
It's that deep thinking, especially about things that are concerning to me, that I want to express how I feel about them. And because I want to share how I feel, I've always tended to lean towards being honest about why something concerns me, rather than saying 'I don't know' or lying to them.
It's probably why I've been broken up with so many times in my life!
Last week, I was watching a movie (I always watch movies), and as I was watching it, I realized how much more interested I was in the film because, just as it started, the words "based on a true story" were displayed across the screen.
For me, that's true for every video, every post, every movie, every book, and every story I've ever read, and they all have one thing in common: they're all unforgettable.
Thank you for reading. I trust you'll know what to do with this without me needing to ask.
Derek