After years of various regimens of self-medication, I have come to this conclusion: there is nothing better than a stack of Oreos, a glass of milk, and a DVD. Don’t ask me to explain it. It’s just true.
For a brief time during my junior year of college I tried actual therapy. My very busy, masters candidate of a shrink in training must have tried her best to listen to the rants of an over privileged, overindulged undergrad. Sometimes she would give me good advice like don’t read your book before class it makes you unapproachable or breathe when you talk to people, it helps. Time has taught me that this last piece of advice was in fact sound. But most days after a session I would go to the library, take out a DVD, and head back to my room where an alternative universe of meet-cutes, good luck, and humor awaited me. Things seemed to really work out for people in the movies. Either that or they were all killed by mutant aliens or the bubonic plague so it didn’t really matter anyway.
Now, four months after graduating, and without the option of going back to student health for free ranting sessions, I can’t help but yearn for the straightforward advice of the “keep breathing” variety. There are moments in my life when I’m with my family and friends where I am, without a doubt, happy. But certain things seem to creep up on me. I don’t have a job, a life plan, or any sort of idea of what I want to do or where I want to go. I don’t have a boyfriend nor have I ever had a boyfriend or even been on a real date. I am twenty-two and in many ways have the emotional range and life experience of a fourteen year old boy.
Things must change.
Throughout my life, every time I had a problem or was sad or simply needed to breathe I watched a movie. I’ve watched thousands of people find jobs, find love, and find happiness. Things seem to work out pretty well for them, why not for me? So I’m going to try something. I will watch movies, find the central piece of advice, and act on it. No matter how stupid or inappropriate the “advice” seems to be. Armed with a Netflix account, a less than stellar social life, a mild case of insomnia, and the will to change I am making every film my new shrink.
Wish me luck.
