I try to make sense of things. Which is why, I guess, I believe in destiny. There must be a reason that I am as I am. There must be. - Bicentennial Man

Have you ever considered how we came to exist in this world? Although everyone has their own opinion on this matter, it amazes me how statistically unlikely it is all of the world is as it is today (if that made sense). When considering our sense of "being", we are all very complex in our own way and when considering the phrase"being alive" can mean so many different things. As I am rummaging through my closet and bedroom I recall old memories of when I felt truly alive. I remember sliding into home base during little league baseball games, dressing up for Halloween, going on a date with a beautiful girl. All of these events really hold special places in my mind. Although I briefly discussed the topic last night, the person I was back then is a very different person than I am now. I find myself throwing away old science books and even remember old hobbies I used to love that I find no interest in anymore. Being able to change over time is part of being human.
Although it is super cheesy in its own way, I always enjoyed the 1999 movie, Bicentennial Man starring Robin Williams. The whole movie can be found on YouTube free, but for a quick summary, Andrew is a robot in the near future who serves a family of four. His master allows him to read and learn about the world around him and Andrew quickly learns that he is not free in this world and wants to become human and gain the rights associated with being human. The movie continues with a love story, a fight for power, and the eventual plan for him to become fully human. It makes you wonder what would happen if a scenario like this happened today. I feel like there would be so much backlash to this idea that it would never be fully approved of by society until a similar time frame seen in the movie. But the movie does pose the question, "what does it mean to be alive". There are so many people who sit around their whole lives and don't accomplish anything and there are the opposite people who have so many goals and ideas that they become overwhelmed and nothing actually gets done. Take some time to think this week on where you stand on this spectrum, hopefully it is somewhere in the middle. What makes you feel alive?
About the video: This song was released two years before Bicentennial man was released, but I still have many fond memories of this song. Although it was often played at middle school dances, I always felt so alive when I slow danced to this song with a girl in my arms. Although everyone is different with what makes them feel alive, I believe there is nothing more thrilling when you have the right dance partner and you're dancing to a song like this. Someday I might find her :)