MODERN MYTH MESSAGES: UNBREAKABLE

 

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David Dunn: I wanted to ask you a question. It's gonna sound a little strange, just think about it for a second, okay? 

Audrey Dunn: Okay. 

David Dunn: When's the last time I was sick? Do you remember? 

Audrey Dunn: Um, I don't know. It's been a while. 

David Dunn: I haven't been sick this year, I know that. 

Audrey Dunn: Okay. 

David Dunn: Do you remember me getting sick? 

Audrey Dunn: Um... not a specific day. What - what's this about? 

David Dunn: Audrey, do you remember me ever getting sick? In the three years we lived in this house? In the old apartment? Before Joseph was born? Before we ever got married? 

Audrey Dunn: I - I can't remember. 

David Dunn: Don't you think that's kind of weird, not remembering one cold or a fever or a sore throat? What do you think it means?

FROM BUENA VISTA PICTURES :   UNBREAKABLE

Back in the year 2000,  director M. Night Shyamalan followed up his massively popular first foray into filmmaking, ‘The Sixth Sense’, with another movie that continues to gain its well earned fanatical fans.  This second film is called ‘Unbreakable’ and it may have been a little too ahead of its time during its initial release over 20 years ago.  But in our current pop culture fascination with the mythology surrounding superheroes and their arch villains, it's easy to understand why a film that was often subtly dismissed as ‘Sixth Sense-Part Two’ continues to build its rabid fan base.

For the uninitiated, ‘Unbreakable’ stars Samuel L. Jackson and Bruce Willis and weaves a slow burning, yet riveting tale of a real life superhero whose powers are unearthed by the horrific tragedies spun by the mind of a sociopathic madman.  Director and writer Shyamalan infuses the script with several opportunities to explore some hefty spiritual themes, such as broken love, the bonds between fathers and sons, and the tragedy of an unexamined life.  

Both Willis and Samuel L. Jackson turn in some of their finest work to support a film that requires small, subtle and intimate emotional pacing. All to keep us viewers utterly enthralled in the attempt to uncover a narrative that takes its time to unfold. Languid, yet impossible to look away!

And of course since I am a New Age Nerd, I am incredibly drawn to the manner in which the film portrays its central character's Superhero's Journey.  It takes us all on a path towards REBIRTH, and understanding the unequalled power in finding your purpose/mission.   “Do you know what the scariest thing is?  To not know your place in this world, to not know why you are here. That's...that's just an awful feeling,” says Samuel L Jackson's character

Mr. Glass.  In this rare twist in the genre, the villain actually supports the hero in finding out who he really is as displayed when he espouses, “It's hard for many people to believe that there are extraordinary things inside themselves, as well as others.  I hope you can keep an open mind.”

The grandiose antagonist, Mr. Glass, was born with a rare disease, TYPE One osteogenesis imperfecta. In pure layman's terms, his brittle bones are so fragile, even the smallest of  unintended jolts can shatter one, if not several of his limbs. Throughout his life, he has deperately tried to find a meaning for his jarring and beyond painful medical condition. And, he finally finds the answers he seeks within the well worn pages of comic books. 

In stark contrast, Bruce Willis's David is our emotional gateway into the film's narrative. He spends the majority of his days as a security guard at a local college after being the sole survivor of a horrendous train crash years earlier. And make NO mistake. His namesake is a metaphor for the fearless King David, who took down the mighty Goliath in the Old Testament chapters of the bible. In fact, nearly half of all Psalms are directly attributed to him. And only Jesus the Christ is mentioned more frequently in the bible. 

And although he has no desire to topple the legacy built from a man who lived overly 2,000 years ago, he does eventually gain the moxie to 'look under the hood' of his latent talents. And we, the audience, are suddenly jolted by what he discovers!

Remembering that this film was released back in 2000, way before comic books and their titular character's captured the world's imagination and began to rewrite the cultural zeitgeist and what is possible for the human condition, commands a certain amount of prescient power!  

I was reminded of this film during a recent coaching session with a client.  She was facing a serious dilemma that stemmed from her deep fear of flying.  Her husband was heading to Italy for a huge business affair and desperately wanted her to join him for the occasion.  Plus, how can you pass up an all expenses paid trip to ITALY?!  Right?!  

During our session, I found out she was a trained yoga instructor who was obviously incredibly passionate and proud of her profession.  And it became the perfect way for me to assist her in tapping into her own SUPERPOWERS to overcome her phobia of flying.  As she was explaining to me how terrific and powerful she felt when standing in front of her students, teaching them the yoga principles that were seemingly a part of DNA!  I knew it was the perfect time to jump in with a super heroic suggestion!  

“What would it look like, if you reframed this flight to Italy as a yoga job assignment.  What if you pretended that the airline was hiring you to be the superhero called YOGA WOMAN.  And it was your job to hold a space of peace and serenity for ALL the people on board the plane, ” I asked.

After several seconds of silence, she spoke up.  “Oh my gosh, Jeff.  That shifted everything for me.  I really think I could do that.  And I am even going to make a YOGA WOMAN costume with a big Y on my chest and everything.”

It may seem too easy (and trust me, not all coaching sessions flow like this) but that subtle shift in her own perspective flipped a mental switch that gave her the courage to take that flight and share a once in a lifetime experience!  It's a bird, it's a plane......no it's YOGA WOMAN keeping everyone safe and sane!  LOL

Just as one of the core messages in ‘UNBREAKABLE’, we all have a unique set of gifts and talents.  Many of which lie dormant for the majority, if not ALL of our lives.  And it's a damn shame!  It's our duty to share our SUPER POWERS with the world, through the paradigm of unconditional LOVE.  After all, that's why we are here!

So I ask you, how much time have you spent trying to uncover the amazing parts of your rare talents and gifts?  They are there.  WITHIN YOU.  Patiently awaiting your call and connection. So the most audacious question you will ever be asked is "Do you have the courage to search for them?"  Although none of us are utterly Unbreakable, we are all blessed with special abilities worthy of any superhero!

BE SUPER HEROIC!

BE LOVE - SERVE ALL - INSPIRE ALWAYS

Nerdmaste,

Jeffrey Louis Martinez