Have you built your castle?

I've been blessed with having two out of four amazing classes this semester, because all we do is watch videos and clips, and analyze them :D

Just today, we were given the chance to watch this short film called "The Castle", which in my opinion, was an eye opener.

It reflected on this particular Australian, working-class family, who did not have much, but treated whatever they owned, like gold. They lived comfortably, in what some may not define as comfort, and luxuriously in their own warmth and closeness. The film portrayed really simple things, but things that we often forget to do, sometimes. For example, the father has this habit of complementing the wife on every meal that she cooked, even if it's just roast chicken with mash, followed by the wife saying thank you, like she really meant it, even though secretly she knows that it sort of has become a habit of his. It's a simple example of appreciating something no matter how small it is, to show that the person doing it, is never taken for granted.

It made me realise that the less you have, the more you are able to appreciate and remember all that is dear to you. You are able to place a memory on every single thing that you receive and be reminded by the good gesture all the time. Also, comfort and luxury is only defined by you and not others. As cliche as this may sound, just think about it. Why is it that some people feel inadequate or inferior when they don't own as much as others, and why is it that some people are just fine as they are?

As human beings, we often find things to define ourselves with, to an extent that we even risk of defining our own happiness on other people's success. It is not wrong to dream big and to want to make a better life for yourself, but never place your happiness based on what others deem as happiness. Always be thankful and content with what you have, and that's all you'll ever need to survive in this world.

In the short film, the family is small, lives in a humble home, but filled with love. I'm a sucker for movies as such. Call it whatever you want; cliche, corny, typical. To me, they're reminders, so that we won't lose ourselves too much, and to be readily defined by others.

We don't need to define ourselves in this world. The world we built and live in, will define us eventually.

Ps: The short film is actually really hilarious. The narration is A+ and everything about it is really witty. A really good combination indeed =)