"Struck by Lighting" | The Movie That Changed Me:

"Struck by Lighting" is an indie movie directed, written and acted by Chris Colfer (Yes, that guy from Glee). He tells the story of a senior boy named Carson Phillip who was killed by lighting in his school's parking lot. That's not the whole story though, the main character wanted, more than anything, to become the editor of The New Yorker, go to his dream university and win a Nobel Prize. We obviously know he doesn't reach any of his dreams because he dies in the beginning, so where's the real story here?

This movie isn't a depressing, sad-telling of a boy with big dreams that didn't accomplish them because death struck too early. No. This movie is an inspiring, life-changing experience that teaches you how to live life. To dream and to have goals. To have that determination, to want to do something and not give up on it.

He may have not accomplished what he wanted to, but... he inspired others to think and write and feel. And in the end... He was happy with it! He was really, undeniably happy with what he accomplished. He got people to think, to write, to experience life in another way and to cherish it.

I know a lot of people would think the message of this movie was to live your life as quickly as you could because it would be over before you knew it (YOLO and all). But no. That's not it at all.

He didn't have a boyfriend/girlfriend, he didn't have wild sex, he didn't party. That's not it.

It's reaching a goal that seemed near impossible and inspiring other people by doing it. It's dreaming and hoping for a better future, not just for yourself but for everyone else.

I've always been afraid of dying before my "time". Because I want to do something, I want to be remembered for hundreds of years by my writing like Shakespeare or any other famous author. I want to live my life as I want it to be and not how I'm living it right now, stuck in one place with hundreds limitations. I want to make a difference and to be recognized by making that difference.

But I've learned, by this and other books and movies, that making a difference or inspiring someone else isn't something that always gets said. It's not always something that gets recognition or fame. It's a little thing, like making someone smile or saying hello or maybe even making this blog and writing this, that could change someone's life or maybe even save it. 

And you should be happy with that. Because if not... then you don't truly want to help someone else, you just... don't want to fade away. 

But I've learned that you don't fade away, not really. 

Now, I know a lot of  people say that you're going to be ash and someone will forget you, It'll be like you never existed in a hundred years or so. And that's true. 

But depending on your beliefs and what you think happens when you move on... I don't think it really matters. 

Not everyone will know who you were, that's true, but someone did. Someone is glad you're alive. Someone is grateful that you are. And maybe someone is grateful that I made this blog and update it daily. Maybe I made someone's day or made someone smile or maybe even saved someone's life. Have you ever thought of that? That maybe that one passing smile you gave someone that one day in that one place, that you didn't even think twice about... it changed someone else's life. 

And maybe if it's not true, it's nice to think like that. It's nice to do nice things just make other people happy. 

It's a nice way to live. 

At least, that's what I think.

Regardless, you should all see this movie because it is amazing and I will guarantee that it will change your life.

xoxo,

- Merzy