I Dare You To Answer These Questions

I was doing my rounds in YouTube, CollegeHumor, GoogleVideo and MetaCafe when I stumbled upon this genius video from Dony Permedi. Probably one of the best videos / animation clips out there in cyberspace. Worthy of an Oscar. It is imperative that you watch the video before you proceed with the rest of the article.  

Now I dare you to answer these questions…

I have to say this video really hit me head on like a speeding ten-wheeler truck. There are too many ideas and philosophies that permeate the whole concept. For a moment, I couldn’t move. It was as if everything in this world didn’t make any sense.

I was slack jawed when the clip ended. Right now, I couldn’t even put into worlds the overflow of emotions and sweeping crescendoes. I am angry and sad at the same time. I felt admiration and frustration in weaving moments. I became confused… I had to watch it again. And again. And again. Then finally… I accepted it. 

Then the questions came crashing in like tsunami waves.

When was the last time you went on ahead and sacrificed something for something you really wanted?

How much are you willing to put at stake for a brief moment of joy and success?

How hard are you willing to push to achieve your dreams?

The movie showed a reality too honest and true for most of us to accept.  Watching the kiwi accomplish a lifetime of work to fulfill his ulitimate and highest dream elicits praise and pity from me. Flying was his lifelong dream. He spent his whole life reaching for it.

Yes, Kiwis can’t fly. But that didn’t stop him from trying. A part of me says, the kiwi is stupid. The fact that he could not accept that his species cannot fly led to his doom. He had to spend a lifetime of hard work, carrying trees around, nailing them to a rock mountain, etc…For what?! To make a point? To be a rebel to the laws of nature? And yet, you may also be thinking, was it really his doom? Try to look at it in a different perspective and see if it gives you a whole new picture of the story.

It was his choice. All the hard work was his choice. His so-called doom was his choice. His refusal to accept his fate became his fuel to reach out and achieve his overriding dream. All he wanted was to fly. And he very well knows the fact that there’s nothing he can do to change this fact. He’s a kiwi. Nature dictates that he cannot fly. But all this did not stop the valiant bird from dreaming.  He may not be able to change his fate, but he has the choice to dictate his destiny. He was going to "fly" no matter what. No matter what it takes. It wasn’t about being stubborn. It wasn’t about being emo. It was definitely not about being stupid.

Dreams are what differentiates us from one another. This kiwi decided to be different. He wasn’t going to be like the other kiwis who accepted their flightless state. He wasn’t going to surrender to this harsh reality that easily. His determination and dedication to his goal is what makes our hearts stand in ovation. We all felt his "success". And at the same time we also felt the pain that this so-called "success" was not really meant for him, that he has to give up something in exchange. In his case, he had to give up…everything.

Was it his yearning for something that is not meant to be his that led to his demise? I think not. In fact, I believe the bird does not regret doing it. It was everything he wanted in his life. He was happy. He succeeded in his quest for happiness. It was more fulfilling because he knew he worked hard for it to happen. And it did, and it was exactly how he dreamt about it.