If you haven’t seen the movie “The Legend of Bagger Vance”, consider giving it a shot. If you’ve seen it, watch it again with fresh eyes.
It’s a golf movie from around 2000- actually more of a movie about a golfer- but what it’s really about is a spiritual journey, and you may find it resonating with you.
Somewhat hidden beneath the movie personas are the two main characters from the “Baghavad Gita”, part of the Mahabharata, an ancient Hindu story from about 400 BCE.
It takes place in the late 20's soon after the Depression hits. The main movie character, Rannulph Junuh (Matt Damon, or Arjuna in the Baghavad Gita), hires a caddy, Bagger Vance (Will Smith, or Bhagavan, the Hindu deity in the Bhagavad Gita) who appears out of nowhere, and guides Junuh through his spiritual turmoil in love and war. Junuh is tortured from his WW1 experiences (we now call it PTSD), and experiences his spiritual journey to his true, “authentic” self via a golf tournament with himself and the two greatest golfers of the time.
Why this movie? For one thing, it's watchable- good acting, good actors. The message- those of us dealing with ADHD are often ruled and directed by thoughts that not only have the loudest voice, but are based on beliefs that are just not real. They get us stuck, and they make us feel low and that there’s no way out. But guess what- they’re just thoughts, and our brain grinds them out like an assembly line machine. Junuh is using some of the usual coping techniques, including alcohol, denial, etc. but finds them empty.
As is true with our tortured movie hero, sometimes we need a guide that can help us get noise like this out of the way so we can start to see our authentic selves. When we can just put those burdens down, like our movie hero in his defining moment, our actions become more skillful- just the next thing to do, and not an agonizing choice. Remember, we don’t have to take the journey to this place alone.
I became an ADHD coach to help others find their own authentic path- finding your own way, devising your own skills and ways to pay attention with clarity. It’s our best shot, and it’s also very cool to understand your own brain wiring. Golf in this movie is just the mechanism, and I don’t even like golf…
No nasty swearing, no nudity, stereotypical magical character profile (Will Smith). Tom says check it out (apologies to Joe Bob).
“I never prayed that I would make a putt.
I prayed that I would react well if I missed.”
-Chi Chi Rodriguez
It’s a golf movie from around 2000- actually more of a movie about a golfer- but what it’s really about is a spiritual journey, and you may find it resonating with you.
Somewhat hidden beneath the movie personas are the two main characters from the “Baghavad Gita”, part of the Mahabharata, an ancient Hindu story from about 400 BCE.
It takes place in the late 20's soon after the Depression hits. The main movie character, Rannulph Junuh (Matt Damon, or Arjuna in the Baghavad Gita), hires a caddy, Bagger Vance (Will Smith, or Bhagavan, the Hindu deity in the Bhagavad Gita) who appears out of nowhere, and guides Junuh through his spiritual turmoil in love and war. Junuh is tortured from his WW1 experiences (we now call it PTSD), and experiences his spiritual journey to his true, “authentic” self via a golf tournament with himself and the two greatest golfers of the time.
Why this movie? For one thing, it's watchable- good acting, good actors. The message- those of us dealing with ADHD are often ruled and directed by thoughts that not only have the loudest voice, but are based on beliefs that are just not real. They get us stuck, and they make us feel low and that there’s no way out. But guess what- they’re just thoughts, and our brain grinds them out like an assembly line machine. Junuh is using some of the usual coping techniques, including alcohol, denial, etc. but finds them empty.
As is true with our tortured movie hero, sometimes we need a guide that can help us get noise like this out of the way so we can start to see our authentic selves. When we can just put those burdens down, like our movie hero in his defining moment, our actions become more skillful- just the next thing to do, and not an agonizing choice. Remember, we don’t have to take the journey to this place alone.
I became an ADHD coach to help others find their own authentic path- finding your own way, devising your own skills and ways to pay attention with clarity. It’s our best shot, and it’s also very cool to understand your own brain wiring. Golf in this movie is just the mechanism, and I don’t even like golf…
No nasty swearing, no nudity, stereotypical magical character profile (Will Smith). Tom says check it out (apologies to Joe Bob).
“I never prayed that I would make a putt.
I prayed that I would react well if I missed.”
-Chi Chi Rodriguez
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