Ms. Nobody

So I watched this movie the other day called Mr. Nobody. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would highly recommend it. It covered a lot of really interesting concepts (time travel, alternate dimensions, etc.) and stars Jared Leto who, for anyone who doesn't know, is a fairly outspoken vegan. Anyway, the basic idea of the movie is that it tracks all of the different lives that Jared Leto's character, Nemo, could have had. There were certain pivotal decisions that were very difficult for him and greatly affected the outcome of his life, but there were also very small decisions that seemed almost inconsequential and had an even greater effect.

Of course I had heard of this concept before, that each decision we make creates a new universe in which we made the opposite choice, but every time I am reminded of this idea I find that I can't stop thinking about it. I find myself wondering, first of all, if there is another version of me somewhere who did things better, who actually made something of her life. To some extent I find this thought rather comforting, like maybe somewhere, in some other dimension, I really am making a difference. It also makes me wonder how much our choices can actually determine who we are. How different could I be as a person if I had done things differently? Is there are version of me out there who isn't vegan? Maybe there's a Whitney who doesn't care about animal rights at all, or the planet, or other people. Maybe there's a me who is completely selfish and obsessed with material possessions. I find that a bit disturbing to say the least.

I suppose both of those things are pretty irrelevant, because alas I am not Nemo, I will never know what could have happened if I had done that instead of this. What is relevant though is the fact that each tiny decision in our lives has the potential to change everything. Not that every decision is crucial, but that we never know which ones are. What if I actually manage to leave for work on time tomorrow? For all I know, that could be the most life-changing choice I ever make. Maybe having the extra time will allow me to be less rushed and I will notice something that I otherwise never would have noticed. Maybe I will witness something that will change my entire outlook on life just because I wasn't in a hurry. It's possible that getting to work a couple of minutes early would get me there just in time to meet some person who would want to help me with my animal sanctuary/ community idea (not likely, but you never know). Or maybe leaving the house a few minutes early will put me in just the right place to be hit by a bus. Who knows.

So I guess the whole point of this post is that, as if I didn't have a hard enough time making decisions, now I have been reminded that even the seemingly unimportant ones can have huge consequences. So hooray for that! On a lighter note, according to Mr. Nobody, in the future everyone will have a pig that they carry around with them all the time. That should give you all something to look forward to .