Plenty of people have confronted Frankenstein’s Monster in their lives. Anyone that has taken that pause and thought “How did that happen?” or “How did I end up here like this?” has stood in those shoes. Many of us think, like Dr. Frankenstein, that building a new life from the remnants of an old life or from the cast off parts of other’s lives or from the expectations of others will work great. We work hard, get excited, pull the lever and either it’s a dud or, even worse, it’s a success. Then we have to cope with the life that we’ve built and it rarely works out the way we thought it would.
It’s not wrong to follow traditions, to go into the family business, to want what other’s want for us as long as that is authentically what we want to do and it’s good, nurturing and healthy for us to do so. How do you know? Well, remove all the external influences, the people who want that life for you, the pressure from peers and colleagues, the tendency to do it because “It’s what I’m good at” or “It’s the only way to get the money I need right now” and if, after removing all that, it’s what you want to be doing and you’re doing it the way you want, then you’re golden. If you remove those and what you find is you’re left with something you don’t like and that isn’t nurturing for you, then stop putting the monster together and walk away from the table.
People sometimes excuse or rationalize the life they’ve cobbled together because it’s what had to happen and everything happens for a reason. Personally, I like Mel Brook’s answer to this.
Don’t live a haunted life like Dr. Frankenstein was made to in Mary Shelley’s novel. Back away from the table and start building a wholesome life. Or at least send Igor out for something other than body parts. The poor guy needs a break. 🙂
