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08/22/2006: "Castaway"

As I watched the movie Castaway the other night, I realized that what Tom Hanks’ character was going through is similar to a cancer battle. Let me see if I can draw some parallels.

As much as people are thinking about you and doing what they can, you are still in it alone. It’s a deserted island. And there is plenty of time to wrestle with the many thoughts in your head. Ultimately, all decisions are yours. Will I ever get rescued or will I die on this island? How much time do I have? What are my regrets? Do I try and make it somehow or just give up? There is one scene in the movie where Hanks talks to Wilson (his companion volleyball) about suicide. This was his way of taking control of his life. Actually, Wilson is a good representation of the conversations you have with yourself – call it your self-conscious, God, or whoever you talk to inside there when the going gets rough.

In the beginning Hanks’ character knew nothing about surviving on a deserted island. As he got over the shock he realized that this situation was not going away and he better deal with it. So slowly he began to learn and commit himself to survival. In the end, he could spear a fish from 20 feet away with a spear he made by hand. He could make rope from the bark of trees. It is amazing how motivated you are and what you can learn when your life is on the line.

So I guess that makes this Blog my message in a bottle.

“Hope to return to the mainland soon. Love, Doug”