Wake Me Up Now Please!

I watched Donnie Darko for the first time last night. Like most movies that have a lore about them, I had certainly heard about this movie and seen excerpts from it. However, I had never watched it from start to finish until last night. Throughout the movie, I didn't know what to think. The characters endeared themselves to me. I loved our protagonist, and I was even drawn to the relationship he experienced with his love interest. It was a strange movie, certainly. It was an enjoyable movie--for sure. 

What this movie ultimately reminded me of is that moment in my life when I experienced full regret. This wasn't just any sort of regret. It was such a difficult, challenging moment that I was purposely trying to wake myself from this nightmare. It was a nightmare. How could it possibly be reality? This difficult moment ultimately cost me more than I was willing to pay, so I was right to try to wake myself from it. Of course, the universe had a different plan--a better plan--for me. But at the time, my only solace was to try as hard as I possibly could to wake myself from this nightmare. 

The car incident towards the end of this movie was the moment that reminded me of my lowest point. It was a moment our main character was able to wake himself from. Did he find solace? That's what the movie leaves us to ponder. I think we are to conclude that Donnie found comfort in his rewind. He is at peace. Horror movies are often thought experiments, and the thought experiment of Donnie Darko is a truly powerful one. How much do we actually believe death to be peace? At the least, our acceptance is a test to our faith.

I'm always thankful to have new opportunities in life. I try to make the most of every situation I find myself in. Only once have I wished for time travel (to wake). I'm thankful now that I wasn't granted this opportunity because my life is immeasurable better now. The problem is that I have lived a life of gratitude. It has always been hard to complain about anything. Donnie Darko shows us that both paths in life can be challenging. Even when we are granted a redo, that redo is nonetheless a challenging journey of itself. There are no easy answers to any challenge we face. Perhaps the answer lies in the sacrifice we make. It's hard to regret sacrifice. Did Donnie find peace through sacrifice? Perhaps. 

We can all be directed by sacrifice. When we sacrifice for others, that's our answer. We cannot go wrong sacrificing our needs for those of others. Donnie's love interest lived; that's a sacrifice he would have been willing to make.