Discontent

I'm a content creator.

I generate graphics, videos, animations, podcasts, and I'm well on my way to becoming more of a behind the scenes producer. I credit my success to a single principle, which is: To be successful, you have to project success.

Truly, I don't know what everyone's problem is. If you want to have a better life you have to adopt a better attitude. Be a better person. It's as easy as that.

I don't think I'm better than anyone else, but I mean c'mon, I just made better choices. My parents were poor just like anyone else's and I managed to go to college and pursue my dreams by disciplining my body and mind and seizing opportunity at every turn.

Now I get to create stories for everybody! And anybody can do it! Even you!

Let me give you an example of someone who wasn't successful.

I had a friend in college who to this day hates me. For years we collaborated on projects. Really interesting stuff to be sure. Interactive and immersive media was his specialty. But at some point it just stopped working.

He started trying to incorporate all these ideas that just weren't very marketable. Self-examination and critical media theory. Like that's going to sell.

When I asked him why he wanted to incorporate these dead end ideas he told me he wanted to change the world.

Change the world? But what is there to change? Everything is perfect as it is, and all this muckraking you're getting at is

but a flagrant display of immature complaining.

Change the world? Do you think that we have the power to change the world? If so, why not let others change the world? Or why hasn't someone changed it the way you want to already?

Change the world. What does that even mean?

And he would create things that were... well they were just plain upsetting. I would try to reason with him, "All this blubbering will only amount to mass depression. You want to make the world a better place yet your attacking the people who live in it. Criticizing them for living simple lives."

Of course he had his rebuttals and retorts and obviously well-researched remarks. It was clear he was reading subversive texts. How unseemly. It's part of the reason our work as content creators is so important. If given the option between a good text and a bad text, the innocent consumer may very well read the bad text. Or watch the bad show. Or listen to bad music.

But if all they have are good options, then all they can make are good decisions. It became clear to me that my partner's goals were bordering immorality.

And then he said this-

He said I was all technique and no heart. No heart. Well what a heartless thing to say. I said to him, "What a heartless thing to say."

He apologized but it was too late. No heart... No heart. I'm all heart. I have a heart.

He took me by the arms, it was clear to him now he had overstepped. Of course it was clear to him now. What a laugh. If he wanted me to remain calm and complacent, he would not have tried to escalate me to begin with.

So I struck him as hard as I could upon the cheek. The brute. And I let out a yell so that he could hear my heart. And I inquired, "Do you still think I have no heart!"

He looked at me calmly, tears in his pathetic eyes. And I thought to myself, "this weakling wants to change the world? Well, I won't let it happen."

He looked to me and answered my question.

He said, "Truly, I see your heart now. It is criminal and pumps only darkness." A good line that. Plagiarized I'm sure.

I do not recall the rest, and I hope to forget what I do remember.

After this incident, I spread rumors which I felt were true enough in spirit and had him expelled from the university. I hope his stories never see the light of day. And I hope he sees mine on a daily basis.

But enough about him. I had the opportunity to write for television once, and I described the events I've described to you in a three act structure. And I took creative liberties so that by the end, when he apologizes, I forgive him and let him redeem himself. And the friendship flourishes presumably past the end of the episode.

That's the way I prefer to remember him. And one day that will be indeed the only way I remember him. The brute.

And yes I know bad things are happening in the world. Bad things are always happening in the world. It's just that now we live in an age of hyper communication so we just know about it more.

I do worry sometimes. But then I shake it off and I'm as happy as I've ever been.

One thing I know is that if you're discontent, you have to create your contentedness.