Man on Wire - Review

'Man on Wire' was a birthday gift to me from my wife.  I really appreciate the documentary and dedicate this post to her.  

      What is it that I loved about 'Man on Wire?'  It summarizes in one place all that I try to imagine, write about and pursue.  It is difficult, like the word 'beauty', to define and summarize what is an 'ideal' life, an 'ideal' state of mind - but I believe there is one.  I also believe it's important to constantly define what that 'ideal' is and keep striving towards it.

     The film 'Man on Wire' touches all of the most powerful ideas I have learned over the years.   The main character, Phillippe Petite, is a man of passion.  He is a dreamer, really.  When he first realized he wanted to walk across the Twin Towers, they were not yet built.  He saw them in a photograph as a teenager and his first instinct was to draw a line between the two and imagine himself lying between them.  

Lesson 1 of an ideal life: When dreaming, do not limit yourself by the how or the why - just dream.

Phillippe grabbed the picture of the Twin Towers and ran out and down the street, spending the next many years preparing himself for his feat - including LEARNING HOW TO WALK A TIGHTROPE!!  

Lesson 2 of an ideal life:  After defining your dream, pursue it with abandon.  Dreaming with out acting is the creation of a nightmare.

Phillippe's passion attracted to him people who began to believe in him and his 'cause'.  He 'attracted' people of different talents and was unafraid to ask them to help him.  His friends worked tirelessly and took great risks to help him achieve his goal.  There were moments of 'conflict' between him and his friends - and when and if some of them could not continue to help him because of their fear, he smiled and loved them anyway and confidently continued to pursue his dream.

Lesson 3 of an ideal life:  Your passion, if it is true, will attract to you the people you need to achieve your goal.  Let them help you until they cannot, and love them completely.

Finally, the wire was set between the two buildings.  As day broke, after exhausting hours of preparing the wire in secret - Phillippe walked out onto them.  Obviously one small mis-step meant death.  

Lesson 4 of an ideal life:  Find your passion and put your life on the line for it.  News flash - we all will die - how better to realize this and spend your precious moments pursuing your passion.

He proceeded to the center of the wire and those fortunate enough to see him first hand reported a look on his face that was radiant.  When he was finished, people around the world were inspired.  He changed people's perception of limits.  

Lesson 5 of an ideal life:  Your goal must be your goal - it does not have to be about saving the planet, or the rain forest, or the monetary system.  If you pursue your  passion and achieve your goal(s) you will change the world for the better guaranteed.  

I am honored my wife thought to give me this for my birthday, that she knows my view on life and has allowed me to walk out on my wire.  I love you.