Awakenings

After watching Awakenings, the first thing that came into my mind is that we should learn to appreciate what we have and live life to the fullest. The movie is based on a remarkable story of a group of “sleeping sickness’’ patient who were given up as hopeless, but miraculously “awoke” after they took the drug. These patients have frozen for decades in a trance-like state, which resulting them did not even know what had happened outside the hospital. I found it was inspiring that they learnt to readjust to new life and lived the life they wanted after they awoke. There is a scene that the main character, Leonard, was so excited to tell Dr. Sayer that he could feel the joy of life, the gift of life and the wonderment of life. He also said that people need to be remined that what they have and what they are going to lose. Indeed, most of the times we tend to forget what life is all about and what it means to be alive. So many of us live in a perceptual state of wanting more – more money, more things. We pursue those material possessions so hard, and in the meanwhile we tend to forget what brings us happiness and forget to be thankful for the simplest things like being healthy and having support from family. The movie has reminded me the importance of family and of counting my many blessings. It’s easy for us to get caught up in the hectic pace of life and forget how lucky we are at this every moment. In the movie, Dr. Sayer said this:

"...the human spirit is more powerful than any drug,

and that is what needs to be nourished: with work, play, friendship, family...

This is what we'd forgotten: the simplest things."

-Dr. Malcolm Sayer, Awakenings (1990)

We cannot deny the discovery of new drug brings hope to patients, but we also cannot deny that human spirit is the strongest force to maintain hope.  Immense courage of patients and dedication of their doctors have become the crucial point that permits them to combat the epidemic of sleeping sickness. We could especially find positive attitude from Leonard and Dr. Sayer who embraced life in its totality and being hopeful towards the negative situation that beyond their control. These are closely related to positive psychology which stresses the creation of fulfilling life and the optimal function of individuals (Segliman, 2002). Challenges and disappointments may be inevitable, but our attitude and beliefs affect how we face the challenges and enjoy the life despite the upsets.

Besides, the movie “Awakenings” is concerned with the fundamental questions about human existence, like “what makes life worth living?”, “what should I do with my life?”, “why should I struggle to survive?”, etc. All these questions are related to existential psychology which deals with basic and elemental of human experiences. Existential psychology is centered on four givens of existence – death, freedom, isolation, and meaninglessness (Yalom, 1980). It assumes that people confront and struggle with these givens (Yalom, 1980). In the movie, Leonard strived to find his meaning to alive after awakening, and began to seek freedom when he found himself restricted by the hospital. He also acknowledged what was happening to him when the side effect of the drug showed up and lastly, he accepted the fact that the period of awakening was limited. Not only Leonard, other patients in Bronx hospital also confront and resolve the givens of human existence. It is not easy for Leonard to go through these stages; and it is painful for other patients to witness what Leonard has gone through and acknowledged that it would eventually happen to them as well. Those strivings may be very painful, but I believe that we grow spiritually and psychologically when we can get through struggles with fortitude.

However, as we know, good times do not last. By the end of the movie, a lot of audiences are in tears. I guess most watching the movie are stuck on the failed miracle. The heaven-and-hell experience was painful, but it is more important people grow through the experience. The “sleeping sickness” patients had lost so many years to do what they want, so they cherished the moments they were awake to reconnect with the world. Thus, I would like to conclude that we should not wait until it is too late, and we should live life with no regrets.