A Beautiful Mind, A Beautiful Mindset
February 21, 2024
Writer: Claudia Hurst
Editor: Tessa Tacoma
One of my New Year’s Resolutions for 2024 is to watch more movies. I know this sounds strange; most people are setting goals to limit their screen time, while I am determined to expand mine. But I think that movies teach great lessons. If I am inevitably going to spend time “plugged in,” I want that time to provide me with new perspectives on the way I look at the world.
In pursuit of my resolution, my Dad – a movie expert – made me a list of movies that he believes every person should watch. One of my favorites that I have tackled so far is the 2001 thriller, A Beautiful Mind.
A Beautiful Mind tells the story of a brilliant student and eventual professor, John Nash, as he moves through struggles with his mental health. This movie stands out to me because of the protagonist’s complex relationships with his peers and the film’s unique portrayal of intelligence.
My favorite quote from the film is independent from the main themes of the movie. On their first date, John’s love interest, Alicia, folds a handkerchief into John’s suit pocket to add a special touch to his outfit. At the end of the night, John tries to give Alicia the handkerchief back, but she does not let him. Instead, she says, “Keep it. I believe in deciding things will be good luck.”
This quote resonated with me because believing in luck and signs is a polarizing phenomenon in today’s world. Some people believe that signs are figments of our imagination, while others see great possibility in those small moments. Like Alicia, I also like to believe that positive signs are all around me. When I see beautiful or meaningful things by chance, I see it as a positive omen.
Recently, I was anxiously walking to my first exam of the semester and I saw a blue jay peeking out of a nearby tree. I am aware that this blue jay did not have any connection to the exam I was about to take. I know that the blue jay did not follow me to Angell Hall or watch over my shoulder to ensure my success. Yet, this rare occurrence provided me with a sense of comfort that my exam was going to go well.
I am forced to wonder, is it delusional to believe in signs and luck if we rationally understand that they do not directly influence our lives?
Perhaps signs are simply opportunities to switch our attitudes. The actual occurrence itself might not carry any tangible value, but it provides us with a reassurance that we are already capable of overcoming the conflict or challenge we find ourselves in.
Luck is simply an invisible crutch that encourages us to believe that we are already on the right path.
We all have things that we believe in; whether that is a special person in our life, a religious figure, or a handkerchief from a first date. In addition to these inspirations, I also choose to believe in the encouragement of the small things all around me. The moments that are so quick that just noticing them feels lucky in itself.
