The Future is about a couple, Jason and Sophie, who’ve been together for four years. Both are 35 and, whilst preparing to adopt a cat, realize that life is soon coming to an end. Thirty days before the cat, named Paw Paw, is to come home with Jason and Sophie, they quit their jobs and embrace the option of living more fulfilling lives.

After leaving his job as a tech support guy, Jason proves to be the more optimistic of the two – he is open to receiving signs and being guided as to what he should do next.  Sophie, a children’s dance teacher, is more anxious and plans to complete a major project: “30 dances in 30 days,” her aptly titled process of creating a dance routine for each of the 30 days (and posting them to YouTube).

I love Jason’s mindset, but in some ways I am Sophie.  Her anxiety leads to over-planning.  And her questionable self-worth leads her to compare herself to others: the other dancers who post their videos on YouTube and her neighbor who she sometimes sees through an open window. Although Sophie only sees her neighbor doing everyday things, such as brushing her hair, she is easily intimidated.  In one instance, Sophie comments to Jason ”that woman really has her shit together; you can tell she’s just totally carpe diem.”  In my ideal, self-improvement mindset, I’m as free as Jason but in reality, social media is my open window.  Doesn’t everyone look so accomplished, ambitious, and adventurous on Google Plus, Facebook, and Twitter?  People are quitting their jobs, pursuing their purpose and then updating their statuses to share all of their golden insights on life and living it.  I don’t mean to throw any shade but I think their advice needs to be issued with a warning because some of us see these golden insights and start envisioning our future in the same way as Paw Paw, the cat:

Everything would be perfect there, like a dream but not a dream because I would never wake up and soon i would not even be able to remember my old life. – Paw Paw

Nothing in life is guaranteed as we find out with Sophie, Jason, and Paw Paw.  I won’t completely spoil the plot, but none of them end up with a fabulous life, not even Jason with all of his optimism.  But important things happen that may not have happened if they didn’t take the initiative to live.  Which is what the film impressed on me the most:

Living is just the beginning. – Paw Paw

It’s easy to get caught up in the inspiration we receive in our online and offline social networks; but there is no need to rush to make life changes with expectations of future perfections.  Truly living is just the beginning, not the endpoint.

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This is a revision of my post on G is for Grace
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Buy The Future on DVD at these stores:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble