Me, myself, and I

As I turned another page trying to remember what I had just read moments ago, to maintain a common thread between ideas and characters all the while resisting the urge to turn back and read those pages again. Was it Sean or Paul? Lauren or Judy? So many questions so many perspectives. The previous sentences pertain to the novel "Rules of Attraction" by Brett Easton Ellis that I recently finished. Art reflects life and while this particular novel is not in sync with my life I remember those years of my life fondly and reminisce. I began reading again in earnest when VV brought Chad Kultgen and the afore mentioned Easton Ellis into my life. Two authors with similar perspectives but decades apart. Part of me thinks their writing demonstrates how we tell our life stories, especially how we tell it to ourselves(if that makes the slightest bit of sense). We all have an inner monologue, a narration of sorts where we think through ideas and feelings, where we justify and rationalize behavior to maintain our vision of ourselves, what was referred to in the movie The Matrix as residual self image or more simply identity. Identity can be fluid and constant as we have many personas to juggle between work, family, friends, community, etc. There is of course a connection between all of them where 'I' exist. I feel that concept is lost on some people who become to much of one aspect of who they are. Whether they are defining themselves through work, love, money, or any one of the many possibilities, it is too one sided and lacks perspective. Perspective is one of the greatest gifts we can get from other people. People who challenge our ideas of who we are, or who we think we are, what we think, how we form our beliefs(if we have any at all), and most importantly how we come to terms with our existence inside our collective reality.