What's Your Point?

Neal Page to Del Griffith: You know everything is not an anecdote. You have to discriminate. You choose things that are funny or mildly amusing or interesting ... And by the way, you know, when you're telling these little stories? Here's a good idea - have a POINT. It makes it SO much more interesting for the listener!

• “Planes, Trains & Automobiles” (1987)

The above quote is one of my favorite movie quotes of all time (this could be a topic of an upcoming post, hmmmmmm?). Yet, the more I think about it, maybe Neal wasn't talking to Del so much as he was talking to me. So many times, I find myself on a verbal journey only to find that I have left the map somewhere at home. I know that when I open my mouth, I do (or certainly did) have a point. I think that I did? Or maybe, just maybe, I didn't?

We, and I really mean “I”, tend to think that everything has a meaning, that it shouldn't exist if there is no purpose or point. Life is one gigantic logic problem that must be figured out. There is a beginning and an end and that everything in between is connected in some cosmic, spiritual way. Stories and anecdotes are clues that we pass along to one another filling in the gaps that we need in order to further our understanding of why we are here. So, not only does having a point make it more interesting for the listener, it helps us understand just a little more. Maybe not right now, but, down the road where we can recall the story and have a little “Aha!” moment.

I don't think that this is the case. Sometimes things just need to exist on their own. To have no meaning. To just be. Searching, digging, dissecting and reading between the lines doesn't always have to be done by the listener. You just have to actively listen and enjoy the interaction with another person. To feel connected. To be apart of the human experience (wow, I cannot believe I just said that). And maybe, just maybe, that is the point.

My point in this whole mess is that having no point is (sometimes) the entire point. Step back and enjoy life and one another. Stop making things more complicated that they already are. Point, set, match!