Run, Fat Boy, Run

with Simon Pegg

Viewed March 21, 2009

Everyone agreed that this was a thoroughly delightful movie, and it was particularly poignant for me because it brought back emotionally-laden memories of running marathons myself. But everyone seemed to like it, whether they had run in marathons or not.

We focused most on two questions, Question 6 (about self-esteem) and Question 3 (about running away). Many of us were able to identify situations in our lives where either we hurt others due to our lack of self-esteem, or else where others hurt us because of their lack. In both instances, it seemed like the hurt would have been less or non-existent if we had only felt more kind and gentle towards ourselves.

And when we talked about running away, the discussion -- rather surprisingly -- went to the benefits of running away, instead of to how running away has hurt us. Or perhaps not running away as such, but giving ourselves time and space to see a situation more objectively, often by moving to a different city or spending some time in solitude. Several folks described situations where that emotional distance conferred a certain wisdom on them that they didn't have when they were embroiled in the intense emotions of the moment.
(This video was reviewed by Bob McGarey)

Feel free to come and share your own personal insights sometime; the Saturday Night Video and Discussions here in Austin, Texas are a lot of fun and fascinating. (They're free, too.) Here are the questions the group came up with, based on the personal growth themes in the movie:

RUN, FAT BOY, RUN

  1. How do I find the discipline/motivation to do the hard work?
  2. How do I push past my perceived limitations?
  3. How has running away worked for me?
  4. When somebody believed in me, how has that affected my life?
  5. How has my life been affected by deliberate acts of generosity?
  6. How has my own lack of self-esteem hurt others?
  7. How have I let others' ego-centricity affect how I value myself?
  8. How much do I take/avoid responsibility for how my life is turning out?