Wanting {and} Trying

{WANTING}

Season 2 / Episode 9 of Louis CK's show, "Louie" ... Louis/Louie* runs into an old comedian friend of his. Eddie. Eddie and Louie started out in comedy kinda together, but Louie's path has just been a bit more successful. 

A lot of this show's writing is a bit dark, most of the plot is depressing, and it's uncomfortably honest at times. I think that's what I like about it so much. It's funny, but never cheesy. The show is just ... raw. Very bold, very real, very raw.

This conversation between Eddie and Louie really stuck out to me:

L:  So what do you need?   

E:  I don't need anything. I just wanna talk to yuh. I wanna tell you somethin'. 

L:  Ok. 

E:  Ok. ok. 

L:  Yeah, I'm listening. Go ahead. 

E:  Look man, I'm cashin' in. I'm done. I'm 40-shit years old. I got nothing. I got nobody. I don't want anything. I don't want anybody. And that's the worst part. When you, when the want goes. That's bad. I mean, like suffering, that's one thing. Or not having is one thing. But when you just don't care any more...

They go on for a bit. Naturally, there's a reference to a soft penis... what would comedy be without those references? 


{TRYING}

Similarly, in a recent episode of MADMEN, Roger Sterling talks about the moment it's appropriate to ever stop trying. He seems to conclude that it never is, thanks to his recent LSD trip. 


Roger, of course, thinks that to "never stop trying" in this particular instance, is to get a BJ from a married woman. NOT my point.


WANTING {and} TRYING

Point being ... you're lucky if you have any want. 
And it takes courage to turn that want into something you try.


The desire to do matters long before whatever you end up doing. It all matters, but without the motivation, without the impetus, the inspiration, the drive -- well, what is anybody doing without that? More pointedly, why is anybody doing without that? 


So I'm impressed. Impressed with all of the people in the world who are not only lucky enough to be overflowing with want, but who take the risk of occasionally trying. And then, you people who DO things that really rock. Well, you're the greatest. Don't even get me started on the people who go on step further and reflect ... follow-up ... constantly improve. Way to go.


Well, I'm off to a kickball game. You keep wanting and trying. It'll make whatever you do so much more meaningful.

P.S.

*He always goes by "Louie", right? But sometimes he spells it "Louis" ... is it because he's subliminally telling us all that SAINT LOUIS is the greatest place in the nation?