Yeah you see, the thing about clichés is that they have become trite through over-use… but the reason they’re over-used is often that they speak something so universal that it just damn well needs to be said again.. and again… and again.
I was prompted to write this by watching just now a video I first saw (possibly) at a Brainy Brunch called The Holstee Manifesto. Made by a Brooklyn-based lifestyle design company as one of the first things they did as a start-up, it tells their philosophy through a series of clips and statements that to a cynical Brit’s eye look pretty cheesy, but which, nevertheless, speak to the heart.
Statements such as ‘When you eat, appreciate every last bite’ and ‘Some opportunities only come once, seize them’ may seem yawningly over-used and even vacuous, and lines like ‘If you don’t like your job, quit’, simplistic, but how often do we actually live these sentiments? In their re-telling they’ve become empty, but have we learned the message?
At any rate, I surprised myself by how much this short film touched me – even on second viewing. Perhaps it’s all those happy looking cyclists (although those final shots of the Critical Mass look so staged – they should have filmed the Naked Bike Ride!*)
*After posting this link to the Metro article from this year’s ride, I suddenly realised they used a picture of me! Fortunately, it’s just my back…
Anna Levy Career coaching 