Live Life in Slomo

By all conventional and external standards, John Kitchin was a success. He had a thriving neurology practice, he had a big house, a V12 BMW, a Ferrari, lots of stuff, a wife, a son, an exotic animal farm. There was only one glitch: he was miserable, self-described “asshole,” working himself to the bones, supporting a level of affluence he was too busy to enjoy. When his deteriorating eyesight started to affect work, he saw an out. He did what most people would do in his position: he quit his practice, cashed in all of his chips, moved to San Diego and devoted his life to perfecting slow motion inline skating.

In this very worthwhile 16:29 minute mini-documentary, director Josh Izenberg chronicles Kitchin’s journey (he is now known as Slomo on the San Diego beach). Beyond mere flight of fancy, the 69 year old Kitchin describes his earnest quest for divinity. He describes how this quest is supported by neurological processes; the acceleration experienced during skating activates euphoric feelings in the brain–feelings he thought would eventually subside, but have persisted for the 15 years he’s been skating consistently.

While Kitchin’s path might strike some as obtuse, his message is clear and resonant: how we choose to live is our own. Reasons for not living the way we want to live are personal mythologies–stories that perpetuate our excuses–and are seldom rooted in any legitimate circumstance. This is not the dress rehearsal.

Via NY Times

Thanks for the tip Guillaume

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