Well, I binged watched all of The Politician (it just dropped Friday…yes I realize today is Monday) and truly enjoyed the wild ride that it is a Ryan Murphy creation. I won’t get too deep into plot points or really any dissection at all - you don’t need me for this, you can simply google The Politician and find dozens of articles all about it, trust me, I’ve read most of them at this point.

What I would like to examine is the underlying story; the difference between being a good person or being a person that does good things. Ben Platt’s character struggles with this notion throughout the entire season, it is a thought on his mind constantly. He is a person completely guided by his own ambition to become the President, but the reason he wants to hold this power is that he wants to make positive change in the world. He will do terrible things to make this dream happen and twist information in a way that fits his bottom line, but in doing these things he is opening the door for himself to an esteemed position in which he can help people. That in itself is an interesting story and the reason I kept playing the next episode, one right after the other. Of course, there are many other reasons I kept watching - the cast is amazing, the costumes and set design are breathtaking, and of course, there are musical elements that you knew would be there as soon as you saw Ben Platt’s name on the poster. It’s a good show, I do recommend.

This pink suit moment is just one of many breathtaking costume choices on this show - honestly if you care about clothes at all you should watch because there is a lot to take in. Gwyneth gardens in a full red evening gown. Need I say more??? Also, … — This pink suit moment is just one of many breathtaking costume choices on this show - honestly if you care about clothes at all you should watch because there is a lot to take in. Gwyneth gardens in a full red evening gown. Need I say more??? Also, this picture is obviously the property of Netflix ;)

As I sit reflecting on it, I continue to get drawn in by the debate of being a good person or a person doing good things. Is there a difference? Are there truly and inherently good people? Are we all not doing the things we need to do in order to have a good and happy life? For example, Ben’s character wrote an article about having healthier food in the school cafeteria and that article inspired change, resulting in better food options. He did this because it helped further his political narrative, but he also made something good happen for others. So, does that make him a good person? Or does it make him a practical person? Does it matter? He is a person that helped someone else, in which case this is good.

Maybe the reason I am turning this over and over in my mind is that I have had similar thoughts. I do not know if I am a good person. I do not think of myself as a bad person, I contribute to society and have strong relationships with my family and friends, I try to help others. But does that make me a good person? Sometimes I do things because I know I should, not necessarily because it is instinctual and integral to my very being. Perhaps if I was a good person I would not have to remind myself to do certain things, perhaps it would be as natural as squinting your eyes when you look up toward the sun. But does that matter? I still try to do good things, I still try to make my tiny corner of the world a nice place. I volunteer, but I volunteer with children because I enjoy being around them. Is it still a noble deed if I am doing it for me as well as for them? I don’t know. I know that the intent behind an action certainly does matter, but if the intentions are good, is not the person?

I still am thinking through all of this, and clearly have not come to any sort of conclusion. That could be all part of the process of becoming a better and more enlightened person. That is the goal in life, is it not? To become the best version possible of yourself.

If the path to get there is strewn with casualties of failed attempts, make amends the best way you know how. Continuing to do good deeds, doing the work to becoming a better person, perhaps at the end of your life, you will be a good person. Because you learned how not because you automatically knew.

This butterfly used to be a caterpillar and he grew into the beautiful winged creature he is today because he went through an immense change. We are human beings are like that too. We transform into who we are meant to be through immense changes. It… — This butterfly used to be a caterpillar and he grew into the beautiful winged creature he is today because he went through an immense change. We are human beings are like that too. We transform into who we are meant to be through immense changes. It is up to us to decide how we handle this, and we can come out looking gorgeous or like a wizened old crone. The choice is ours. We should make it a good choice. (Good choices result in good people (i think??))