What do you do when you’re stuck between a rock and a hard place? This question was asked of one American man and we are able to take some lessons from his story. The film 127 Hours, directed by Danny Boyle & starring James Franco, is a dramatisation that shows the horrific 5 days that 27-year-old mountain climber Aron Ralston went through in Bluejohn Canyon. He slipped, dislodging an 800-lb boulder which then trapped his arm against the canyon side. He was pinned and unable to escape. The man himself says it is more like a documentary, as it is so close to what actually happened. What can we learn from the film? Let’s look at the life lessons from 127 Hours.
Communication Is Important
First on our list of lessons from 127 Hours is communication. Aron loves adventure. He is a thrillseeker and often goes off on his own climbing and canyoning. One of the most important lessons, when you are doing these sorts of activities by yourself, is to tell someone where you are going. There is no phone signal in these places, it is more off-grid than you can imagine. If you become uncontactable, someone will know where you are. Speak to people, put your trust in people, leave a note. You are not an island.
Remain Calm
Most people, thrown into a situation like this, would panic. It’s a human reaction, it’s natural. However, you are much more likely to be rational, figure your way out of it and survive if you remain calm. Panic brings confusion and an inability to make choices. You find yourself hyperventilating and having a panic attack. Even if you have to give yourself one minute to panic and then calm yourself, you will be able to move forward and work towards that solution that will save you.
Equip Yourself
Ensure that you have the right equipment for what you are doing. There is a big part of the story showing that Aron chooses the wrong knife to take on his trip. He takes with him a cheap Chinese one that you get with a $15 flashlight. His proper one was within arms reach but he was in too much of a hurry to get started on his adventure. When you equip yourself with the things you need or might need, you are prepared for anything.
Think Outside The Box
There are many instances during his ordeal where Aron has to think outside the box. He uses his harness to take the weight off his legs, he keeps his urine so he has fluid to drink and he breaks his bones after realising that he cannot cut through them. In our lives, we need to think outside the box. Sometimes it is the only way to get where we need to be.
You Can Do More Than You Can Possibly Imagine
The story is one of those things that you hear and perhaps say that you could never do. One of the most important lessons from 127 Hours is that you can do more than you can possibly imagine. When you are stuck in a hole, you will go above and beyond what you reckon you are capable of in order to get out of that hole. What you might think are your limits, are nothing. Your limitations go far above and beyond what you might think.
Believe In Your Dreams
Next on our list of lessons from 127 hours is belief. Aron has a dream during his time in the canyon, of praying with a young boy, his future child. This is the reason he continued to fight and find a way out of his situation and to safety. His dream can true, as three years later he met his future wife and they had a son. Believe in your dreams, you can achieve them if you push yourself through.
Have No Regrets
In various moments of the story, Aron has regrets about what he has done in the past. From not taking the right equipment to not answering the phone to his parents. Furthermore, he even films himself saying goodbye to his family, thinking that he was done for and would die where he was stuck. Life is short and we could get taken from this world at any point. Be sure that you don’t have any regrets.
This Rock Has Been Waiting For You
Finally, there is a quote in the film where Aron says:
“You know, I’ve been thinking. Everything is… just comes together. It’s me. I chose this. I chose all of this. This rock… this rock has been waiting for me my entire life. In its entire life, ever since it was a bit of meteorite a million, billion years ago up there In space. It’s been waiting, to come here. Right, right here. I’ve been moving towards it my entire life. The minute I was born, every breath I’ve taken, every action has been leading me to this crack on the earth’s surface.”
Every action we choose, and every decision we make is leading us to a point in our lives where we will be tested. It might not be a boulder crushing your arm but we all come up against hurdles. Do you have what it takes to overcome your biggest fears and obstacles? In order to get to where we want to be, we have to.
In conclusion, there are loads of lessons from 127 Hours that we can use in our own lives. It is a great film, amazingly shot, with a great cast and fantastic soundtrack. Give it a watch and see what you take from the story.
