Last night’s season finale, for lack of another word, was deep. If you haven’t watched it you can view it on Hulu or read the recap. There was a dual story line going on: House’s mental instability and the patient’s problem with his brain. Looking at both situations, I had a much better understanding of human nature but House’s situation is the one I want to focus on because elements of his situation are things we face everyday.

Reality vs Dream vs Desire

House, a long time vicodin abuser, has been having problems hallucinating, thinking clearly…the drugs have finally caught up with him. To make a long story short:

House enters Cuddy’s office as she is prepping for a presentation. He asks her about the other night, yet they are talking about two different things. Cuddy is angry that House had said for her to “Go suckle the little bastard child who makes you feel good about yourself.” House’s version had them coming together to detox him. In reality, she had just walked out of her office for the night. House is confused. None of what he remembers happened — no detox, no sex with Cuddy. He shows her the tube of her lipstick, but when he uncoils his hand it is really a bottle of vicodin. Concerned, Cuddy leans in to House. House thinks it is Amber and Kutner speaking to him. He admits that he is not OK. Cuddy brings House to Wilson’s office.

Most of the team is in attendance at Chase and Cameron’s wedding. Yet Wilson drives House to a mental institution. House enters the hospital on his own.

Nothing House remembered actually happened. He really wants Cuddy, he wants to detox and he thought he had. He has been struggling with an inner turmoil along with the constant pain. The vicodin was his escape not only from the pain but the things he couldn’t have.

That is what reminded me of how people struggle with deeply wanting one thing and existing, living a life without what they really want.

Reality vs. Dreams vs. Desire

On the news this morning they talked about a study that said men lie about their age (saying they are younger) to have a shot with younger women. Women lie about their age (saying they are younger) to get a shot at being with men their own age. That’s messed up, beyond messed up.

In life there are things we, as people, have no control over. We are born male or female (I guess one could change that), we cannot change when we were born and we cannot change the color of our skin. To me, I’m concerned more about the things people have control over (their morals, ethics, etc.) than what they cannot control (their age, their skin color, etc.).

There are people that seem “old” to me regardless of age. If a guy sleeps eight hours at night, doesn’t have to stay up late the next night and takes a nap during the day, he can’t hang with me. I don’t care if he’s 20 or 50 – he’s “old” to me. I look at what people “do” and try not to focus on the things they cannot control. They cannot control when they were born but they can control what they do with their lives. They cannot change their race but they can control letting life’s opportunities slip through their fingers or grabbing the brass rings as they come.

People are lying, denying themselves and creating false realities in an attempt to find happiness when, in many cases, what they want is right in front of them. They have to reach out and grab the brass ring.

House wants Cuddy and a drug-free life but the cost is high: unknown amounts of pain, suffering through withdrawal and the risk of caring/loving someone. Wait, he already does….

And that is the pitfall I realize many people fall into last night. They already have one foot in the water but their fear to put both feet in leads them down the wrong path. Away from what they really want. Away from what would really make them happy.

Because the false reality seems easier to maintain than reaching out (working, sacrificing, etc.) for the real deal.