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The Real GOOD Loser, A Story That Could…
Written by: Joe Henrie
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Start of Act One: The Pledge
“What unites people? Armies? Gold? Flags? … Stories. There’s nothing in the world more powerful than a good story.”
— from the show Game of Thrones
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Chapter 1: Disclaimers
“Is it better to be feared or respected? … Is it too much to ask for both?”
— from the film Iron Man
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It is the summer of 2024 as I write these words; August 7th here in the United States to be specific—my twins’ birthday oddly enough. And this world is not a happy place at the moment. Exactly how unhappy this world is currently could be argued, but if the collective happiness of all humans were to be tracked and graphed over time, we most certainly would not be living at an all-time high right now.
If such a graph were to exist, we could zoom in and look closely at our time on this graph and find pockets of celebration—spikes of happiness here and there—but this is true of all times and does not diminish the fact that this reality of ours exists at a low point on this graphed line of our collective happiness.
What is the forecast for our future?
Dark mostly. Cloudy. And gloomy. And very, very, very, VERY loud. Internet-Enabled-Loud. And ugly. Did I mention ugly? Fantastically magnificently ugly in fact. Yup, a big steamy pile of turd is our future…Am I lying?
Whether my entertainingly negative forecast makes you smile or frown, know I wrote this story with the intention of providing some level of hope during what I believed might be a difficult and potentially scary time ahead for many of us. As to me—a teacher—it appeared parts of our ugly history were repeating itself right before my eyes.
What parts? … Well, that’s for you to figure out.
If we could fast forward and look at this graphed line of humanities collective happiness over time from some distant point in the future, five hundred years let’s say, when did our collective happiness bottom out?
At that point, as problem solving humans from the distant future, we must have done something. What did we humans do to climb from that low point on this graphed line of our collective happiness to become the happier problem-solving humans that still roam this planet in five hundred years?
We evolved. That’s what. I like to think we must have.
But is that even possible today? Or have our distracted and scattered minds become incapable of such a thing? If it were possible, will we even have enough time to evolve before we destroy this planet for good?
What if completely destroying a planet takes more time than I think? What if in five hundred years our world simply looks like the one depicted in the 2006 film Idiocracy? — Where the dumbing down of civilization continues on the uninterrupted devolutionary path it seems destined for today.
For those unfamiliar with the film I just referenced, Idiocracy, the title alone should give you some clue as to what it’s all about. In it a human named Joe is put in hibernation in the year 2005 and wakes up five-hundred years later in the year 2505 to discover the average intelligence of humans has decreased so much that he—a man of average intelligence in the year 2005—is now the smartest man in the world five hundred years later.
To those that might think such a future possible, I ask this: Does that have to be our future or are we somehow masters of our own fate?
I wrote this story hoping we can be…It follows my time teaching at a Recovery High School; a school designed to help students struggling with substance abuse where I got to teach this class called Emotional Intelligence during the 2020 Covid Pandemic.
After that roller-coaster of a year for not only us educators but for everyone, one of the first things I did in preparation to write this story for you was to create a list of disclaimers: things I wanted you to eventually know about me. Would you be interested in seeing that list now? It’s written on a yellow lined piece of paper hanging in my closet…I could just go and grab it.
Before sitting down at this small desk tucked into the corner of my bedroom to finally write this story for you, I found myself constantly modifying that list of disclaimers; creating something of a Disclaimer Dilemma: a tendency I have to over explain myself in an attempt to justify myself.
More simply, I talk too much sometimes. Especially when I’m nervous or uncomfortable. I’m doing it right now actually.
As a newbie to this whole writing thing, arm-bent into revising this story multiple times, I’ve since come to see this entire story as one long disclaimer and have learned that over-sharing too quickly ruins the experience of story and might only get myself in trouble. That said, I will do my best to pace myself and keep my disclaimers here brief.
My mind is rather unique—I think that’s a nice way to describe it—and it can’t always be trusted I’ve found. I’m sure someone will know what I mean by that, but everyone will know soon enough. Everyone will also know all about this school I was teaching at and this class I was teaching there soon enough as well. But first I need to try and explain some of what pushed me to write this story for you.
On Facebook a post I was fed recently; because of some algorithm I don’t understand, someone I didn’t know had written this: “I’m in my DONE era. Not mad, not bothered, just done. I’m protecting my inner peace at all costs.”
That person, whoever they are, is someone I might say has hit their “Max-F-It Level”. That’s a term you will see me reference in an article I wrote to my students in the story ahead. Perhaps this person said it more eloquently than me, but this Max-F-It Level is being hit by people of all kinds all over the world; those more eloquent than myself and those perhaps not so much.
I hit my Max F-It Level in the year 2014. In the ten years since I’ve been bouncing back and forth like some hyper dog with ADHD, between caring, not caring, caring too much, and not caring at all. For much of that time my life has felt like a bad dream I can’t seem to wake up from. Lucky for me maybe, I don’t appear to be alone in this bad dream anymore as much of the world appears to be right here with me now.
This is no dream we are in. This is our reality. Our frustrating, exhausting, and slightly stupid reality… Am I lying?
Once again you might not see things as overly negative as I do. Nevertheless, can we agree that much of this world is a mess at the moment?
What script have we followed to get us here? … What script will we follow to get us out? … What happens to us next?
My firecracker of a mind had me writing this story believing entertainment could be used to transform this not-so-wonderful reality of ours into something better. To prove myself master of my own universe, readers and listeners of my story would be adversaries I needed to sley in pursuit of “True Victory”.
That’s the title to a YouTube video released in April of 2017. If you ever do find it, don’t watch it, instead, just listen… “The end is about to begin.”
Entertainment has become a part of who we are. In my story you’ll see me reference songs and shows and movies that have spoken to me over the years. Doing so has had me believing some of that entertainment was created just for me.
Does that make me crazy? … Or have I simply become a product of my world? — A person that feels more connected to the entertainment I consume than the people that surround me.
In the movie 8-Mile, Eminem plays the character of B-Rabbit: a rapper trying to make it out of a poor Detroit city by artistically attacking other rappers with his words. I was born in 1982. That movie, released my second year of college in 2002, became a staple of who I am.
As a forty-one-year-old father of three young boys now, that movie has become hard for me to watch for a number of reasons. One being the young sister of B-Rabbit’s in the movie who I see being traumatized by adults who fight one another in their attempt to survive an unjust and unfair and hate-filled world. That movie just feels too real to me today.
That movie introduced the song Lose Yourself, where Eminem “flips the script” by singing this iconic line: “If you had one shot, one opportunity, to seize everything you ever wanted in one moment—Would you capture it or just let it slip?”
That song still motivates and speaks to millions and millions of people. Dreamers like me use it as fuel. But what if that one moment Eminem sings about comes after many other moments when a person has fallen flat on their face in the most embarrassing ways. Would that person still be capable of chasing after their dreams? Or would it slip away? Leaving them stuck in that rat race, or bad dream… or that factory B-rabbit works in.
On my wild and thorny journey through life thus far, I’ve met a wide range of individuals. Without exception I have found something good in each and every one of them. While I might not be what you call “normal”, here is what I’ve come to believe…
I believe people today are mistaking how we behave—OR ACT—for who we are.
I’ve watched many good people fall into this beartrap of believing others are as bad as their behavior suggests. It’s not hard to see why. One need only open their eyes.
Awfulness is everywhere and anywhere. Believe me, I get it. People are super difficult, and they can do many super bad and super silly and super stupid things. Still, we all have some good inside of us. I truly believe that. The problem, as I see it, is this: How do we make good behavior normal?
To make good behavior normal, and change our world and our future, and end this rat race and bad dream, I believe we must first learn how to laugh at ourselves and our behavior.
I don’t know how this will happen on an individual basis, but wrote this story believing society must battle this monster of a task by utilizing two of its most dangerous and tactful weapons: Entertainment and Education.
When I was teaching this class my story follows I was watching the show Game of Thrones. I was actually watching it for the second time as it gave me something to talk about with the councilor at my school; Miss Lily—you’ll be meeting her shortly. According to a Facebook post, Game of Thrones has become the most widely consumed show in the world today.
I like this show myself but consider it poison to humanities collective consciousness. The gruesomeness and merciless nature it shows the majority of humanity capable of makes me extremely fearful for our future. The same could be said about the many historical documentaries I’ve watched, however.
Watching what I thought was the most terrible ending of that show, my mind wandered—as it often does—and I found myself asking this question: How powerful can a story really be?
I considered that question when Tyrion Lannister; the character in that show with a big mind and big heart but small body, said this: “There’s nothing in the world more powerful than a good story.” Adding, “Nothing can stop it, no enemy can defeat it.” The other characters on screen then debated who had the greatest story to tell.
Watching that scene, I remembered a teacher I had myself who said words were mankind’s greatest achievement during a lesson covering the history of the written word: “The reason some are so good at bending men towards their will,” that teacher said, “is they know the power of a story and how to harness it to its own ends.”
I also remembered that teacher saying something about humanity not yet fully grasping the power of a story. Or its potential. But in a world full of LOL’s and scrolling videos, was that teacher just feeding me a bunch of bs back then?
Here’s a spoonful of truth for you…
It was not teacher I just quoted. Yes, I lied——sort of.
It was not a teacher in a classroom I just quoted but another teacher on the television screen. The teacher I am referring to was another character from another show called Black Sails. You’ll see me reference this show in one of those articles I wrote for my students in the story ahead as well.
So, why did I lie? … Here’s why.
Most children today—and adults if you can handle me saying that—are learning more from television and movies and social media and music and the internet, than they are from classroom teachers like me. Not much of this is discussed in schools though and any idea of doing so might be placed on top of that heaping pile of impossibilities this world is currently accumulating.
But is that what’s best for our children?
We need a revolution in education. In a divided and hostile world, we might all agree on that. What we might never agree on however is what education should become or what it should focus on. Which is why people calling for a “revolution in education” sound rather ridiculous to my inner cynic.
Putting aside my own pessimism, allow me to expand on that question of how powerful a story can be by asking three more questions:
One. Why, historically, have books been considered dangerous?
Two. Why, in some dystopian entertainment, are books often outlawed in future civilizations?
And Three. Why, in heaven’s sake, would people ever fear a book or a story?
In this technologically fueled age of ours many would argue there are not enough people taking time to read books for them to truly impact our world today. This is a rationale statement, offering me the opportunity to congratulate you for being part of a dying breed. Knowing you are special—I wonder if you can think of a book that has ever changed your life personally?
Your answer to that question should spark memories that are unique to you, but did you actually take the time to stop and think about the question? Or are you in a rush to discover where I’ll be taking this conversation next?
That is the problem, is it not? We are all in a rush. A rush to get things done. A rush to have things understood. A rush to know what’s next. Life is a funnel of experiences, and we hold that funnel to our minds attempting to drown ourselves in its wonder.
Maybe this is not how you approach life, but surely you can see a world that overwhelmingly approaches life in this manner.
Let my intentions here be crystal clear: I’m here to argue that a good book, or story, can be like Pandora’s Box. And now, I get to ask you this: Are you ready to see what’s inside that box?
I’m not a fool—not completely. I know saying that will rub some people the wrong way. Perhaps you’re like me and don’t like listening to someone that sounds so pompous? If you are, allow me to now lube you up some with a poem. I’ve heard it helps with what I’m ultimately trying to do with this little story of mine…
This poem is titled “The Never-Ending Story.”
It has been created to ease your worry.
For a new class is now in session.
A class created by obsession.
Click by click, bullets are fired into the future.
Questions you will have, that’s for sure.
Now, as you proceed,
Understand that what you read,
Simply creates a story we need.
Just one teacher’s attempt to diverge,
So that a new hope may emerge.
A leap of faith that we all can grow,
In a belief that we are more alike than you know.
Scroll to discover that anything is possible.
If only we become responsible.
Just remember that to read,
Patience you will need,
As this teacher plants a seed.
For what you are about to begin is a story that starts at the end,
presenting a battle of the mind requiring a sense of humor and wonder to comprehend.
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With that attempt at being cute out of the way, allow me to now share with you an excerpt from a book written by a real author:
“We are now perched on a strange cusp of history. A time when the world feels like it’s been turned upside down and nothing is quite as we imagined. But uncertainty is always a precursor to sweeping change. Transformation is always preceded by upheaval and fear. I urge you to place your faith in the human capacity of creativity and love. Because these two forces, when combined, poses the power to illuminate any darkness.”
It would be wonderful if a leader appeared in our world, spoke these words, and magically saved us all from the misery that is difficult for many of us to see past today. Unfortunately, we do not live in the movies, and so there is no Tony Stark or Bruce Wayne, armed with billions of dollars, the intelligence and sexiness, to persuade people of this world to follow them into battle.
Instead, the excerpt I just quoted was taken from a novel tiled Origin by Dan Brown. I chose to use it here as I want to believe it applies to our world and is not simply a set of random words strung together by some author to make a novel, and character in it, more compelling.
To make my last statement unbiased to gender—a necessity during these turbulent times—I might also mention we don’t have a beautiful woman flying a dragon to come save us either. That’s a reference Daenerys in that show Game of Thrones for those that might not know. Tony Stark and Bruce Wayne were references to Iron Man and Batman for those that might be living under a rock.
Okay. Just a few more disclaimers to go.
I first dreamt of writing a story that might offer a new script for us to follow back in 2014 when I had hit that Max-F-It Level I mentioned earlier. The title I gave my story then was Journey to JoJo, A Trip to Insanity and Back. The words “Insanity and Back” were a reference to myself then, as this world has gone a bit insane since, I hope you find that as ironic as I do once all the pieces of my story are known.
There’s a scene in The Avengers movie I’d compare my experience of writing that story to. It’s the one where The Hulk takes Loki by one foot and smashes him back and forth; side to side like a ragdoll. Like Loki in those movies however, after that smashing, I continued to feel “burdened with great purpose”. Our doctors might tell you we both suffer from “delusions of grandeur”.
Teaching at this Recovery High School when Covid hit, I was encouraged to give my writing career another shot. The title I first gave this story was Social Recovery 101, A Book That Could Spark a Redistribution. That title ties into this class I was teaching.
In 2021, that story began with me saying that our world has changed so drastically—over whatever timespan you choose to look at—that all of us are in recovery from something: “Yes every single one of us,” I went on, “and like a fingerprint what we are recovering from is unique for each and every person.”
With that story complete, I sat at this little desk of mine and went in search of a literary agent. I’d find agents looking for stories from “under-represented voices from authors who strived despite unique and significant obstacles”. Me and my story didn’t qualify I guess. Or maybe my story wasn’t that good then. Those query emails I sent got almost no feedback and so I can’t know for sure.
Unsuccessful in that search, I thought those agents might have been scared off by the perceived seriousness of my story given its title. That’s when I changed the title of this story to the more entertaining one it has now: The Real GOOD Loser, A Story That Could…
As I’ve continued to work on this story the past few years I’ve tried to stay quiet mostly and just listen. Something I continue to hear people say to one another is this: “Friends and family shouldn’t talk about money, politics, or religion.”
I’ve grown to dislike hearing that as it makes me wonder what we are supposed to talk about then…Dreams and ambitions maybe?
Yeah right—I thought to myself—dreams don’t live in this reality, and ambitions only seem to feed resentments in people.
That’s another overly negative perspective on things. What can I say, I haven’t been the most fun person to be around lately. I’m sure you’ll understand eventually.
Like most everyone I have opinions on a lot of things. And like you maybe not all my opinions are peachy. While I do hope you find this story a mostly fun and entertaining read, serious issues will be addressed. Some a result of this class I was teaching, some because of personal experiences, and some only because I needed to get a few things off my chest.
I invite you to be judge, jury, and executioner of my opinions, but would like to make a quick Public Service Announcement here before proceeding:
I am just another a-hole down here—like you maybe—trying to find a place to fit in and questioning if I even belong on this planet anymore…a planet where competing ideas of liberty and freedom are pushing us all closer and closer to a Third World War.
I pirated that Third World War line from a Star Trek show called Strange New Worlds. A show depicting us humans adventuring out in space in a more hopeful future. A future where our once divided world was forced to come together for some reason… Sounds kind of nice doesn’t it?
I read a lot of books to maybe sound like I know what I’m talking about here. In his book titled Altruism, Matthieu Ricard argues against the abyss of opinions claiming humanity too inherently selfish to ever act unselfishly.
That book mentions the 1999 Columbine School shooting early on. According to the book, the two boys who committed that horrendous act made a video prior where they are seen debating which film director, Steven Spielberg or Quentin Tarantino, might direct their movie someday.
Yes, those two boys believed a movie would be made about them. I’m certain many will be as disturbed by this information as I was, but were those two boys completely wrong in their thinking?
With entertainment becoming darker, and more demoralizing, and more disturbing—for profit reasons mostly in my opinion—is it too far-fetched to imagine a fictionalized version of what happened streaming on one of the many misguided streaming services we pay for at some point? … How many streaming services do you pay for today? … Do you even know?
In the book Power and Progress, its authors discuss humanities technological advances over time; claiming technology all too often benefits elites. With the invention of the internet, is residual income from streaming services how this new technology is doing that today? Just something to think about and discuss later if you’d like.
That book Altruism used that shooting to discuss egotism: the practice of talking and thinking about oneself excessively because of an undue sense of self-importance. How did those two boys become so hate-filled and angry? How could they then take their hate and anger out on real people in the real world? What role did entertainment have on their thinking?
These are the types of questions I hope this story gets us talking about. But let’s be honest from the get-go…it’s not just kids that are feeling this hate and anger building up inside them.
Here in the not-so-United States, they say we have become “desensitized to violence” and there are many ideas on how we might deal with this school shooting problem we have. Some believe teachers should be allowed to have guns. Others think stationing police in schools might prevent future attacks.
After a more recent school shooting, a friend of mine on Facebook wrote this:
“Invest more money in better lockdown procedures and get metal detectors… I’d rather little Johnny or little Lizzy be nervous about going thru a metal detector, or some sort of security for a week, then to have our society worry about sending their children to schools that are easy to terrorize.”
Nothing ever changes though. No matter how much we talk and argue and finger point, we have no choice but to go numb and forget. We might as well accept it… Am I lying?
Things aren’t all bad of course. We live in a world of excess today. Not of everything—money, healthcare, and mental sanity come to mind. But most of us can still buy things that make us feel special. It’s easy. I just need to touch a button here on my phone.
We can also do stuff for appearance purposes; smile and do our jumping jacks on social media: “Hey World!”—I can post— “Look at me…Look how happy I am!”
But are we happy? … Really? — Are we content with our lives? … Are we at peace with a world that seems to be going to hell?
Whether you think I’m being overly dramatic here, simply speaking truth, or just artfully assembling my words and weaponizing them in a way that might keep you reading, please know this: If you’re happy with the way things are—whoever, wherever, and whenever you are—then this story might not be for you.
In a world where it’s become harder and harder to believe absolutely anything, I wrote this story hoping that together we might make things just a little bit better. That, my potential friend, is most definitely not a lie.
You’ll understand how this lying thing ties into the story once I get my introduction out of the way next, but first one last quick disclaimer before I get this class started.
At the end of each chapter, you’ll find a song I’ve added to my teacher’s playlist for this story. You’ll know how these songs tie into this class I was teaching in chapter four. Everything will make sense soon enough—I promise…pinky swear.
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The Teacher’s Playlist:
For What It’s Worth by Buffalo Springfield
“Nobody’s right if everybody’s wrong.”
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(End of Chapter One)
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Recovery High School 