I need some help here...
 

There are just some times like today when I really feel I can't do anything. I have absolutely no clue where I'm going in life, I'm at university at the moment but since Avatar, I am completely changed. I really don't want to spend the rest of my life stuck in endlessly working. Really, I don't know WHAT I want to do, at all.

Whenever I stop doing anything, even for a second, my mind drifts back to Pandora, I just can't do anything because I keep realising it's all pointless. If I was on Pandora I wouldn't need to worry about anything any more. I'd be free. I want to here but I don't see how it's possible, since everything is so dominated by work and money.

So much of what I do is Avatar now, reading these forums, listening to the OST, watching Avatar more times than I can really afford, playing the Avatar game, even just thinking of Pandora.

I used to think PAD would fade, but it hasn't. If anything, it's getting stronger, and I only ever really felt worse right at the start, when I wasn't even sure of the cause. I'm always thinking of Pandora, of the Na'vi, of how I would rather be flying on an Ikran, or walking through the bioluminescence at night, or just with other Na'vi.

I really long for something like the Na'vi have, a real sense of belonging. They have such happiness, something humans never have, just from each other. Humans all ignore each other, only ever focusing on their own lives.
I guess I'm really lonely too, Neytiri made me See that. I never used to think about this at all, but now I realise just how much I want someone who Sees me, someone who I can really be with for the rest of my life. Of course, I still have the problem that I just don't find humans interesting compared to Na'vi, but even past that, I want the right person for me and I wouldn't really mind.

I'd still much rather be Na'vi, if I had a chance to drop everything right now and become Na'vi, I would without hesitation. I just want to go to Pandora, personally, I think it DOES exists - SOMEWHERE, after all, the universe is big enough. But being unable to reach it just makes me feel so depressed.

I really didn't expect anything from Avatar, I just thought it'd just be a film, one with good visuals and a nice idea maybe, but just a film. I really didn't expect it to show me my life and what was wrong. Now I think back, I've never really been happy, I just thought I was because it was better than my previous situation. Now I have it all in context, I realise how much was missing.

As Jake said, "It's hard to believe it's only been 3 months. I can barely remember my old life. I don't know who I am any more."

Anyway, thanks for reading all this, sorry if it's really long, I just started writing what I feel and it kept going. Just wanted to explain what's going on with me right now, hopefully people will See :'(

Yes.. most of us do expect that PAD would only last for a short while after the movie's screening.. but it reaches far, far deeper than that.

Personally, Avatar has changed my outlook on life - I'm becoming more rational, more observant, more sensitive to my surroundings. While yes, I do agree that Avatar has left a gaping hole that is incredibly hard to substitute, I feel that I am able to analyse things in a more clear manner. And instead of becoming more depressed about being unable to be on Pandora and with Neytiri, I start pouring my efforts to improve myself, in the goal that someday I can and will be able to leave my mark (hopefully something positive).

Anyways HNM, you're definitely not alone here, many others here will share similar sentiments as you. Its good that you speak out your frustrations and sentiments here, so our community can relate with you and offer you a listening ear :)

http://www.avatar-forums.com/groups/...utionists.html

Did you ever look at this social group on AF? The ultimate goal we're working toward is to create a tribe living in the Na'vi manner, in touch with nature.

That might be something that could help you.

P.A.D doesn't fade, its with you forever. After watching Avatar, I just feel this unquenchable longing, like I've lost something that will never come back. "I was lying there, with a Big hole blown through the middle of my life, I started having these dreams of flying" - Jake Sully. I still haven't got over it, it does return, stronger than ever. But talking to people I love and respect on Skype and these Forums made me See that even though we are not Na'vi,and were not on Pandora, that doesn't mean we have to live the way every other human does. We are unique. You said you feel lonely...Me too, Everytime I see Jake and Neytiri, it hurts. It hurts like hell, but you have to think about other things. Heck, I worship Neytiri, posters everywhere...But if anything Avatar has shown me that life is precious, everyday is. I started waking up earlier, helping people, helping animals, walking in woods, drawing, creating music, videos, anything! Its YOUR life, live it to the full, Maybe we will see Pandora, but even if we don't, we have our own Na'vi clan here.

<33 Hope you feel better HNM...

i really have to say that PAD really affected me, but i got over it!

i love my life, though i really hate all this monetary thinking we got here!
but i really see my job only as a help to make it possible for me to see our beatiful world! to travel around and discover as much as my lifetime allows me to!

one thing i like to say to your Human, is that u should try to not see the movie. i know it´s hard and everytime i watch the trailer i get the feeling that i have to see the movie again! it isn´t bad to love the world the movie created but u will never see it for real (for what we know now) i don´t wanna be mean or so and pls don´t take that as a attack against u but think of it! ;)

Thanks... I never thought I was alone, it just makes me so sad how everyone who understands are so separated... Makes me wish I could meet all of you, you've all become my real friends, the people who know me better than anyone.

Interesting, I made a thread there asking a few things. Really not sure if that's what I meant or intended, but it's certainly an interesting idea.

Oel ngati kameie... :(
I've tried a few of those things, I've even just done the small things like trying to reduce how much of everything I waste. It helps, but it's certainly not a cure for anything :( - and sometimes I feel like it doesn't really matter what I do, nobody else will.

Oel ngati kameie ma tsmukan.
If we don't stand up for the little things...who will?
Don't lose faith, We will always be here for you. I know exactly what you're going through, I'm at school being pressured about GCSE's and coursework everyday. I come home and just escape to Pandora and Avatar with you guys. I know how you feel. Try not to let the world get you down...You will find your own Neytiri someday. <3

Eywa ayngahu ma tsmukan...

I can sometimes relate to you ma tsmúkan. Sure I love to be a DJ, go to raves, I'm almost done with my automotive technician school and after I can get a job doing what I love, but somedays if I'm not thinking clearly like when I'm at my job, I feel like I don't have a lot to look forword to. It's an ugly sinking feeling, and like you said PAD comes back. For some smaller and shorter, others longer and stronger. Bit in moments like those I think about things that I still look forward to in life, like graduating college, completing my project car, getting an apartment (first, then house), what party I'm going to DJ at next, which rave I'm going to, designing the Avatar inspired black light tattoo, ect. But somedays it feels like nothing, and then I feel ungrateful for all of it and it makes me feel worse. I'm See you and am with you ma tsmúkan

I agree, I wish I could meet all of you guys and we could become the greatest group of friends every day

This is very understandable. Avatar gave you a vision of what it would be like to live and survive as a group with no money and materialism. You long for something greater.

Well, I wouldn't necessarily say that on Pandora you wouldn't worry about anything. It has many dangers. However, I understand where you are coming from. You want to be free from the wage slavery that many of us are in. You want to escape from this greedy and materialistic society. I agree. I think that many of us want to escape from it.

This is understandable. The same thing happened to me with LOTR.


Perhaps you need to step back, just a tad. Just to gain some perspective.

It is possible for us to attain some sort of the closeness that the Na'vi have. Remember that they represent the best of us. It is difficult and you are right that to often people ignore each other :(. It is sad.

I know this feeling very well. I have been there. I have been very, very lonely. Know this though, you are never truly alone. We are here on the forum. I am sure that someone is out there for you. The first thing to do is focus on becoming a better person. All of us need improvement. Learn about yourself more and be open :).

Pandora could be out there. We will probably never know but there is always the possibility. However, don't let that depress you. Remember that there are many beautiful places here on earth waiting to be explored :).

It is meant to be a mirror on what we can do better and what we don't want to be. This is good :). Take the opportunity to improve yourself. I realized after watching Avatar that I needed to love more. I have always loved but it has helped me to see the brighter sides of life instead of being worried all the time, etc.

:(. I'm sorry to hear that. I hope you will be able to been happy. Take the opportunity to explore, to learn more about life, love, etc. I don't know if that makes sense but I hope it helps in some way.

No problem HNM. It is good to pour out your feelings. Its good to see that there is trust on this board :). You know that you will never be judged. We are all here for each other :).

As much as I hate to say it, lingering PAD is a manifestation of existential depression. It was triggered by watching and processing the content of the Avatar experience and that precipitated a existential crisis. I have suffered terribly from this for most of my adult life. I saw no purpose. I had to surrender to it in order to begin my long climb to where I am today. I had to realize that it's not the answer that is the problem, but it is the question that is the problem. Today I have new found purpose. Between Avatar and these forums I have finally reached the light for the first time in my life. I am never going back. I hold out a hand for any others who can accept it for those around me are my purpose. I know that I will only be able to reach a few, but that is enough.

It's all about what you decide to do. You can choose to look at life as a cruel joke or a wonderful gift. Yes I fully understand that it is extremely difficult to go from one side to the other and so very easy to slide back. I would be nice if I could give a simple set of instructions how I made it to the wonderful gift side, but I can not. It is my most sincere wish that no one have to go through what I had to endure, and I will do what I can to help.

I don't necessarily know where I am going in life. I just face each day the best that I can and move forward. I just hope that I can touch someone in a positive way.

I wish I had more time. I think I could write a book, but it's back to work for me.

Thanks everyone... You, my friends, are what really keep me happy these days. I'm glad I met you all every single day. Thanks for listening to me go on about all this, when I know so many people are feeling similar. Many of you probably know me better than anyone else I know IRL.

txen, I have actually had what I guess you could call an existential crisis of sorts before, in the end I decided that it doesn't really matter that there's no meaning to life. It's meaningless, but we should enjoy it as much as we can. I never used to think anything else in that way. The problem is that I can't really enjoy anything any more, because what I really want it still out of reach for me. Particularly being lonely, I have always felt that, but since falling in love with Neytiri, I changed from focusing on short term interest to really thinking about someone who Sees me.

I actually decided I was getting myself out of the "work every day, spend, repeat" life cycle a few years ago. What I really enjoy doing is being out in the beautiful parts of the world, hiking, camping, doing whatever. In my case, that is primarily in the national parks of the US. So, I started working a lame restaurant job thats pays quite well, and is near a college campus, which means I get mid May-September off basically. Since 2007 I have been taking months long road trips across the US.

At this point, I have been to 51 of the 58 parks in the US, and will be seeing 25 or so this summer, obviously mostly repeats, including several in Alaska. I started my own website on the parks, and the hope is, with a little advertising revenue, combined with selling my photography, I might be able to do that full time so to speak :D I may start posting some of the photos here at some point, I just don't want anyone to think I am pushing my own site here.

I guess what I'm saying is that I realized my life was meaningless garbage before Avatar... and I am trying to fix it. PAD for me is directly related to the treatment of the Na'vi and Pandora, and the knowledge that what the RDA does is EXACTLY what we would do if we found something like unobtanium here. Only I believe we would do even worse than the RDA. There would be no school building, or Avatar program, we would forcibly move or kill them, and quickly. The fact that we are going, and are probably already, down a path of no return to the destruction of our Pandora is what saddens me. As I said, I spend months a year seeing some of the best sights in the world, and yes, we do have things that compare to Pandora. But we won't for long.

[edit[ And on the personal loneliness thing, I am alone, but I accept it. I had a really dark period in my life where I had to force myself to accept being alone, or I would have gone crazy. I am at peace with it now. If that someone comes along, that will be beyond amazing, but I do not dwell on it or try to find it any more.

I have this feeling too; honestly I don´t know what to do now and in the future
I´ve lost all the interest in studies,hobbies.... this is serious and I should to do something to fix it
the whole day I´m thinking in AVATAR (the wonderful world of PANDORA and the adventures they lived) when will come out in theaters again,DVD, the sequels...

I didn't know HNM was human too! :D I also had PAD, but I have learned to overcome it.

Before Avatar, the movie that heavily influenced me was "There will be blood". I found an instant connection with the cold-blooded oil man, not only because I was as unscrupulous as him, but also because I had become increasingly disgusted at humans.

Last June I graduated from university and went on to become a trader, which was my dream job. My only goal was to make as much as possible to retire at 40. This all changed after I watched Avatar. I often asked myself how I'd feel when I look back only to see myself spending 20 years in front of a wall of monitors furiously clicking "Buy" and "Sell"...

I quit this January. I didn't know what to do. I considered going to flight school, but my eyes weren't good enough, so I took a break and went hunting for the first time with my dad. I thought this was my chance to have a Na'vi experience, but to my utter disappointment, I spent 2 days crawling in deep snow without even catching a damn chicken. Luckily I didn't have a clan counting on me to bring food back. This brief experience of being a hunter and doing hard, physical labor was a pretty good reality check for me.

Now I'm back to job hunting:war:

I feel exactly the same way HNM. Truly, oél ngáti kámeie ma tsmukan.

Sometimes, you just have to admit to yourself that something isn't for you. Maybe in this case, that thing is the university route. I myself have been through this exact same situation. For me, it led to me completely reconsidering my options, keeping things open-ended and taking a different path. The path is not necessarily as clear cut as first seems, there are still a lot of various routes you can take...

As for finding a partner, I too ache for the love of another, but i'm willing to wait that little bit longer for a true love rather than some throw-away relationship. That may be difficult to find in today's society and you may call me old fashioned but this lonliness is something i'm prepared to endure.

As for now, try as best you can to get through, savour the little things and remember, you always have us for support.

Always.

Quoted for truth, you said everything I wanted to say. Were here for you HNM, you gave us somewhere to go with ToS. Time we repayed you.

Thanks so much for all your kind words :)

Sometimes, it just all hits home like a ton of bricks. I'll be fine, and then, I'm on my knees. I look up at the sky and think to myself, "Somewhere, Pandora." Seeing Avatar gives me back my deadened sense of objectivity. I look at my life, the people around me going about their day, the people passing by on the road, and I realize that my life is garbage. It's the vicious cycle study, school repeat. All for the CHANCE to work my a$$ off later to make a few slips of green paper. We humans have lost our sense of reality, identity. It's so sad. I just want to cast off my worries and concerns to join Neytiri and Jake in the stars. Pandora exists for me, deep in my heart. To be torn away from this causes my depression. The weight of Society crushing down. I just want to go up to people sometimes who are babbling about the latest fashion or something trivial, and shake them, yell "Don't you get it! That is meaningless!"

You shouldn't let the false cares of the world get you down. Mo matter what happens, remember, Pandora exists, in your mind, in your heart, in your actions. Live Na'vi.

It's okay, we're all friends here. We're there for you. *hug*

I see you ma tsmukan. Truly. I have felt the same way so many times in my life, for years at a time sometimes. I wish I had some advice, but everyone one else has said it better than I could. :) So I'll just say again, you are not alone and never will be. Even though we're so far apart, we're still here for you, anytime and every time life gets hard. Good friends will soar with you when you're flying, and carry you when you haven't a leg to stand on. :)

Quoted for 100% truth, I feel exactly as you do. Oel ngati kameie ma tsmukan.

You are not alone, ma tsmukan. I have often felt the same way as you have.

I am having the same issues. Right now I am supposed to be writing a research paper for my English class on a possible career choice. I honestly cannot come up with a career. I don't know what I want to do. It all seems so pointless. No matter what I choose, I will work at a job I probably won't like until I die (or retire, if I am very lucky). And for what? Nothing. It's pointless.

I try to distract myself (usually with homework, which doesn't work) from Avatar-related thoughts, as they usually lead to depression. I often think about how much better life would be on Pandora, which of course makes me want to do nothing but sit around and daydream all day. I am having some serious motivation problems because of this. Not fun.

Definitely. My P.A.D. comes in waves. I can distract myself from really thinking about Pandora, the Na'vi, their way of life, etc. for a while (a day ot two, at the most). And while I'm distracted, life is okay. For the most part, I can focus, and get things done. I still think about Avatar, but they are mostly frivolous thoughts ("Look how pretty Neytiri is," "I wonder what color ikrans come in" etc.) But all it takes is one deep thought and I'm launched back into P.A.D. for a couple days.

This is the biggest issue for me. Seeing Avatar made me realize just how separated I am from my friends. I try to become closer to some of my friends, but I realize I have little in common with them after being changed by Avatar. I want to bring some of the Na'vi closeness into my relationships, but it is difficult if not impossible with the people around me.

I am lonely. I want to find someone who Sees, someone who could understands what P.A.D. is like. Just to be able to talk face-to-face with someone like that would help the loneliness tremendously.

What I would absolutely love would be to meet everyone here on the forums in real life. You all are amazing, kind, understanding people. You know me better than most of my friends do. You guys feel like a second family to me.

I felt this way right after seeing the movie. I felt like Pandora was out there, but it was just out of my reach. And that hurts. The only way I have been able to get rid of that pain is to tell myself that Pandora doesn't exist, and it never will. The only thing we have is Earth, so we should try to make the best of it. Probably not the best way to deal with that, but it works.

Don't apologize. It's good to let it all out. Remember, we're here for you. Oel ngati kameie, ma tsmukan.

Oel ngati kameie, ma tsmukan.
I can understand you how you feel right now because I'm proving the same emotions as you. PAD is a bad beast, because it makes you realize and See how evil and blind humanity can be.
This for me is a gift, because it made me a better person, it made me discover a part of myself that I never thought I had. It changed - for the better - many views I had on myself, on the world and on humanity.

Pandora and the Na'vi are, at least for now, a Dream... but we can use this Dream as an encouragment to do something beautiful here on our Earth, I truly believe that we can make a difference. That's why I want to keep on studying at university: to help making our planet a better place for us all.

That part of the movie really stunned me as well. I was amazed on how the Na'vi relate to each other, and how the Omaticaya people accepted Jake in the clan even if they knew that he was a bloody tawtute.

it's something that we probably won't ever see on Earth. :(

But, in any case.... YOU ARE NOT ALONE. We're far from each other, we can have very different cultural backgrounds but we felt the same way about Avatar's message. This place is so amazing for me because we can talk openly about almost any topic (not just about Avatar) with the knowledge that we will be able to discuss in a productive and peaceful way.
This is a thing that I've never seen or felt in any other place, both in RL and on the Internet, and this is why I LOVE this place and all of you guys.

This is our Na'vi clan, our Na'vi family.

Avatar is not "just another science-fiction" movie. It's a wakeup call, and I'm glad we all heeded it here.

I'll be always at your side, brother.

Irayo, ma tsmukan si ma tsmuke :)

This thread was the first thing I thought of when I woke up this morning, I just had to check for new posts here. You all make me so happy. I always knew there were other people, but it still helps a lot to know that people feel the same as me.

I've already used Avatar as inspiration for changes in my life, even just small things, if more people did, it would have a real impact. I still just don't feel happy on Earth though, and the loneliness... I spend literally hours some days finding new images of Neytiri, discussing her beauty, or just sitting there thinking about her. I'm truly in love with her, but I also just wish I could find my Neytiri in my life, someone who we can See each other.

I feel so happy to just be able to talk again, with people who understand and sympathise. Something tells me you couldn't have a thread like this on AF any more...

Really make me wonder what's possible, maybe one day we'll all meet on the ship to Pandora...

When writing this post, I started thinking of this song, it really helps in times like this, I think. Don't judge based on who it is :P, listen to it, you'll probably be surprised.





Though we're far away
The stars above are the same
And when you feel alone
There's one who shares your pain

Nice song, I will be there on that Ship, and the Avatar 2 Premiere! :D Hope your feeling better HNM, We need MAOR Neytiri Worship!

I loved the song as well, HNM! ;) Thanks for posting it!

Yes it was quite a nice song HNM, thanks for sharing.

I downloaded it, its great :D

Awesome song, thank you for sharing it HNM!

HNM, I'm happy to know that we have helped :)

Very good :)

Don't look to hard. She will come when you least expect it.

I know, its a shame. I'm glad that we have the camaraderie back.



HNM, wow, what can I say? What a beautiful song. I never heard of Man o' War. I'm more familiar with other heavy metal bands like Metallica, Guns n' Roses, Megadeath, etc (nb: I am not going to mention fake ones like Poison or Warrant, etc).

The lyrics remind me of another song that is very special to me. Its called Bridge over Troubled Water by Simon and Garfunkel. I hope you like it :).

Couldn't have said it better.

Oel ngati kame. Love, even unrealized, is better than a cold heart. Neytiri's out there somewhere. True love knows no boundaries, stellar distance or time.

We'll always be here. A group of people together for the right thing is a force to be reckoned with.

I'll be there. Society be damned.

Staring life through eyes of mine, the hate the fear and the pain; there's a feeling held deep inside, when the life you live is in vain.

Thanks for your support everyone :)
I'm still lonely, I still have PAD, but I'm just so much happier to know that somewhere, there are people who understand and feel the same. I don't know what I'd do without you all...

Fly away down the lonely roads of yesterday... Close your eyes to see the light of brighter days. And all alone we'll be where time can never heal, with the trail of broken hearts flying free

Through the sun and winter rain will fall, all our lives we all were waiting for a sign to call. We're walking hand in hand in dreams and endless time, how do we know when we will leave this life behind?

Love that song :'(

There is so much love, care, and understanding in this forum, it's simply amazing.