The state of mind that human beings live in can be described as being directly dependent on what they are made aware of. Based on this, they form their ideas and notions in order to construct some sort of defense mechanism against particular possible consequences.

An example of this is the manner in which people generally respond to the notion of death and dying; they aim at making the best of opportunities available to save their lives, and in cases where life is certain to be lost, people try to make the most of the time that they have left. A particular instance in which this kind of situation may be demonstrated is in the movie ‘My Life’ directed by Bruce Joel Rubin.

Although Rubin has been largely criticized for his over simplification and weak direction, it must be asserted that he has in fact exposed the truth of telling a story of one’s life and death. This is true to say as the protagonist Bob Jones (Michael Keaton), who is dying of Cancer, decides to tape his life in his last few days. This is so that his unborn child would have a chance of knowing who he was.
Gail (Nicole Kidman) plays Bob’s wife and is four months pregnant when the couple learn that Bob has only few months more to live. Bob’s kidney Cancer has in fact spread as far as his lings, and it is only a matter of a few days that this would engulf all his major organs in his thoracic region.

At the beginning of the movie, Bob is observed as a bright individual who is well in his career. However, after a few moments into ‘My Life’ one quickly gets to know that this movie would end in tears. The couple learns about Bob’s severe condition, and then Bob tries to brave it through.

With his wife by his side, he is encouraged to seek treatment through a faith-healer; this faith healer, in a sense is one of the reasons why Bob made his video of his life and death. Telling a story of one’s life and death is not an easy thing to do, but the faith-healer advises Bob to remove all anguish and hatred from within before he dies.

It is believed that this would make Bob’s end easier, and at the end of the movie, it turns out to be true because he manages to forgive his parents and pass out of this world. The manner in which this was carried out is brilliant even though it may be criticized at several points for over-emotional scenes. However, what can hardly be ignored is the fact that it is a story being created within a story, and the story being created within is one that is truly touching as it is being prepared for Bob’s son, who is not even born.

Indeed, one point must be asserted, and this is the notion that it only takes one in such a situation as Bob’s to understand what it is like to be on a death-bed when one’s off spring is about to be born. To others, who are not concerned with such tragedy, the movie is simply fictional tragedy that could have been made up anywhere and by anyone. However, it is worth considering such a situation as one that could happen to anyone; and if it happens to a given individual, it must be considered that one would naturally feel that there simply isn’t enough time to do all that one would want to.

Considering Bob’s situation, he knew that he didn’t have enough time left on his side, and he also knew that he probably would not have enough time to live in order to see his child. Hence, he had to make sure that he covered every important aspect before he exited this world.

Indeed, the faith-healer at this point played an important part. This is because of the fact that he had immediately helped Bob to resolve issues that might have been left pending. This refers to Bob’s and his parents’ disagreements. Resolving these disagreements was most important, and signifies something very important to all those who know that their days are numbered.

It would naturally be better to resolve one’s issues with one’s relatives and friends as Bob had done in order to leave them peacefully. Doing this and recording it too is one of the most fulfilling things that Bob could have done before dying.
Bob’s child would also learn a great deal from this, and there would be peace in the family after Bob’s death. This is the surprising part of this movie as the film that Bob was making is supposed to record Bob’s last days. However, it does much more than that; it virtually preaches about forgiveness and love, which his child would be able to see clearly.

Here, forgiveness may be particularly emphasized on because of the fact that Bob demonstrates perhaps where and when it is most important to forgive people. Since this was an issue that had to be resolved within Bob’s family, the nature of forgiveness here meant that it was about family life and how one should not really be mad at someone and hold grudges for long periods.

All things must pass, and nothing stands forever, one would be compelled to think. Similarly, Bob feels the same way; he knows that he cannot last long, and because of his illness he did not have very long anyway.
Fortunately, after turning to the faith-healer’s advice, sense prevailed, and Bob instead of being frustrated as most people would be after learning about their near death, he decided to heed the faith-healer’s advice.
Having to forgive his people before he passed on from this world, Bob managed to relate his pain and his gain as well to his unborn child in a manner that parents might not ordinarily be able to. The manner in which this was all carried out was also admirable. Of course, there were few painful moments in this movie in which the protagonist lost his cool.

Particularly, the scene when he rushes into the doctor’s office after learning about his near death, demonstrates much of the pain and anguish in Bob; the lack of hope initially got to him. However, after listening to his wife so that he would go to the faith-healer as a last resort for a cure transformed his end; and end that would have been much more painful and grotesque was transformed into a graceful end for Bob.
The story that he creates of his life and death for his unborn child was indeed one that was a complete one in itself even though his life was incomplete. This goes to show that in relating one’s experiences in the way that Bob did, there was little left uncovered.

It may also be asserted that though he was being quickly wiped out of his family’s life, he would leave traces that would remain permanent in the minds of the people who loved him, particularly his wife and unborn child.
Creating a story of one’s life in the manner that Bob did is only possible through coming to terms with one’s self, as Bob did. At this point, one must not forget the importance of the faith-healer who initially told him to forgive everyone he had problems with.

Listening to this good advice had led bob to proving himself as a good human being at his very end, leaving his unborn child with clear images of a man with good intentions. In creating such an image for himself which was in a sense very honest, bob changed all that he had done before this time. This refers to the fact that he had cut out his parents from his life. However, this all changed with his realization of death. He knew that he had to change whatever was not right, and so, he carved an image for himself. In this carving of an image for himself, it must be emphasized that forgiveness is a chief element in Bob’s nature, and one through which he would find peace eventually. Though the story he made is one that is largely touching, it certainly does have a moral approach in it is well.

‘My Life’ can be said to be a story within a story; and it is not just a story but a revelation of what happens to a human being who knows that s/he is close to death. This movie helps one to understand the importance of human life, human relations and the importance of maintaining peace with one’s family and friends. However, in a technical sense, the movie ‘My Life’ is one that describes how one may put together a given amount of facts and present a complete picture of one’s life and death.
This is precisely what Bob did in order to present his life and death to his unborn child; he put all that was necessary and true of himself and his family on film so that his child would have a chance of knowing him for the personality he was. Lastly, in addition to this, Bob’s child would have a chance of knowing how Bob’s life changed from the time he got to know of his illness and fast-approaching death.