“WHEN LIFE SUCKS”, THE TALK SHOW

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We are currently developing a video series featuring a teenage couple as co-hosts. Through interviews and personal profiles, young people share their stories and discuss how virtues can be used to help them overcome problems.

Check out our first episode transcript:

“LIFE SUCKS” WHEN YOU HAVE ACNE!

GIRL CO-HOST: Hello… …welcome to the “V” Channel.

GUY CO-HOST: …and to “When Life Sucks!”

GIRL: The “V” Channel was created to provide simple lessons about the What, Why and How of virtues, to help young people deal with life—especially when “When Life Sucks”…

GUY: Yep…life sure can suck… like when you have to break up with a girlfriend.

GIRL: …or boyfriend?

SUPERIMPOSE TYPE GRAPHIC: Tact is telling the truth kindly. Thinking before we speak, aware of how deeply our words affect others. Discerning what to say, when it is timely to say it, and what is better left unsaid.

GUY: Yep…breaking up sucks.

GIRL: It sure does… or how about when your best friend posts something about you that they swore they would keep a secret, or they say something that totally embarrasses you.

GUY: That sucks… but they’re your best friend, so what’ya gonna do?

SUPERIMPOSE TYPE GRAPHIC: Forgiveness is overlooking mistakes, and being willing to move forward with a clean slate. Forgiving others frees us from resentment. Forgiving ourselves is part of positive change.

GIRL: There are so many challenges in life—so many times when virtues can help get us get through tough times… like failing an important test…

SUPERIMPOSE SCROLLING TYPE GRAPHICS: Steadfastness

GUY: I get so tired of doing the same chores over and over and over again.

SUPERIMPOSE SCROLLING TYPE GRAPHICS: Self-discipline

GIRL: I get sooooooo bored of school.

SUPERIMPOSE SCROLLING TYPE GRAPHICS: Enthusiasm

GUY: I get sooooooo fed up looking for a job.

SUPERIMPOSE SCROLLING TYPE GRAPHICS: Determination

GIRL: Okay… I think we made the point. Virtues not only help us be the best we can be, they also help us get through tough times. For our episode of “When Life Sucks” I interviewed “Nico” from Brooklyn…

INTERIOR BASKETBALL COURT—VARIOUS SHOTS OF NICO SHOOTING BASKETS.

GIRL: Nico is a sophomore at Brooklyn Tech High School. He’s got an 87% GPA. He played on the 2012-13 varsity basketball team—he was the third highest scorer and rebounder in the division. His future looks bright both on and off the court.

CUT TO: GIRL CO-HOST AND NICO SIT AT MID COURT—

NICO: Yeah, life sucks when you have acne…
(CHUCKLES)
Anybody was has ever been called “pizza face” or had to look in the mirror at “zits”, “volcanoes”, “oozies” or “greasies” knows what I’m talking about.

GIRL: Yeah, life must be difficult when you’re suffering from acne.

NICO: It is. But rather than bitchin’ about it I did some research and went online to learn how to heal it, or at least control it. I went to a dermatologist and got some medicine, too.

GIRL: How else are you dealing with it?

NICO: Well… I’m doing my best to practice a few virtues.

GIRL: That’s great to hear—would you share some of the virtues with us?

NICO: Sure… that’s why I’m here… It sounds obvious, but Cleanliness is an important virtue—not only keeping our face and body clean, but also keeping our thoughts and our spaces clean, too, because an environment of order and beauty brings peace to our minds and souls.
(PAUSE)
You’ve heard the saying, “You are what you eat,” right? Even more important is, “You are what you think.” A “clean mind” means that you keep your thoughts on things that are good for you.
(SMILES)
…so I stopped thinking greasy, deep-fried thoughts—and I don’t get down on myself and think negative thoughts because I have acne.

GIRL: Good for you, Nico. That’s so important, because acne is not “who you are”… It’s a temporary skin condition… and I like what you said about keeping our living spaces clean—that a clean space helps create a peaceful inner mind, which helps to create a peaceful outer physical appearance, so even if you have acne, or any kind of physical impairment, you will exude a sense of quiet confidence…plus it will keep your mom from screaming, “Clean your room!”

THEY BOTH NOD IN AGREEMENT—SMILE—

NICO: Some people will never get acne, but for many kids, like me, acne is a fact of life. So another virtue to learn is “Acceptance”—embracing life on its own terms. Acceptance allows us to bend without breaking when we face tests in life.
(THINKS)
I learned that no matter how bad it gets, no matter how much we hate acne—and all the other stuff that makes life suck—the best choice is to go along for the ride and not resist it. Resistance creates stress in our life, and stress is another thing that causes to acne.

GIRL: You are so right—there will always be problems in life. The trick is to not dwell on the problems. Acne is a major life test—you’re doing your best to find a cure, but you’re also accepting it as a fact of life and not letting it break you.
(AFTER A MOMENT)
What other virtues are you learning?

NICO: Hmmm… “Patience” until it heals… “Hope” that the future will be better than the present.

GIRL: Perfect! Those are important virtues, for sure. Patience is waiting peacefully. Having quiet hope and faith that things will turn out right. Hope is looking to the future with trust and faith. Optimism in the face of adversity.
(PAUSE)
What about Appreciation?
(SMILES)
I’m sure you’re thinking, “Appreciation?! Are you bleeping crazy?! How can I appreciate life when I have acne?!”

NICO: Uh…yeah!

GIRL: Appreciation is seeing the good in life and freely expressing gratitude.
(PICKS UP A MAGAZINE)
I read this article “Appreciation for What Is” by Jane Beach:
(READING)
Appreciation not only feels good, it’s also a powerful tool. It calls us to live fully in the present moment. Instead of judging the situation, we ask, “how can I learn and grow from this? Appreciation lifts us out of despair because it is impossible to be truly grateful and to be unhappy at the same time. It turns us away from what’s wrong and toward what is right. Here’s a suggestion: every day, think of two to three random things and spend five minutes listing what you appreciate about each of them. For instance, what do I appreciate about the color blue?

NICO: (LIFTS HIS FOOT—SHOWS HIS BLUE SHOES): My D. Roses!

GIRL: Those are beautiful!
(CONTINUES READING)
And what do you appreciate about your feet?

NICO: They let me run up and down the court… (THINKS) My feet take to school, and they’re going to take me to a good party next weekend!

GIRL: Awesome! Have fun! The article continues suggesting things to appreciate in life…
(CONTINUES READING)
What do I appreciate about sidewalks? What do I appreciate about music? Give it a try! It will brighten your day and strengthen your powers of appreciation. Then, the next time you’re depressed—because life sucks—it will be much easier to find something to be grateful for in life.

NICO: It’s working… I feel appreciation.

NICO GETS UP. HE GRABS THE BASKETBALL—DRIBBLES DOWN THE COURT AND SLAMS DUNKS.

CUT TO: THE “V” CHANNEL STUDIO:

GUY: Nico is a cool guy… and very inspiring. I’m going to think of what I appreciate in life next time I get depressed about looking for a job!

GIRL: You do that… and I can think of a few other virtues for you to learn while you’re at it.

GUY: I won’t argue about that… “Ms. Perfect”

GIRL: Touché! (TO CAMERA) Share Your “When Life Sucks” Story. Email us at stories@theVchannel.com.

GIRL / GUY (GIVE THE “V” SIGN): Wishing you “Victory via Virtues!”

SUPERIMPOSE TYPE GRAPHICS: All of us at The “V” Channel wish you all the best in life and we’ll do whatever we can to help you, however, we’re not doctors or therapists, so we recommend you get professional help if you are suffering from depression and feel that life sucks so bad that you can’t go on. According to experts, you should seek help immediately if you or someone you know is thinking about self-harm or suicide. Below is a list of resources:

HOTLINES: National Suicide Hotline: 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433) or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) Both toll-free, 24-hour, confidential hotlines which connect you to a trained counselor at the nearest suicide crisis center.

CREDITS: Special thanks to The Family Virtues Guide, by Linda Kavelin Popov with Dr. Dan Popov Ph.D., and John Kavelin, and The Virtues Project, a global grassroots initiative to inspire the practice of virtues in everyday life.

Future “When Life Sucks” topics will include: