There’s something about certain films that quietly stay with you long after the credits roll.
Not because they’re loud.
Not because they’re dramatic.
But because somewhere inside the story, they reflect something deeply human back at you.
This weekend, while many people were revisiting The Devil Wears Prada 2, I found myself completely pulled into Remarkably Bright Creatures on Netflix, starring Sally Field and Lewis Pullman.
And honestly?
It quickly became one of my favorite films.
A Different Kind of Mother’s Day Reflection
Before anything else, I think it’s important to acknowledge that holidays like Mother’s Day can carry many different emotions for people.
For some, it’s joyful.
For others, painful.
For some women, motherhood arrived naturally.
For others, it didn’t happen at all, whether by choice, circumstance, grief, or life simply unfolding differently than expected.
But I think nurturing exists in many forms.
There are women who have mothered friendships, communities, careers, younger siblings, students, and complete strangers through difficult moments in life.
And that matters too.
Sometimes the people who shape us most are not necessarily connected to us biologically. They’re simply the people who showed up for us when we needed kindness, guidance, or understanding.
That kind of care deserves acknowledgment too… Now back to the octopus
Why the Octopus Resonated With Me
If you know me personally, you probably already know this, but I’ve always been fascinated by octopuses.
For years I jokingly claimed the wolf was my spirit animal because it sounded cooler and more mysterious. But honestly, I think the octopus feels much more accurate.
They’re observant.
Quiet.
Intelligent.
Adaptive.
Private.
Emotionally intriguing.
They disappear when they need protection, yet they’re deeply curious creatures.
And after watching Remarkably Bright Creatures, I found myself thinking even more about how intelligent animals truly are.
Humans tend to underestimate the emotional and intellectual lives of animals because we’re so consumed with our own world. But animals communicate constantly. They observe energy. They respond to emotion. They form connections.
Sometimes I genuinely think animals understand emotional honesty better than humans do.
Unexpected Relationships Can Change Us
What I loved most about the film wasn’t just the octopus itself, but the emotional connection between the characters played by Sally Field and Lewis Pullman.
There’s a large age gap between them.
They come from different worlds.
Different experiences.
Different emotional wounds.
Yet somehow they become deeply meaningful in each other’s lives.
And honestly, that made me emotional.
Because I think modern life has convinced many of us that independence means emotional isolation.
We romanticize self-sufficiency.
We celebrate detachment.
We hide behind productivity, routines, and busyness.
And trust me, I understand the desire for solitude.
I love my alone time.
I need privacy.
I often disappear creatively for long stretches because I need space to think, write, process, and create.
But even in isolation, most of what we create is still intended for connection.
I may spend months working quietly on something alone, but ultimately I’m creating it to share with other people.
That realization stayed with me after the movie ended.
Even our most private creative acts are often rooted in the hope that someone else will understand us.
Humans Leave Emotional Fingerprints On One Another
I think one of the biggest misconceptions about adulthood is the belief that we no longer need people.
But humans are relational by nature.
We need conversation.
We need comfort.
We need laughter.
We need emotional witnesses to our lives.
Even the smallest interactions can alter someone emotionally in ways we may never fully understand.
A thoughtful text message.
A compliment.
A moment of honesty.
A difficult conversation.
A betrayal.
A rejection.
All of it leaves an imprint.
And because of that, emotional responsibility matters more than people realize.
Which brings me to something else I’ve been thinking about lately: flaky people.
Flaky People Are More Emotionally Draining Than We Admit
Recently, I reflected on a podcast guest experience that never fully came together.
The communication was inconsistent.
Plans constantly shifted.
Things felt emotionally scattered and unclear.
Eventually, I made the decision not to continue with the interview.
Years ago, I probably would have immediately internalized the situation and assumed it reflected something negative about me.
But with time and experience, I’ve realized something important:
Flaky behavior often has very little to do with the person on the receiving end.
More often, it reflects discomfort with honesty.
And honestly, adulthood requires honesty.
If someone simply says:
“I’m overwhelmed.”
“This isn’t a good time.”
“I don’t think I can commit fully.”
Most emotionally mature people can respect that.
But many adults avoid direct communication because they want to avoid discomfort while still maintaining access to people emotionally, socially, or professionally.
That’s where things become exhausting.
Because confusion drains people far more than truth does.
Clarity Is Kindness
One of the most important things I’ve learned in adulthood is this:
Clarity is kindness.
I would much rather hear an uncomfortable truth than be emotionally managed through avoidance, inconsistency, or vague promises.
Because when people refuse to communicate honestly, it creates emotional instability for everyone involved.
You begin questioning yourself.
Questioning your expectations.
Questioning your worth.
And in reality, wanting consistency and honesty is not unreasonable.
It’s healthy.
I also think many of us become attached to people’s potential instead of their actual behavior.
Potential can be seductive.
Intentions can sound beautiful.
But intentions are not the same thing as emotional availability.
Some people simply are not capable of showing up consistently, even if they genuinely like or care about you.
And recognizing that truth can save you an incredible amount of emotional exhaustion.
The Beauty of Connection Anyway
Despite disappointment, despite emotional exhaustion, despite how isolating modern life can feel sometimes, I still believe connection matters deeply.
Stories like Remarkably Bright Creatures remind us that healing often arrives through unexpected people, unexpected conversations, and unexpected moments of understanding.
Not every relationship is meant to last forever.
Not every person will meet us where we are emotionally.
But meaningful connection still exists.
Sometimes quietly.
Sometimes briefly.
Sometimes through something as unexpected as a story about an octopus.
Before I Go…
This week left me thinking about many things:
Motherhood in all its forms.
The emotional intelligence of animals.
Human loneliness.
Creative isolation.
Honesty in adulthood.
And the strange, beautiful ways we all shape one another’s lives.
And honestly, maybe that’s what life really is.
A series of emotional fingerprints we leave behind on one another as we move through the world trying to be understood.
Photos by Compagnons and Nick Brice on Unsplash.
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