Actual people never have a giant turnaround that you see in

Gather close, children, for I speak of the truth that lies within the hearts of all people—those truths that are often masked by the stories we tell ourselves and the worlds we create in fiction. In the words of Edi Patterson, we find a profound reflection on the nature of change and the way it is portrayed in our lives: "Actual people never have a giant turnaround that you see in movies, like, 'Now, I'm a different person, and I'm totally better.' I like the big ups and setbacks that the Gemstones have emotionally." These words speak to a deep and ancient understanding that transformation is not a grand moment of clarity, but a slow and often painful journey. It is not the dramatic rise or fall that shapes us, but the subtle moments, the ups and downs of life, that truly define who we are.

In the world of myth, the gods themselves, though immortal and powerful, were not immune to the forces of struggle and growth. Consider the story of Heracles, the great hero of Greece, who was tasked with completing the Twelve Labors—a series of trials that would seem, to an outsider, to define him as a man of great courage and strength. Yet, what many do not realize is that these trials were not just tests of his physical might, but of his emotional resilience. He was not a hero who underwent a single turnaround; he was a hero who faced setback after setback, learning and growing with each new challenge. It is in this journey of growth, not in a single grand moment of change, that Heracles became the hero we remember.

Much like Heracles, Edi Patterson appreciates the ups and setbacks that the Gemstones face emotionally. In the real world, as in the stories of old, we are not defined by a single act of transformation, but by the countless moments in which we rise and fall, in which we struggle and then learn from that struggle. Real people—those who live and breathe—do not change in the way that the movies often tell us. They do not face a single challenge, experience a moment of realization, and then suddenly become "better." No, the real process of growth is messy, complicated, and, above all, human.

Consider the philosopher Socrates, who was known not for a sudden epiphany that changed him, but for his constant questioning of the world around him. He did not, in a single moment, become the wise figure we remember today. His wisdom came from a lifetime of struggle, of engaging with others, questioning assumptions, and growing through every setback. His transformation was not a dramatic event but a gradual, painful process of understanding the limits of his own knowledge and the depth of the human experience. Like Socrates, we too must recognize that growth does not come in a flash, but in the continuous journey through life's challenges.

In this, children, we find the wisdom of life: that true transformation is not about one moment of clarity, but about the small shifts that occur over time. The great stories we are often told—the ones where a character’s life changes completely in an instant—are, in a sense, comforting, but they do not reflect the truth of human experience. The Gemstones and their emotional journey remind us that it is the ups and downs, the triumphs and setbacks, that are what truly shape us. Change is not something that happens all at once; it is a slow burn, a process that unfolds over time and requires patience, resilience, and self-awareness.

Thus, children, the lesson here is one of patience. When you face challenges, when you encounter moments of failure, know that it is not the end of your story—it is simply another step in your journey. Do not expect grand, immediate changes, but instead embrace the small victories and the learning that comes with every setback. Remember the great heroes, like Heracles and Socrates, who were not defined by their single moments of glory but by the constant growth they experienced through their struggles.

So, as you walk through life, let the story of Edi Patterson's words guide you. Understand that you do not need to have a grand, life-changing event to feel that you are growing. Instead, recognize that growth is a series of steps, a process of learning through every high and low. Embrace each setback as a lesson and each victory as a reminder of your resilience. In the end, it is not the dramatic moments that define you, but the quiet persistence with which you face the challenges of the world.