Are you even in the story?

My daughter is on a Star Wars binge.

All nine movies. In order. Plus the spin-offs.

(She's 12. This is the way.)

Last week we hit the original film, and something about the Cantina scene caught her eye.

You know the one.

Bizarre aliens everywhere. The weird jazz music. Han shooting first. (He did. Don't @ me.)

After it ended, she asked something that stopped me cold:

"Dad, do you ever wonder what happened to the hammerhead guy? Does he have a whole story too?"

I nodded and mumbled something about extended universe novels while my brain short-circuited.

Because suddenly I realized something kind of terrifying.

Some people watch that scene and only see Luke, Han, and Obi-Wan.

Others notice all the weird background aliens and wonder about their stories.

But here's the thing...

Those background characters don't actually have stories.

They're NPCs.

Non-Player Characters.

They exist solely to make the world feel alive for the main characters.

They have no arc. No purpose. No real agency.

And in case you haven’t figured it out…

This isn't just about Star Wars.

It's about life.

Look around at the world.

Some people are clearly main characters in their own story.

They make decisions. They take action. They drive events forward.

The world responds to them.

And then there are the others.

The ones who show up at the same coffee shop every day.

Order the same drink.

Sit in the same seat.

Go to the same job.

Come home.

Watch the same shows.

Repeat until retirement.

They're living as NPCs in someone else's story.

And the most uncomfortable question I've asked myself lately is:

Which one am I?

Which one are you?

The main characters in life don't wait for the plot to find them.

They don't sit in the cantina hoping a farm boy and an old Jedi will walk in and change everything.

They make choices that shape their world, not just exist within it.

I've been noticing lately that there's a distinct difference between the people who create their reality and those who merely inhabit it.

And I'm working on something specifically for the main characters.

(The NPCs won't even notice it's there.)

Anyway, my daughter just asked if Greedo is in any of the other movies.

Gotta go break the news that some characters just aren't important enough to appear twice.

Harsh but true.

Take care,

Greg