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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, November 28, 2013 | 18 I Losing sleep over becoming a character in movie None of which is at all applicable to me. However, throughout the movie Harris experiences unrelenting insomnia. To which I can relate. Oh, how I can relate to how Murray precisely portrays the insomniac, and how the insomniac tries to overcome his sleeplessness via TV , exercising, reading, working, and the like. Personally, I've suffered episodes of insomnia believe I've become Bob Harris. For the uninitiated, Harris is the protagonist in the 2003 movie Lost In Translation. Deftly portrayed by Bill Murray, Harris is a man whose personal life is in tatters (he's mired in a mid-life crisis) and whose professional life is oundering (the erstwhile A-list actor has been reduced to shooting commercials abroad). That's Life Andy Juniper Guest Contributor Audiology and Hearing Aid Centre NOISY WORKPLACE? If you have spent your working life in noisy areas, you may be eligible for full coverage. Even if you are now retired, you may apply for benefits if your hearing was damaged due to long term noise exposure in the workplace. We are authorized vendors for WSIB, DVA, ADP, ODSP and NIHB. We are experienced in the application process with a very high success rate. The first step to better hearing is a hearing test. HEARING SCIENCES If you've forgotten what fair, professional service feels like, call us and prepare to be amazed! SATISFACTION GUARANTEED! Call (905) 465-3277 (EARS) to book your complimentary hearing test ($60 value, Age 55+) BRING THIS AD FOR A COMPLIMENTARY HEARING TEST ($60 VALUE. AGE 55+) NEW OWNERSHIP: OAKVILLE 2419 Marine Drive throughout my life, the causes of which usually seem apparent. Stress. Change. More stress. More change. But my current bout began about a year ago, during a period of low-stress and no change -- one night I just kind of, well, quit sleeping. Don't get me wrong: I can get to sleep. I just can't stay asleep. I wake around 4 a.m. and am instantly wide-awake. At which point I have two equally odious options: stay in bed and (futilely) try to snag more sleep, or surrender and start the day. Typically, I choose the latter, which has me losing altitude by late morning, and crashing by mid-afternoon. I can't explain this odd insomnia, except to say: I believe I've become Bob Harris. Really, I mean it. According to research conducted by Ohio State University, people reading books or viewing movies can undergo something called `experience-taking' -- that is, they can subconsciously adopt the behaviour, thoughts, beliefs and responses of ctional characters with whom they strongly identify. Wow. That may explain the whole Dude Lebowski phase I went through, and perhaps even shed some light on that period where I walked around in psychedelic garb, saying things like, "Yeah, baby!" So, does this mean I see myself in Bob Harris? Or, that I mirror the Dude in The Big Lebowski, or Austin from Austin Powers? Actually, the opposite is true. According to the researchers, experience-taking works only when readers/viewers are able to forget about themselves and their own self-concept and self-identity. As lead researcher Geoff Kaufman said, "The more you're reminded of your own personal identity, the less likely you'll be able to take on a character's identity. You have to be able to take yourself out of the picture and really lose yourself (in the book/movie) in order to have this authentic experience of taking on a character's identity." Which explains how I think I was able to become Bob Harris. I mean, my personal life is not in tatters. My professional life is not oundering. I'm not at all like Harris, save for the insomnia that I've possibly inherited through experiencetaking. Hey, while I'm experiencing experience taking, I wonder if I could meet Charlotte, the winsome Scarlett Johansson character who bonds with Bob Harris in the movie? No? It doesn't work that way? Well, that's something I might just lose some sleep over. -- Andy Juniper can be contacted at ajjuniper@ gmail.com, and found on Facebook and Twitter . A Ch ild 's Holi d ay Wish List This coming holiday season, not every child will wish for the same things. November is Woman Abuse Prevention Month. One out of every four women will be abused at some point in her life. Halton Women's Place needs your help to close the door on abuse. s e is u r b e r o m 2. No or tears. 3. Help my family feel safe again. om 1. Stop Daddy fr g yelling and hittin ime. t e h t ll a y m m Mo Halton Women's Place In November, wear your purple scarf. Purchase yours at Halton Women's Place. For more information, please call 905-332-1200 ext.221 or visit www.haltonwomensplace.com Crisis Line: 905-878-8970 or 905-332-7892