WWE 2K19 preview: Who's out? Who's in? What's new?

Last year, I wrote a blog breaking down the roster updates for the newest WWE video game. I might as well make a tradition out of it, simply for the sake of having something to write about. So what the heck? Let's do it again for "WWE 2K19," shall we? But this year I'll do you one better: I'll break down the roster and also talk about some of the new and exciting features that will grace us with their presence in "2K19." Sound fair? On we go.

Who's out?

• Legends
• Albert
• Buddy Roberts
• Bushwhacker Butch
• Bushwhacker Luke
• Cactus Jack 92
• Cactus Jack 98
• Dude Love
• Earthquake
• JBL
• Jimmy Garvin
• Kerry Von Erich
• Kevin Von Erich
• Larry Zbysko
• Mankind
• Mark Henry
• Michael Hayes
• Rob Van Dam
• Stunning Steve Austin
• Tatsumi Fujinami
• Typhoon
• Managers
• Bobby Heenan (manager)
• Mr. McMahon (manager)
• Paul Ellering (manager)
• Stephanie McMahon (manager)
• Those no longer with the company
• Big Cass
• Darren Young
• Emma
• Enzo Amore
• Neville
• Rich Swann
• Sawyer Fulton
• Summer Rae
• Tyson Kidd
• Those we can't comprehend
• Brian Kendrick
• Nikki Cross
• Tommaso Ciampa (the current NXT champion)
• Alternate attires
• Big Boss Man 99
• Big Show 00
• Bret Hart 98
• DDP 98
• John Cena 10
• Kane 98
• Kurt Angle 06
• Ric Flair 91
• Ricky Steamboat 94
• Shawn Michaels 98
• Sting 88
• Sting 91
• Sting 98 (nWo)
• Sting 99
• Triple H 01
• Triple H 98
• Undertaker 91
• Undertaker 00

Who's in?

• Main roster
• Andrade Almas
• Liv Morgan
• Mandy Rose
• Ronda Rousey (pre-order bonus)
• Samir Singh (manager)
• Sarah Logan
• Shelton Benjamin
• Sonya Deville
• Sunil Singh (manager)
• Zelina Vega (manager)
• NXT
• Adam Cole
• Angelo Dawkins
• Bianca Belair
• Bobby Fish
• Kairi Sane
• Kyle O'Reilly
• Oney Lorcan
• Otis Dozovic
• Pete Dunne
• Shayna Baszler
• Tucker Knight
• Tyler Bate
• Velveteen Dream
• 205 Live
• Ariya Daivari
• Drew Gulak
• Lince Dorado
• Mustafa Ali
• Tony Nese
• Legends
• Rey Mysterio (pre-order bonus)
• Roddy Piper
• Alternate attires
• Daniel Bryan 12
• Daniel Bryan 13
• Daniel Bryan Retro
• Randy Orton 13
• Undertaker 02
• Season Pass/Downloadable Content
• Rising Stars Pack
• Candice LeRae
• Dakota Kai
• Lacey Evans
• Lio Rush
• Maira Kanellis
• Mike Manellis
• Ricochet
• Titans Pack
• Bobby Lashley
• EC3
• War Raiders (Rowe and Hanson)

By the Numbers

The "WWE 2K19" roster includes:

• 197 unique playable characters
• 186 unique playable characters on-disc (record)
• 42 playable women
• 38 playable women on-disc (record)
• 56 wrestlers from RAW
• 47 wrestlers from SmackDown!
• 28 wrestlers from NXT
• 14 wrestlers from 205 Live
• 63 unique legends (depending on what you classify as "unique" - for instance, does Randy Orton's '13 model count as a unique legend although the current Orton counts as a member of the SmackDown! roster?)

Roster take-aways

As of right now, it does not appear that 2K will be releasing their typical "Hall of Fame" DLC pack, which means that we may not be seeing 2018 Hall of Famers the Dudley Boyz, Jeff Jarrett, Mark Henry and Hillbilly Jim in this year's game.

The most glaring omissions - and Internet comment sections will definitely attest to this - are several WWE superstars who are currently on the roster that were included in last year's game but are apparently missing in action this year, namely, Nikki Cross, THE Brian Kendrick and current NXT champion Tommaso Ciampa. There are some rumors that their absence may be a reflection of contract stipulations or, simply, the wrestlers' refusal to allow 2K to use their likeness in the game. Odd, certainly. So it looks like we'll have to rely on the painstaking labors of some crafty Community Creations if we want to use those guys in "2K19."

Another really odd subtraction this year is the loss of Mick Foley and his alter-egos. No Mankind, Cactus Jack or Dude Love. I didn't really use those characters very often in the past, but I guess what they say is true: you never know what you've got 'til it's gone. Other notable legends missing from "2K19" are JBL, Rob Van Dam and the recently reinstated Hulk Hogan.

The DLC I'm most looking forward to using this year will be the "Top One Percenter," EC3. That guy is a beast in NXT right now. Can't wait for him to be released for download.

Update: After watching several "first impression" videos, it does appear that several wrestlers do have alternate attires/models that were not announced in the official roster reveal, such as Kevin Owens, Kane, Kurt Angle and a few others. These will likely be unlockable through Showcase Mode. Additionally, screenshots of Paul Heyman (Manager) have been shown on the 2K website, despite Heyman not being listed on the official roster.

What else is new?

The hard part about buying new sports video games every year is the (all too real) fear of basically paying $60 for a roster update, which, in many cases, is exactly what EA Sports ("Madden"), Sony ("MLB The Show") and 2K ("NBA 2K," "WWE 2K") trick you into doing. It sucks, but if you want to play with the newest teams, players and characters, it's a necessary evil. As such, it's not uncommon to keep an eye out for big announcements about new features as the game's release date approaches.

What have we learned about "WWE 2K19" in the past few weeks? Well, it looks like we are in store for a slew of improvements and new game modes. Here are a couple of things I've noticed while watching teaser trailers and keeping my eyes glued to the WWE 2K Twitter account:

• The return of Showcase Mode featuring the career of Daniel Bryan
• Women's Royal Rumble
• Mae Young Classic (or the arena, at least)
• Customized Money in the Bank briefcases
• The new "Payback" feature is new this year, and I just learned about it today, as a matter of fact
• Alternate attires that don't take up their own "character" slot (Demon Finn Balor appears in the trailers, but isn't listed as his own character, as he has been in the past)
• The Wyatt Compound can be used as the location for backstage brawls - and it appears that a "House of Horrors" match is a significant part of the story mode this year
• Speaking of which, "MyCareer" mode looks totally insane - check the trailer toward the end of this post
• "MyCareer" mode will feature fully voiced characters, as opposed to past years, where we were subjected to reading subtitles that seemed like they were written by someone whose first language was definitely not English
• Commentary, at least from what I could tell from a couple of the wrestler entrances I watched, sounds really good in comparison to the bland garbage from previous years
• The new "Towers" mode will be introduced; it seems like the "Slobberknocker" mode from years ago - I asked for Gauntlet matches and it looks like we're essentially getting them
• Graphics are improved and 2K is adding additional "filters" to gameplay, like 8-bit and cel-shading visuals, which actually look really fun
• Zombie Triple H - yes, it's true
• Big Head mode - yes, it's true

The 2K team has released a few blogs to detail new features and changes for "WWE 2K19," which you can find here:

• WWE 2K19 MyCareer Features Compelling Storyline and Fully Voiced Characters
• Brief MyCareer overview and trailer
• WWE 2K19 Features Roundup
• Part 1: General improvements, new match types, changes to Hell in a Cell and cage matches, Money in the Bank updates, Payback feature
• Part 2: Exciting updates about Universe Mode, managers and other miscellaneous features
• Part 3: MyPlayer updates, including new skill tree, Loot Pack explanation, Road to Glory Mode and MyPlayer Towers
• Part 4: Creation suite updates

I wanted it and we're getting it!

Earlier this year, I posted a list of 15 things I wanted in "WWE 2K19." Based on pre-release blogs and videos put out by 2K, it surprisingly, shockingly appears that many of my wishes have been granted! Below, I've listed my request in bold, followed by what appears to be happening in the upcoming game. Check it out:

• Easier alternate attires: Based on screenshots and videos, it appears that alternate attires (like Zombie Triple H, for instance) may not take up an entire CAW slot and can be selected from a menu when choosing the wrestler.
• Seamless saving for tag teams: Well, technically, I'm not sure this applies to tag teams, but I just got tired of having to make changes to attires, tag teams and championships twice - once in "MyWWE" and again in Universe Mode. According to Part 2 of the Features Roundup (linked above), this year, new features this year allow players to "save changes to Superstar settings across MyWWE and multiple Universe saves at the same time. This includes Attributes, Skills, Abilities, Payback, Entrances, and Move Sets." Wonderful!
• Bring back "Showcase Mode": Check.
• Ditch "MyCareer Mode": Well, they didn't, but it looks like they have made such significant improvements to it that I will actually play through it for once.
• More coherent Promo system: It looks like this has been revamped, as well. "Promos now incorporate recent events [like wins/losses, championships, blindside attacks, etc.]. Many new promo animations have been added. While every Superstar comes with a pre-set “Promo Attitude,” you can customize any of them so that they behave the way you want."
• Clearer Money in the Bank cash-in process: Not only will the cash-in process be more clear this year (apparently done through a selection option on the pause menu, with the option to tweak sliders for A.I. cash-in frequency), but the briefcases are fully customizable now, too.
• Additional match options for Universe rivalries: I'm hoping this is good news, as the Features Roundup mentions, "Custom Match Tables let users customize the types of matches used on each show and Pay-Per-View. Using sliders, you can determine the frequency for various match types in storylines and rivalries."
• More versatile commentary: All commentary done for wrestler entrances is brand new this year, and there are 15,000 new lines of commentary for this year's game.
• Women's Royal Rumble: Check.
• Gauntlet matches: "Towers" mode should essentially work as a gauntlet match, although whether this mode will be independent of Universe Mode remains to be seen. It is likely that "Towers" will function as a stand-alone "exhibition" match type without consequences for Universe Mode, however.

Finally, this wasn't on my list, but I saw it in Part 2 of the Features Roundup and I am so stoked for it. "You can go through matchups in your Universe and decide the winners and losers of the matches without having to play the match yourself or rely on a random result!" This is such great news. Simulating and hoping for the desired outcome was terrible.

The Bottom Line

I am unnaturally excited for "2K19." I usually look forward to new games, but it really seems like this should be a much-improved version of the game we're used to getting each year. Release Day can't come soon enough! If you're not pumped about "WWE 2K19" yet, check out these videos, which should get you pretty much sold on this year's game:

"WWE 2K19" officially releases for peasants on October 9, 2018, but if you've pre-ordered the Deluxe edition (or higher) like I have, you'll get your hands on it four days earlier, on October 5. If you're itching for more WWE 2K talk, check out the list of things I wanted to see in this year's game by clicking here - and, amazingly, it looks like some of those ideas are actually happening! Happy (Rusev) day. You should also check out Part 1 and Part 2 of my interviews with WWE legend Victoria, who I met at FanX18 a couple weeks ago. She was great and she put me in a headlock, which was amazing. All right. That's it for now. I'll see you jabronis in the ring!

#FanX18: Interview with WWE's Victoria - Part 2

We enjoyed our first chat with WWE legend Victoria so much that we stopped by the next day to do another interview about her career, her celebrity crush and what it takes to get in a WWE ring. Here's the transcript:

Signs of the Times: All right, back with Victoria for Day 2!

Victoria: “Day 2!”

SotT: How’s Day 2 going?

V: “Amazing! Amazing. A little bit – what’s awesome today – I’m going to go off the subject – is seeing Dave Bautista.”

SotT: Yeah! I got a picture with him!

V: “Yeah. You did?”

SotT: I did.

V: “Awesome. We started wrestling school together! He was ‘Leviathan’ back then, and we got brought up kind of at the same time with the WWE. It’s so exciting seeing someone in our business succeed, you know, from the ground up. You know what I mean? Seeing him… he’s a superstar, honestly. So you become proud, like a proud sister, so it’s really neat.”

SotT: Yeah.

V: “A lot of people didn’t know I was here … I had one guy cry. I’ve never had a guy cry.”

SotT: I almost cried.

V: “Get out of here!”

SotT: I had one tear, and I was like, “No, no!”

V: “[Laughs] It was my perfume. No, it was like, they didn’t know I was here. I’m best friends with these guys at [Booth] 2462 – Super Heroes in Training – and they said, ‘Hey, do you want to work a booth?’ … And I was like, ‘Yeah, I’ll help you guys out. Absolutely.’ So seeing people like, ‘I didn’t know you were here!’ – it’s kind of neat.”

SotT: Yeah. Well, that’s good. Ok, so, I was thinking last night after we talked yesterday – I want to know more about your hardcore matches, because you had a few of those!

V: “Yes.”

SotT: Obviously, you know, with weapons and things, it’s a little bit different, but how is preparing for a hardcore fight different than just a regular match?

V: “Oh, my gosh. As it is, I get sick to my stomach before matches because I’m an extremely nervous person. I’m a perfectionist, too. [For a] hardcore match, there are so many things that can go wrong. … You do say a prayer: ‘Please, [let] no one get really, seriously hurt,’ but you do get hurt, and you’ve got to say sorry later. The mentality is, you go up to your opponent and you’re like, ‘I don’t mean anything. Let’s just be safe, let the fans enjoy this and lay it in.’ For me and Trish [Stratus] – ‘Lay it in. We’ll say sorry later, but don’t make it look phony – this is a real fight.’ So, we put our all in, but the [nausea] before going out? Brutal. Yeah, brutal. And then you go backstage and you’re still like, ‘[Gasps] Am I in trouble? Did everything go smoothly? Did I do a great job?’ And you’re still questioning yourself constantly.”

SotT: Ok, so, I know you’ve worked a lot with Trish, but do you have any [other] really good friends that you’ve developed during your career?

V: “My closest friend right now is O.D.B. – she was in T.N.A. – Gail Kim, Cliff Compton (Domino) … we talk every day. You can’t avoid… You’re together forever. You are a family, because you spend most of the time on the road with each other – more so than your [actual] family. People say, ‘There’s a big divorce rate.’ Go figure! We’re on the road four days a week, you know, and kind of grow apart from our loved ones. But I’ve made a lot of good friends, and it pays to be nice. I always tell people, ‘Don’t let it get to your head. We’re entertainers. We’re stunt people. Come on. Be nice to your fans.’ I hear a lot of rotten stories about how some people are just not nice to their fans, and they pay our bills, so… you know?”

SotT: Well, you’re super nice. We’ve had a couple [pro wrestlers] come through here. I met Batista today – super nice. John Cena’s been here – very nice. Hulk Hogan – great guy. It’s always surprising because you guys look kind of intimidating on screen, but then, in person, you’re so nice.

V: “You’re always warned, ‘Be careful who you meet … because you might be disappointed.’ So, I’m so scared to meet my superheroes. I want to meet Jason Momoa. I’m a huge fan, and I’m scared… I’m just scared I’ll be disappointed because I’m so nice – I’m over-the-top – that I expect everybody else to be like that, and I’m just a little nervous about him disappointing me.”

SotT: You know what? I met him – he came last year. I met him, just for a second, but [he’s] super nice.

V: “Is he?”

SotT: Yeah, he seemed super nice.

V: “All right, I’m gonna hold you to it!”

SotT: What would it take for somebody like me to get in the ring? [Laughs]

V: “[With] no training?”

SotT: [Sarcastically] I mean, yeah. Look at me. I’m, like, in pretty great shape, obviously.

V: “But it’s not about looks now! The body – physique… you see, it’s not cookie-cutters. Kevin Owens [for instance].”

SotT: So what do I need to do?

V: “You do have to go to wrestling school. You do have to train. It’s not for everybody. I thought I could learn the craft in 30 days [but] I was in wrestling school for three years – which is not very long – but it’s a lot of technique, technical work, your facial expressions. There’s so much minute detail in this business. It’s really tough, and we’re live; we get one shot. That’s it.”

SotT: Yeah, that’s hard.

V: “You mess up, the fans won’t [let it go.] The will let you know that you messed up. It is the worst feeling ever.”

SotT: Oh, man.

V: “I don’t discourage anybody from [getting into wrestling], but it’s a dangerous sport. It’s not for everybody. It’s for the people who have the heart and passion for it and want to do it forever, because once you get bit by it, you’re not done, evidently – me. Eighteen years and still going.”

SotT: All right. So, last question: what’s the thing that you’re most proud of from your career?

V: “That I’m still going! After 18 years, I thought I was going to be slowing down, but it’s incredible seeing people still remember me. You kind of have to worry about when they don’t want your autograph anymore. But the appreciation from the new divas, the new wrestlers… When you hear, ‘Oh, my, you were my favorite wrestler!’ And you’re just like, ‘Really??’ It still shocks me a little bit that I’m still doing it. I’m wrestling with 20-year-olds.”

SotT: …which is the hard part.

V: “Isn’t that crazy?”

SotT: Yeah, that’s the hard part. I used to like playing basketball, but I realize now, when I play against 20-year-olds, I’m 31, but it’s like…

V: “You’re out of shape! You feel like…”

SotT: Yeah, I’m not as fast as these guys anymore.

V: “You feel like, ‘No! I need to recoup!’”

SotT: So now I just don’t play. I just watch now.

V: “You’re a good cheerleader?”

SotT: Exactly.

V: “There you go.”

---

Victoria can be followed on Twitter at @REALLiSAMARiE and on Instagram at @reallisamarie.

#FanX18: Interview with WWE's Victoria

Professional wrestling legend Lisa Marie Varon, best known as "Victoria," was a cornerstones of the women's division in the WWE's "Ruthless Aggression" era during her nine-year stint with the company (2000-2009). She won the women's championship twice after her call-up to the main roster in 2002. I caught up with Victoria at FanX Salt Lake Comic Convention 2018 and was able to ask her a few questions about her career.

Signs of the Times: Hello, Victoria. How are you doing?

Victoria: “I’m doing great. Thank you so much.”

SotT: Welcome to Salt Lake City.

V: “Thank you. It’s great to be here.”

SotT: Have you been here before?

V: “I have, you know, in my wrestling career. There’s not a place I think I haven’t been. I’m exaggerating. But it’s always a great city. This is a huge convention! I live in San Diego, so I go to the San Diego one all the time, and this is blowing it away for me. I love it.”

SotT: Well, good. I didn’t know that you were going to be here, but I saw that you tweeted about it.

V: “I did.”

SotT: So, when I saw that, I knew I needed to come and see you.

V: “Yes, and I was also on ESPN this morning, promoting the show.”

SotT: Yeah, on the radio, right?

WWE legend Lisa Marie (@REALLiSAMARiE) is in studio with @espn700bill! She’s going to be at the @fanxsaltlake convention today thru September 8th. pic.twitter.com/nFdHR79Kuz

— ESPN 700 (@ESPN700) September 6, 2018

V: “Yeah. I’m here with the Funko Pop!s [Booth 2462] – Mike, yes. [She gestures to a man standing at the booth.] We live in San Diego, and he goes, ‘You want to go to the show with me?’ Yeah.”

SotT: Well, you can come back anytime.

V: “Thank you! Thank you.”

SotT: I just wanted to ask you some questions about your wrestling career.

V: “Ok.”

SotT: First of all, what got you into wrestling in the first place?

V: “It was a total accident. I met Chyna at a health club. I did fitness competitions. Went up to her… I knew two girlfriends that did it, and she said, ‘Oh, you have a good look. Have you ever thought about doing it?’ I said, ‘I think I can do what the guys do,’ because I was a gymnast, tomboy, and I sent my stuff in. Thirty days later, I got a call. The rest is history. Eighteen years ago.”

SotT: Nice. Ok. Throughout your career, did you have a rivalry that was your favorite to work with?

V: “I think Trish and I – Trish Stratus and I – had a long, long rivalry. It was such baby steps, because we could do months and months of our angle, which was awesome, you know? They took time with the female storyline. Now, after that, it was too quick. Things ended so quickly. [But] her and I killed it.”

SotT: If you could go back to the WWE today, who would you want to work with?

V: “There are so many amazing women there. Asuka is one of my favorites, and Charlotte Flair, because I’m good friends with her dad.”

---

Victoria will be at FanX18 all weekend (09/06/18 - 09/08/18) at Booth # 2462, near Celebrity Row and Cosplay Central. For more information about FanX, follow the convention on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

LOST: The Power of Letting Go

"Holding on is believing that there’s only a past; letting go is knowing that there’s a future." - Daphne Rose Kingma

A major theme in Season 6 of "LOST" - and, arguably, the main theme of the series - is something that the main character, Jack Shephard, has a really tough time doing - letting go.

Throughout most of the first five seasons of the show, Jack is a "fixer." It's what he does. He fixes things. Or he tries to fix things. It's a characteristic that makes him incredibly stubborn. He knows what he wants to do and he tries to do it, regardless of his probability of success, the advice he receives from others and (sometimes) logic. Fixing things motivates Jack and makes him feel successful. Failure or inability to solve problems frustrates Jack, often causing him to resort to shouting matches (often involving Sawyer or Ben Linus), physical violence (often involving Sawyer or Ben Linus) or complete resignation (as seen during his time being held at the aquarium by the Others in Season 3) - even to the point of contemplating suicide (see the Season 3 finale, for instance). With these personality traits in mind, the shift in Jack's attitude during Season 6 is quite remarkable. We see the evolution of "Destiny Jack" - less a "Man of Science" and more a "Man of Faith" than what we grew accustomed to over the span of 100-plus episodes.

The first major event that impacts Jack's mindset occurs in Season 6 Episode 5 ("Lighthouse"). Hurley takes Jack on a secret mission from the Island's then-Protector, Jacob, which ends with the duo ascending to a lighthouse they'd never before seen. At the top of the lighthouse, Jack is instructed to rotate a large dial to a certain angle. While doing so, Jack catches a glimpse of his childhood home being reflected in one of many large mirrors. Although this freaks Jack out (he essentially accuses Jacob of being a stalker), it accomplishes the Protector's intended goal - to help Jack understand how important he is to the "big picture."

From that point on, Jack has a change in attitude. He starts to buy into the idea that he is playing an important role in the plan set forth by Jacob. Rather than fighting against that plan, like he did during Season 2 at The Hatch, Jack shows faith in it by considering the well-being of everyone else on the Island, instead of only thinking about himself. Jack begins to say and do things that are not indicative of his previous demeanor. Ultimately, this leads to Jack accepting the role of new Protector of the Island. As the Island begins to self-destruct, Jack must say goodbye to the other Survivors (and, most notably, Kate, who he says that he loves during the series finale). He chooses to stay with the Island, letting go of the plans he had in mind for the entire series. His willingness to play a more important, less selfish role cost him his own life but spared the lives of many others.

It's hard to let go of things that we are afraid of losing or scared of changing. But, if managed properly, letting go can lead to tremendous personal growth. Elder Richard G. Scott of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints once discussed the process of change as having two parts:

“Recognize that you’ll go through two transition periods. The first is the most difficult. You are caging the tiger that has controlled your life. It will shake the bars, growl, threaten, and cause you some disturbance. But I promise you that this period will pass. How long it takes will depend upon the severity of your transgression, the strength of your determination, and the help you seek from the Lord. But remember, as you stand firm, it will pass.
“The second period is not as intense. It is like being on ‘battle alert’ so that you can fend off any enemy attack. That, too, will pass, and you will feel more peace and will have increased control of your life. You will become free.”

That freedom, for the Survivors of Oceanic Flight 815, comes in Season 6's "Flash-Sideways," as they gradually realize that they - at some point - have all died. Once the characters have become aware of this, they begin to congregate together at the church. Jack, naturally, is the last to come to this conclusion, despite having several "Flashes of Truth" throughout the final episode. Jack is, at long last, convinced by Kate to enter through the back of the chapel, whereupon he sees the long-lost coffin of his father, Christian Shephard. Jack approaches it and places his hand upon the box. Jack is immediately flooded with memories of his life on the Island and is then approached from behind by Christian. The following conversation ensues:

JACK: Dad?
CHRISTIAN: Hello, Jack.
JACK: I don't understand. You died.
CHRISTIAN: Yeah. Yes, I did.
JACK: Then how are you here right now?
CHRISTIAN: How are you here? [Emphasis added.]
JACK: I died too...
CHRISTIAN: It's okay. It's okay. It's okay, son.
JACK: I love you, dad.
CHRISTIAN: I love you too, son.
JACK: You... Are you real?
CHRISTIAN: I should hope so. Yeah, I'm real, you're real, everything that's ever happened to you is real. All those people in the church... They're real, too.
JACK: They're all... They're all dead?
CHRISTIAN: Everyone dies sometime, kiddo. Some of them before you, some long after you.
JACK: But why are they all here now?
CHRISTIAN: Well there is no "now" here.
JACK: Where are we, dad?
CHRISTIAN: This is the place that you - that you all - made together, so that you could find one another. The most important part of your life, was the time that you spent with these people. That's why all of you are here. Nobody does it alone, Jack. You needed all of them, and they needed you.
JACK: For what?
CHRISTIAN: To remember... and to let go.
JACK: Kate... She said we were leaving.
CHRISTIAN: Not leaving, no. Moving on.
JACK: Where are we going?
CHRISTIAN: Let's go find out.

Jack needed to learn how to let go. He held on for as long as he could, but letting go and moving on was what finally allowed him to be free. There is a powerful lesson to be learned here. Over the course of the series, Jack was an influential (though sometimes divisive) leader for the Survivors. The fruits of his leadership brought him great joy and, at times, great sorrow and pain. By clinging onto the memories and proverbial baggage of his past, he prevented himself from moving on to the life that was waiting for him. How often are we guilty of doing the same? Whether we are stuck reliving our high school or college years, stuck holding onto a bitter grudge, constantly looking back on an old job that we loved or endlessly spinning the wheels in a bad relationship, letting go can provide us a path to a brighter future.

Certainly, it is normal to fear change or the loss of something we have been hanging onto for such a long time. Loss is practically inevitable in the process of change, so it is important for us to understand the difference between giving up and letting go. We're not quitting; we're moving on to something better.

Author Joseph Campbell said, "We must be willing to let go of the life we’ve planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us."

In his talk "Progress Through Change," Elder Marvin J. Ashton said:

“How often in life do we set our own roots into the soil of life and become root-bound? We may treat ourselves too gently and defy anyone to disturb the soil or trim back our root system. Under these conditions we too must struggle to make progress. Oh, change is hard! Change can be rough. …
“We need not feel that we must forever be what we presently are. There is a tendency to think of change as the enemy. Many of us are suspect of change and will often fight and resist it before we have even discovered what the actual effects will be. When change is thought through carefully, it can produce the most rewarding and profound experiences in life. ...
“As opportunity for change reaches into our lives, as it always will, we must ask, ‘Where do I need development? What do I want out of life? Where do I want to go? How can I get there?’ Weighing alternatives very carefully is a much needed prerequisite as one plans changes. In God’s plan we are usually free to choose the changes we make in our lives and we are always free to choose how we will respond to the changes that come. ...
“Yes, there is pain in change, but there is also great satisfaction in recognizing that progress is being achieved. Life is a series of hills and valleys and often the best growth comes in the valleys.” [Emphasis added.]

One of the beautiful things about the final moments of the "LOST" finale is that it shows us that Jack and the other Survivors didn't have to completely abandon their past. That's not what this concept is asking us to do. Just let go of anything that's dragging you down or holding you back. Rather than dwelling in the past (for better or worse), the Survivors of Oceanic 815 embraced the best parts of their lives and cultivated those experiences into "a place where [they could] be with the ones [they] love, and not have to ever think about [the] Island again," as Desmond explained in the finale.

We teared up as Jack and Locke finally figured things out, culminating in Jack healing John's paralysis. We watched Ben and Locke forgive each other outside of the church for their terrible relationship on the Island. And, finally, we saw the joyous gathering of Survivors in the chapel as the series drew to a close. After 121 hours of cliffhangers and unhappy endings, we got an episode where there were smiles on everyone's faces as the screen went black. What a payoff, and what a profound message.

While searching for quotes about change, I stumbled across this one - and I hate when people quote "unknown authors" - but I liked this message, as it related to Jack's character progression in "The End":

"Growth is painful. Change is painful. But nothing is as painful as staying stuck somewhere you don't belong."

My advice to you, then, is to evaluate your lives, figure out if there is something you need to let go of and then use that change to get to where you belong. It's worth a shot, right?

As always,

Namaste... and good luck.