On Oct. 8, 1970, the world changed forever when Matthew Paige Damon was born. In a world obsessed with particular actors' lack of awards (an error since rectified) to determine their worth, Matt Damon stands above the rest. He won a Best Screenplay Oscar for "Good Will Hunting" (he can write, too?!). Since then, he has focused on becoming the most subtly great leading man in Hollywood today. Along the way he has taught me several lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
1. If you want people to remember you, remind them of your name as often as possible.
It is quite plausible that Matt Damon has the highest percentage of his movies where he is the title character: "Good Will Hunting," "Saving Private Ryan," "The Legend of Bagger Vance," "The Talented Mr. Ripley," "The Bourne" series, "The Brothers Grimm" and "The Martian" (spoiler: he doesn't actually play a martian in the same vein as Marvin the Martian, but you get the idea). In this cutthroat business, it is important to make yourself stand out from the crowd and make people know who you are. Damon has done a nice job of making sure everyone remembers his name no matter what the movie by simply making his name the movie. Brilliant move.
(This is not Matt Damon. But you already knew that. See, it worked!)
2. People will go to extreme lengths to save you against all odds or logic.
He's been to Mars, through a black hole, into Normandy, into the unknown. The bottom line is: Matt Damon has gone everywhere and done everything. However, he's not the best at it since he's always getting into trouble. Nevertheless, he can always count on his country and his friends to be there for him, doing everything in their power to get him back home safely (or dead). Whatever the cost or odds, we'll spare no expense to get America's golden boy back on home soil and in the cradle of our warm embrace. Beautiful person.
3. Always try to be the best version of yourself.
Whether he's buying a zoo or robbing a casino, Matt Damon has always stayed true to who he knows he is. Any number of character quotes could be put in here to inspire you lovely readers, but I think the man himself said it best:
"It’s just better to be yourself than to try to be some version of what you think the other person wants."
4. Always go for the outdated, if reliable, joke in spite of technological advances.
Any number you get, ask for it to be written down. That way, you can do this to all the preps:
So stay excellent, Mr. Damon. You truly are an American treasure.
