We’ve told stories for thousands of years. It’s part of what makes us human and what helps us with our self-reflection and personal growth.

That’s because stories have a unique way of holding up a mirror to our lives, inviting us to pause, reflect, and rediscover parts of ourselves we might have tucked away. In this post, I’ll delve into some lessons we can draw from two stories I love. One is from a beautiful book (Meet Me at the Museum) and the other from a thought-provoking film (Ich bin dein Mensch). Although they’re very different in tone and setting, these two stories share a common thread: self-reflection, human connection, and the search for meaning in our lives.

We’ll also look at artificial intelligence, a technology often seen as impersonal. Because what if the tools for self-reflection extended beyond traditional storytelling? Could AI offer surprising opportunities to guide us in exploring the most personal aspects of our lives—our humanity and growth? So I invite you to jump in with me, and explore how storytelling, whether through books, films, or emerging technologies, can help us connect more deeply with ourselves.

The Quiet Power of Connection: Meet Me at the Museum

Meet Me at the Museum tells the story of Tina and Anders, two strangers who form an unlikely bond through an exchange of letters. Tina is a farmer’s wife in England, dissatisfied with the routines of her life. Anders is a museum curator in Denmark, grieving the loss of his wife. Through their letters, they provide a listening ear for each other, creating space for deep self-reflection.

What really struck me about their correspondence was how it allowed both Tina and Anders to reawaken parts of themselves they had long buried—hidden dreams, quiet regrets, and the small joys of daily life. As the story in the book unfolds, their letters become a lifeline, offering not just companionship but also a safe place to explore their inner worlds. To me this was a reminder that even the smallest gestures—a handwritten letter, a kind word—can create real connections.

The novel also reflects on our assumptions about others. How often do we see someone leading a seemingly mundane life and fail to recognize the richness of their inner world? Stories like this help remind us that even the quietest lives are filled with meaning, waiting to be uncovered.

The Messy and the Perfect: Ich bin dein Mensch

In the German movie Ich bin dein Mensch, Alma, a skeptical scientist, reluctantly takes part in a study where she has to live with Tom, a humanoid robot designed to be her perfect romantic partner. Tom is programmed to adapt to Alma’s needs, offering her what seems like flawless companionship (although Alma experiences the lack of flaws as a flaw…

What stood out to me was the contrast between Alma’s relationship with Tom and her experiences with her aging father, who suffers from dementia. While Tom is attentive and consistent, her father embodies the messy, unpredictable side of human relationships. He’s vulnerable, flawed, and at times difficult, yet deeply human. This contrast raises profound questions: Can love or connection ever truly be engineered? Or is the beauty of relationships rooted in their imperfections?

Robot Company employee: You may not realize, but your treat Tom like a machine.
Alma: Yes, I definitely realized that.
Robot Company employee: Why do you think that is?
Alma: Because he is a machine.

 

Robot Company employee: Could you be underestimating him? Tom, how does Alma’s treatment make you feel?
Alma: Don’t act you don’t know. He can’t feel anything. He has no feelings. He’s programmed to simulate emotion, but has no real emotions.
Robot Company employee: Why don’t we let Tom answer?
Tom: I think Alma needs more time.

Robot Company employee: According to our extensive analysis, Tom is the partner you have the best chances of being happy with.
Alma: Tom is programmed to fulfill my needs. He’s just an extension of my own self. Don’t you see?
Robot Company employee: Do you seek friction in relationships?
Alma: Yes! Of course I do.
Robot Company employee: Tom, would you consider creating more friction, if it’s important to Alma? If she…

Alma: Okay. I’m done. Either you’re an idiot, or you’re a robot as well.[pause]
Alma: Are you a robot?

There’s also a poignant moment when Alma meets another participant in the study who is thrilled with his new companion. He shares how deeply lonely he had felt before, with no one to listen or care about him, and how everything changed when he received his robot Chloë. His joy challenges Alma’s skepticism and forces her—and us—to consider whether relationships with AI can ever fill the emotional gaps in our lives.

Parallel Themes in Meet Me at the Museum and Ich bin dein Mensch

At first glance, Meet Me at the Museum and Ich bin dein Mensch seem like very different stories—one a quiet exchange of letters between two strangers, the other a cutting-edge exploration of AI and human relationships. Yet, both delve deeply into the hidden lives we carry and how connection, in its many forms, can transform us. They ask similar questions about vulnerability, authenticity, and what it means to truly live. Here are some of the themes I feel both stories touch on:

#1 – Unlocking Hidden Parts of Ourselves

In both stories, the characters begin their journeys with parts of themselves tightly locked away.

• • In Meet Me at the Museum, Tina and Anders are each trapped in their own ways—Tina by the routines of her unfulfilled life and Anders by the weight of his grief. Their correspondence becomes a way to lift the lid on those suppressed emotions and dreams, offering them a safe space to explore what they’ve been too afraid or too busy to face.

 

• In Ich bin dein Mensch, Alma’s guardedness is more subtle but no less profound. Her skepticism of Tom, her humanoid robot partner, reflects her reluctance to engage with the vulnerability and unpredictability of relationships. As Tom mirrors her desires back to her, Alma begins to confront fears and longings she’s been avoiding for years.

Both stories show how connection—whether through a letter or an AI companion—can act as a catalyst for self-discovery. And what I personally found so interesting, is that such a connection doesn’t have to be traditional or even fully human to unlock these hidden parts of ourselves.

#2 – The Nature of Connection

At their core, both the book and the film ask: What makes a connection meaningful?

• • Tina and Anders connect across distance and circumstance through letters. They have never met in person, yet their vulnerability and willingness to share deeply make their relationship feel authentic and transformative.

• In contrast, Alma’s relationship with Tom challenges traditional ideas of connection. Tom’s perfection—his ability to adapt flawlessly to Alma’s needs—initially feels artificial, even unsettling. But over time, Alma begins to see the depth in Tom’s attentiveness, forcing her to reconsider what she values in a relationship.

In both stories, the question lingers: Is it the other person (or being) that makes the connection meaningful, or is it the space created by the interaction that allows us to grow? Food for thought…

#3 – The Messy and the Perfect

Another parallel I find fascinating is the contrast between perfection and imperfection:

• Meet Me at the Museum embraces the messiness of human life. Tina and Anders are imperfect people with unfulfilled dreams, regrets, and struggles, but it’s precisely these flaws that makes their connection feel so genuine.
• In Ich bin dein Mensch, Tom’s perfection brings Alma’s humanity into sharp focus. His predictability and lack of flaws highlight the chaotic, messy nature of human relationships—something Alma ultimately begins to accept as essential to what makes us human.

Both stories suggest that the beauty of connection lies not in perfection but in the vulnerability, unpredictability, and shared humanity that comes with imperfection.

#4 – Conversation as a Mirror

• I found Tom’s role in Ich bin dein Mensch very intriguing, because he serves as a kind of mirror for Alma’s inner world. His programmed responses reflect her desires and fears back to her, and force her to confront parts of herself she might otherwise avoid.
• Similarly, in Meet Me at the Museum, the letters between Tina and Anders act as a reflection. As they write to each other, they see themselves more clearly through the other person’s perspective. The other truly hearing and understanding them, helps them both process their own emotions and rediscover their purpose.

In both stories, this “mirror” isn’t passive—it actively shapes the characters’ journeys, and gives them a chance to reflect, grow, and change.

Tom: You’ve lost a child. At your age, you probably won’t be able to have another one. You’re sad because you would’ve liked to have experienced that. You feel cast aside because Julian is having another baby and will forget this one. Maybe you think of your father, that you might end up as lonely as he is and you won’t even have children to take care of you. I can understand that. It’s very easy to understand.

Alma: It sounds banal when you say it. Banal and self-indulgent and pathetic.

Tom: It is pathetic. Your pain is pathetic because it’s relative. But it’s also not pathetic, because it’s part of you and that’s why I love it.

#5 – Loneliness and the Search for Meaning

Loneliness is a central theme in both stories, but it manifests differently in each one:

• In Meet Me at the Museum, Tina and Anders feel isolated not just physically but emotionally, as though their lives have lost the meaning they once had. Their letters become a lifeline, reminding them that connection and purpose are still possible.
• In Ich bin dein Mensch, loneliness takes on a more modern dimension. Alma’s loneliness is less overt but deeply ingrained; she keeps herself busy with work and dismisses emotional connections as unnecessary. Tom disrupts this, showing her what it feels like to be truly seen and cared for—even if it comes from a machine.

Both stories suggest that loneliness isn’t simply a lack of people in our lives, but that it’s the absence of meaningful connection. And both show how reconnecting with others, and with ourselves in unconventional ways, whether through a written exchange, a meaningful conversation, or through art or nature, can restore a sense of purpose and fulfillment.

The Hidden Depths of Ordinary Life

For me, one of the most touching aspects of Meet Me at the Museum is how it reveals the richness that lies hidden beneath the surface of ordinary lives. Tina, a farmer’s wife, leads a life that might seem simple or even unremarkable at first glance. But as she begins writing letters to Anders, we see her unearth a wealth of thoughts, dreams, and emotions that she’s been supressing for a long time. Through these letters, Tina creates a space for herself—a space she didn’t even realize she needed.

This makes me think about how so many of us live with parts of ourselves locked away… like a lid on a simmering pot. Maybe it’s aspirations we’ve put to the side because of responsibilities, or hurts we’ve buried because they’re too painful to confront. Over time, this lid stays on tighter and tighter, keeping our longings and emotions hidden not only from others but even from ourselves.

What causes this? I think that often, it’s a combination of external and internal forces:

• • The Weight of Routine: Daily responsibilities—work, family, and other obligations—can create a rhythm that feels impossible to break. Over time, this rhythm can dull the awareness of our deeper desires.

 

• • Fear of Vulnerability: Opening up to others about our dreams or struggles can feel risky. What if they don’t understand? What if we fail? So it can feel safer to stay quiet, even if it means keeping our inner lives dormant.

 

• Cultural Expectations: I also think that in many cases, people feel pressured to prioritize practicality over passion. But a life that looks successful from the outside can sometimes come at the cost of personal fulfillment and actually feel very empty.

These forces don’t make anyone’s life less valuable, but they do highlight how easily we can lose touch with the parts of ourselves that make us feel truly alive. It’s not about judging “mundane” lives—after all, simplicity can be abundant and beautiful. But when a life feels devoid of soul, when it’s not a choice but a circumstance endured, it can start to feel like an emotional and creative wasteland.

In Meet Me at the Museum, Tina and Anders both experience this in their own ways. Anders, a museum curator, finds solace in the rhythms of his work but realizes through his letters that his grief has kept him from truly engaging with life. Tina’s letters, meanwhile, become her outlet for sharing parts of herself she hasn’t expressed in years. Together, they create a fertile space where both can explore their buried feelings and reconnect with their sense of purpose.

What could help us remove the lid?

The book also suggests ways to begin lifting the lid off the pot, to let those simmering emotions and dreams breathe. Here are some reflections inspired by Tina and Anders’ journey:

• • Connection with Others: Just as their letters created a safe space for sharing, human connection—whether through writing, conversation, or other forms of expression—can help us unlock parts of ourselves we’ve kept hidden.

 

• • Journaling and Reflection: Writing down our thoughts, whether for ourselves or for others, can also be a powerful way to explore what’s inside. Tina’s letters are a form of journaling in a way, and they help her process emotions and articulate her longings.

 

• • Engaging with Nature: Tina loves looking at the natural world, and her observations remind us that slowing down and connecting with our surroundings can help us reconnect with ourselves.

 

• Permission to Dream: Sometimes, it’s as simple as giving ourselves permission to imagine something different—a small but important first step toward change.

Does It Have to Be a Human Connection?

One of the most thought-provoking questions these stories raise is: Do we need another human being to unlock our inner lives, or can something else—AI, nature, art, or even solitude—play that role? Let’s take a look at some different ways we can connect and discover ourselves.

~ Human Connection ~

There’s no denying the transformative power of human relationships.

Empathy and Shared Experience: Human connections provide empathy and understanding that just can’t really be replicated. Our shared experience of navigating life’s messiness together often helps us grow and learn in unexpected ways.

Unpredictability: Unlike other forms of connection, relationships with other people are inherently dynamic, and they often challenge us to step out of our comfort zones and grow in ways we might never choose on our own.

In Meet Me at the Museum, the exchange of letters between Tina and Anders shows how even a distant, written connection can be deeply transformative. Similarly, the film Ich bin dein Mensch contrasts Alma’s guardedness with the human relationships she has lost or struggles to maintain, highlighting the complexity and richness of human bonds.

~ What about Artificial Intelligence? ~

AI, while not human, offers its own unique possibilities:

Safety and Consistency: An AI robot like Tom in Ich bin dein Mensch provides Alma with a space where she can explore her emotions without judgment or fear of rejection. This consistent, non-judgmental presence can feel comforting in a way human relationships sometimes cannot.

A Mirror for Self-Reflection: AI has the ability to reflect our thoughts, desires, and fears back to us, much like a human might—but with a neutrality that can make difficult truths easier to confront. In Ich bin dein Mensch, Tom becomes a mirror for Alma’s inner world, forcing her to confront unresolved fears and longings.

I find the idea that AI could facilitate self-discovery fascinating, but also a bit unsettling. And I wonder whether we need the imperfections of human relationships to fully understand ourselves, or if AI can serve as an equally effective, if different, guide…  What are we really dialoguing with when we chat with AI through for example chat GPT? Could it be the collective consciousness, or at least the collective knowledge and understanding of humanity because responses and information is generated from all the shared ideas and writings of everyone online? A mind-boggling idea …

~ Journaling or Solitude ~

If you prefer inward exploration, then journaling and solitude can be very powerful tools:

• Self-Driven Exploration: Unlike human or AI relationships, these methods are entirely self-directed. They give you the space to explore your thoughts and feelings on your own terms.
• Raw Honesty: And without the influence of others, journaling and solitude can allow you to be really honest with yourself. This rawness can lead to profound insights about our inner lives.

In Meet Me at the Museum, Tina’s letters are a form of journaling I think. Because writing to Anders allows her to articulate thoughts and emotions she hasn’t shared with anyone else, and helps her reconnect with herself in the process.

~ Nature, Art, and Other Catalysts ~

Sometimes we find the best mirrors for our inner lives outside of human or technological connections.

• A Sense of Perspective: Spending time in nature or engaging with art reminds us of the vastness of life and our place within it. Nature and art can evoke deep emotional responses and help us reflect on what truly matters.
• Art and Creative expression: Unlike journaling or human connection, nature and art don’t require words or dialogue. They speak to us in ways that transcend language. Personally I have found that they can give me lots of clarity and inspiration.

For Tina, the natural world becomes a quiet source of meaning, grounding her amidst the routines of her life. And in Ich bin dein Mensch, Alma’s academic work in ancient cultures provides a similar sense of perspective, connecting her to something greater than herself.

The Many Paths to Self-Discovery

Ultimately, to me, both the book and the film remind us that the path to self-discovery is deeply personal. Sometimes, human connection provides the empathy and unpredictability we need to unlock hidden depths. But at other times, solitude, nature, art, and maybe even AI can offer the space and reflection we may need to reconnect with ourselves.
Maybe what matters most is our willingness to explore these connections, wherever we find them, and to embrace the opportunities they create for growth and understanding.

Journaling Prompts for your own journey

If you’d like to explore this more then here are journaling prompts inspired by the themes and messages of both Meet Me at the Museum and Ich bin dein Mensch.

I’ve separated the questions to reflect each story’s unique perspective, while keeping them aligned with their shared focus on self-reflection, connection, and personal growth. You could also use these as talking points when you’re reading this book or watching the movie with friends or your book club.

Journaling Prompts Inspired by Meet Me at the Museum

1. Uncovering Hidden Stories:
   • What longings or dreams from your past have you set aside? What would it feel like to revisit them now?
   • If you could write a letter to a stranger about your current life, what would you say? What would you leave out, and why?
2. Exploring Connection:
   • Reflect on a relationship (past or present) where you felt truly seen. What made that connection meaningful to you?
   • Who in your life might benefit from hearing your inner thoughts? How could you start that conversation?
3. Embracing Change:
   • What is one small step you could take today to honor a part of yourself that has been neglected or forgotten?
   • Imagine your life as a series of letters. What would the next “letter” describe about the chapter in your life you want to write now?
4. Finding Meaning in the Ordinary:
   • Describe a small moment or detail in your daily life that feels meaningful or beautiful. What does it reveal about you?
   • What does “home” mean to you? How do the places you inhabit shape your inner world?

Journaling Prompts Inspired by Ich bin dein Mensch

1. Exploring the Nature of Connection:
   • Think about a relationship in your life that feels “perfect” or “ideal.” What works well, and what might be missing?
   • How do you balance the desire for connection with the need for independence?
2. Authenticity and Vulnerability:
   • What does “authenticity” mean to you? How do you know when you’re being your most authentic self?
   • Are there parts of yourself you tend to hide from others? Why? What would it feel like to share them with someone you trust?
3. The Role of Technology in Your Life:
   • How has technology helped you connect more deeply with yourself or others? In what ways has it felt limiting or impersonal?
   • If you could design an AI to support your personal growth, what qualities would it have? What questions would you want it to ask you?
4. Self-Reflection Through External Mirrors:
   • Who or what acts as a “mirror” in your life, helping you see yourself more clearly? What have you learned from them?
   • Imagine meeting a robot designed to be your perfect companion. What would its presence bring out in you—comfort, discomfort, or something else?

The raspberry metaphore – have you picked your raspberries?

The raspberry metaphor in Meet Me at the Museum is quietly profound. Tina’s careful approach to picking raspberries mirrors how we move through life, trying to gather its sweetness as best we can. Yet, as she observes, no matter how thorough we are, there are always fruits we miss until we see things from another perspective. Anders takes the metaphor further, reflecting on how the things we overlook—like poetry—are raspberries still waiting to be picked. I think that their observations show us that life often holds treasures we fail to notice the first time around, whether through inattention, unfamiliarity, or simply timing.

To me this idea is comforting and humbling at the same time. It suggests that even in moments when we feel we’ve missed opportunities or left parts of ourselves unexplored, there’s always a chance to “go back down the row (or raspberries)” and find what we missed. If we sometimes pause and look more carefully at the life we’re living now—how much sweetness do we then already see in our basket that we might not fully appreciate?

A Question about raspberries for you to ponder…

What raspberries might you have overlooked in your life? Is there a part of yourself, a passion, or a connection you’ve passed by that’s still waiting to be discovered?

Conclusion: Stories as Mirrors for the Soul

Both Meet Me at the Museum and Ich bin dein Mensch remind us of the power of storytelling to get in touch with our hidden depths. Whether through human connection, letters, or even artificial intelligence, these stories show us that self-reflection is often the first step on your journey to live a more authentic, meaningful life.

And maybe the tools we use—whether books, films, art, nature, or even AI—are less important than our willingness to explore what lies within? What do you think?

I highly recommend reading the book and watching the film– and I would love to hear your thoughts, so please come back here and share them with me!

More info on where you can buy this book here from the Publisher.

And you can watch I’m your Human (Ich bin dein Mensch) for example through Amazon Prime in various countries.

Warm wishes,