Reel vs Real life

"Much of what we know is little more than a goulash of disparate and contradictory ideas, rather than accessible clarity." -Ian Mann

I think the above quote correctly answers the dilemma in most of our dilemmas. We never know the complete facts pertaining to a situation and have to decide based on whatever little we do know. So when we move as per our assumptions, have we turned our life into a movie based on our perceived reality?

What is reality? A traditional outlook? preconceived ideas and patterns passed to us from older generations? If one digresses from a traditional pattern should he/she be frowned upon?

The past few weeks have made it very clear, reality is what you believe it to be. You have no experience living as this is your one and only chance so how do you know what is real and what is reel/aka a fairy tale? if you see a road or people around you point to a road, it is real. If you were in a remote corner in Africa and were told about the concrete jungle you would think it to be a magical place.

Tradition or patterns or model behaviours are just baselines. In a complex world where people can be atypical in an infinite number of ways, there is great value and safety in knowing the baselines. However living your life strictly by them and accepting them as way of life?

We are bought up believing in patterns, finish school by 15, college by 21, become a respected professional ( aka doc, CA, engineer...)...get married ..have kids... by such and such age...
after that you will be settled.. you have lived a well fulfilled, happy life. My reaction can only be Yuck !!!!!

How can we reduce the vagaries of human behaviour to over generalized patterns. If, for example, if one added up all the women and men on the planet, on average , the typical adult human being has one breast and one testicle...and yet how many people fit that description?