THE SEASON OF REFLECTION

I posted a blog last year about the movies I watch at Christmas. Since then, I changed the platform of my blog from Wordpress to Blogger, so that post can't be found anymore.  I recently got a few emails about those movies (since other people liked them too), so I decided to re-write that post with a slightly different spin on it.

Outside of the obvious messages of gratitude, appreciation for the birth of Christ and 70% off at Macy's after Christmas, the holidays simply mean one thing to me: take notice of the things that are important in my life.  So I re-watch three movies every year that really bring it home to me (with no disrespect to Miracle on 34th St and It's A Wonderful Life).  All the movies are set during Christmas time and each one brings a different message that's worthy of a annual reminder.

First, I watch The Family Stone, the 2006 box office hit with Sarah Jessica Parker, Diane Keaton and a popular ensemble cast (pictured above).  It's a movie about how a close-knit family struggles to stay true to their values when someone new (Parker) arrives with very different perspectives.  Through all the craziness, it's love and respect that prevails. Even through the death of the family matriarch, played by Keaton.   The movie is meaningful to me because no matter what has happened in my life, the one thing I can depend on is my family.  Even after we lost both our parents and had to re-invent ourselves to go forward, the movie reminds me that I'm a product of my family (for better or worse) and when all else fails, they will be there for me.  It's my greatest blessing.

Then I pop in Love Actually, a Seinfeld-type of movie where several stories are happening simultaneously and they all connect at the end.  The movie is basically about love (of course), but the major message is that love can happen anywhere and to anyone, so we have to pay attention (and take advantage of) the opportunities. Though some of the stories are painful and tragic, the movie reminds me that love is always present in our lives and that true love grows over years and survives problems and challenges of all kinds.  Love Actually is also a great reminder of what people will sacrifice to know and experience great love.

Family Man might be my favorite movie of all time.  Also set at Christmas, it stars Nicholas Cage and Tea Leoni as college sweethearts who go separate ways when their career paths diverge.  Don Cheadle plays an "angel" who gives them a "glimpse" of what their lives would have been if they had made the decision to stay together and raise a family.  While there are themes of love, gratitude and appreciation of family, the movie is really about the decisions we make and how they affect our destiny.  Every time I watch that movie, I always end of asking myself what would have happened if I made different decisions about relationships, went to different schools or chose a different occupation.  Even a small decision like responding to someone's letter or phone call could have changed the entire direction of my life.

I don't ruminate over what's gone by in my life, I don't have any control over what's already happened. I believe all the events of my life happen exactly the way they should because it's part of a "grand plan" that helps us to learn the lessons we need. No accidents. No coincidences.  Family Man makes me conscious of every person I meet, every activity I choose and what relationships engage my time and energy.  I'm conscious about it because I'm aware that my "future" is happening everyday and I'm making the decisions that will determine it.

They say that holidays are the season for giving and I agree.  But its also the season for reflection, to take stock in what gives our lives value and to re-acess our purpose and passion.  These three movies drive the point home and make it fun at the same time.