I love the movie UP, a lot of people think it’s depressing, but I could not disagree more. Sure that first 5 minutes is a tear-jerker, but the story is so beautifully told, it is worth every tear. I have always related to the message of seeing life as an adventure no matter what life throws your way. This has always been my philosophy. But it’s not always that easy, is it? There are certain experiences in our lives that take the breath out of us – and leave us feeling as if we will never find joy again. I now relate to this, given the current experiences in my life. And so now I relate to this movie in a deeper way than ever. It is a story about about embracing the best of those we have lost. By doing so, we bring them with us on our journey, and we begin to rediscover our joy this way. This gives me hope.
In case you have not seen this movie (go rent it!), after losing his wife, the main character finds his life empty, without purpose, and full of bitterness. They’d grown up together, and grown old together, and now he was alone. Then one day, when faced with moving into a retirement community, he finds her adventure book, and realizes they never acheived one of her dreams. So he decides to take off and achieve her dream of traveling to a magical place across the world. In living her dreams, he begins to live his own. By embracing her best qualities into his own life – her sense of adventure and curious spirit – he discovers a new beautiful adventure.. and it is still one that she is part of because she is in his heart all along.
I just love this. It brings me hope to know that – even though my life is not a joyful one right now – the small moments of joy I do have are powerful. And that more joy will come over time. Those joyful moments are brilliant ones, because I know that he is still a part of them. He is there in everything that I do and see and experience, and every beautiful moment and person now has become so much more precious. I know that there will be many hard days ahead, and some days the pain will feel insurmountable, but I do find solace in knowing that he’s still in my heart cheering me on to live my own adventure. I’m even thinking about creating my own adventure book like the one she has in the movie – I can see him smiling about this idea. Yup, I may just have to make it happen.
Our 1000 Days 