My Extraordinary Ordinary Life
Good evening! It's been quite some time since I've posted something but to be honest I don't think it's a bad thing at all. A lot has happened to say the least and I am grateful to finally have the chance to sit down at my kitchen counter, open up my laptop, and write.
This morning, I watched the movie About Time. It's been a while since I've watched a movie that's left such a profound feeling in my heart, one that I feel even as I type this sentence.
The film follows the story of Tim Lake, an incredibly awkward man who learns of his ability to time travel. He admits to himself that only one thing really matters to him, and that is love. Romance in the form of a girl who cares for him just as much as he cares for her and with a stroke of luck, Tim meets the girl of his dreams in the form of Mary.
Using his ability to travel back in time, he frequently goes back in order to "fix" things that may affect his relationship with her. Whether it be through stopping her from meeting another man or avoiding the heels on the floor on the way to her bed; Tim uses his unique ability to change small, seemingly insignificant things in the past, so as to create a "better" future.
But as the movie carries on, Tim begins to learn that some things in life are best left the way they are; pure, genuine and unchanged. Travelling back in time whenever he feels something is wrong would never lead him to live a happy and grateful life; one void of surprise and a sense of realness. His ability to change things in the past would simply rob his future of its authenticity and joy.
At this point of the story, I began to understand that when things are meant to happen, they will happen. It's just a matter of accepting things as they come, and more importantly, continuing to accept them as they go.
Time travel isn't essential to living a meaningful and profound life. Because who are we without our experiences? Our past failures? The victories we've celebrated? The losses we've endured? The people we've met? The years we have lived so far?
It's becoming clear to me now that there is a reason for everything. Maybe not to the point where I should lose sleep over pondering why this happened or that happened - but simply to the fact that the past is already gone, and the future is still up in the air.
Of course a part of me wishes I could time travel but who would I be now if I did?
There comes a time where you just have to live each day as if it were the only day that mattered. And wake up with a small, forced smile even if you spent the last night stuck on the couch, staring at the ceiling until 2 in the morning. Or belting a Coldplay song in the shower regardless of whether or not you think your siblings can hear you from outside the washroom door.
Because unlike Tim Lake, we don't have the ability to travel to our past, and relive certain experiences, alter our mistakes.
But we do have the ability make each moment count.
To not overlook the little things. Paying attention as we go about our daily lives because if we're always living in our head, we may miss out on something that is right in front of our eyes. This doesn't mean going out in a frantic search for The One or to even live with recklessness. Romance will come when it's time and so will fulfillment. But right now we are presented with an invitation to develop and sustain a spirit of attentiveness and gratefulness.
Open your eyes, take a deep breath, and look around you - what do you see?
Enjoy this moment and carry on living.
Not in fear of disappointment and regret,
But in hope that maybe the little things aren't so little after all.
AMDG
This morning, I watched the movie About Time. It's been a while since I've watched a movie that's left such a profound feeling in my heart, one that I feel even as I type this sentence.
The film follows the story of Tim Lake, an incredibly awkward man who learns of his ability to time travel. He admits to himself that only one thing really matters to him, and that is love. Romance in the form of a girl who cares for him just as much as he cares for her and with a stroke of luck, Tim meets the girl of his dreams in the form of Mary.
Using his ability to travel back in time, he frequently goes back in order to "fix" things that may affect his relationship with her. Whether it be through stopping her from meeting another man or avoiding the heels on the floor on the way to her bed; Tim uses his unique ability to change small, seemingly insignificant things in the past, so as to create a "better" future.
But as the movie carries on, Tim begins to learn that some things in life are best left the way they are; pure, genuine and unchanged. Travelling back in time whenever he feels something is wrong would never lead him to live a happy and grateful life; one void of surprise and a sense of realness. His ability to change things in the past would simply rob his future of its authenticity and joy.
At this point of the story, I began to understand that when things are meant to happen, they will happen. It's just a matter of accepting things as they come, and more importantly, continuing to accept them as they go.
Time travel isn't essential to living a meaningful and profound life. Because who are we without our experiences? Our past failures? The victories we've celebrated? The losses we've endured? The people we've met? The years we have lived so far?
It's becoming clear to me now that there is a reason for everything. Maybe not to the point where I should lose sleep over pondering why this happened or that happened - but simply to the fact that the past is already gone, and the future is still up in the air.
Of course a part of me wishes I could time travel but who would I be now if I did?
There comes a time where you just have to live each day as if it were the only day that mattered. And wake up with a small, forced smile even if you spent the last night stuck on the couch, staring at the ceiling until 2 in the morning. Or belting a Coldplay song in the shower regardless of whether or not you think your siblings can hear you from outside the washroom door.
Because unlike Tim Lake, we don't have the ability to travel to our past, and relive certain experiences, alter our mistakes.
But we do have the ability make each moment count.
To not overlook the little things. Paying attention as we go about our daily lives because if we're always living in our head, we may miss out on something that is right in front of our eyes. This doesn't mean going out in a frantic search for The One or to even live with recklessness. Romance will come when it's time and so will fulfillment. But right now we are presented with an invitation to develop and sustain a spirit of attentiveness and gratefulness.
Open your eyes, take a deep breath, and look around you - what do you see?
Enjoy this moment and carry on living.
Not in fear of disappointment and regret,
But in hope that maybe the little things aren't so little after all.
AMDG
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