As per usual, in a countdown from Thanksgiving to Christmas, I indulge in a plethora of holiday-themed pictures. And for me, the cheesier the better. I particularly appreciate those ABCFamily, Hallmark and Lifetime gems, but of course, nothing compares to the old school classics like White Christmas, Holiday Inn or Miracle on 34th Street.
However, I do have one year-round-all-time favorite fittingly titled, The Holiday. An impressive cast of actors, great colliding stories and a true romantic comedy that will consistently touch your heart. I can't recall how many times I've seen this movie, but this last time was the first time I really gave more thought to the narration in the opening credits, specifically the quote from Shakespeare's Twelfth Night:
 | |
| Basel Mural, 1956-58 by Sam Francis |
"I have found almost everything
ever written about love to be true.
Shakespeare said,
'Journeys end in lovers meeting.'
Oh, what an extraordinary thought!
Personally, I have not experienced
anything remotely close to that,
but I'm more than willing
to believe Shakespeare had.
I suppose I think about love
more than anyone really should.
I'm constantly amazed by its sheer power
to alter and define our lives.
It was Shakespeare who also said,
'Love is blind.'
Now that is something I know to be true.
For some, quite inexplicably, love fades.
For others, love is simply lost.
But then, of course, love can also be found,
even if just for the night.
And then there's another kind of love,
the cruellest kind,
the one that almost kills its victims.
It's called unrequited love.
Of that, I am an expert.
Most love stories are about people
who fall in love with each other,
but what about the rest of us?
What about our stories,
those of us who fall in love alone?"
What a great way to summarize the many forms of love and relationships that most of us will experience throughout out lives. Love is special and complicated and ultimately, an autonomous choice—to cultivate or repel. But is it really true that the journey ends when you meet the love of your life? Is there really a spiritual soulmate or counterpart for each of us? And once found, is there a perfectly harmonious union of bliss and are you then deemed "complete?"
I do believe that finding that special someone will only enhance life's precious moments, but I'm not sure I could ever agree that our 'ultimate purpose' is a relentless seek for the love of our life. In fact, I might feel the complete opposite. I might believe that it's not about the happy ending, but moreso about the story along the way. And truly, it is within the conclusion of relationships and the transformational journey after heartbreak that life begins. It is when we are forced to dig deep and find pure joy within our souls by accepting where we are in life and making the most out of everyday. Lover or not, that is the never-ending process we must all endure.
****
"Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we will ever do." —Brené Brown
 |
| #❤️Wall |
