We're ALL George Bailey!
I just finished watching the 60th anniversary edition of It's a Wonderful Life, that L gave me for my birthday. Have you ever wondered how this movie has survived this long as a Christmas favorite?I believe that it's a perennial favorite because there's a little of George Bailey in ALL of us. All of us have wallowed in self-pity to the point that we know the world would be a better place without us. BUT, how many of us have looked back on our lives and realized how different the world would be if we'd never been born? Think about it.
I, myself, have performed the Heimlich maneuver on a person who was turning blue. Would that person be here today? Probably not. What good deeds has that person done since I rescued her? Plenty.
My beautiful children wouldn't be here without me. My husband's life would probably have spiraled out of control without me. My parents wouldn't have the child they desperately wanted.
How many times have we suggested a trip to the doctor to a friend, that may have saved their life? Have you introduced two people to each other, who have wound up getting married? Have you given words of encouragement to a depressed friend? We've all touched a lot of lives. Sometimes we never know how much a smile, hug, or heart-to-heart talk has meant to another human being. Sometimes, if we're lucky, that person will tell us how much we helped them.
We've ALL made a difference in this world; some more than others. Don't ever underestimate how much our actions have touched those around us. In the meantime, keep practicing those random acts of kindness. You never know when your words or actions will change someone's life for the better.
posted by tshsmom @ 7:12 PM
26 comments
26 Comments:
OK, I really do have to watch the whole movie this year. :) And what a thought-provoking post.
I don't like to call the "random" acts of kindness random, because I believe what you say is true - we do touch each other's lives in ways we are unaware of, so it's not really random. But here I go again with the ramblings of an anal person... :)
Merry Christmas!
((((((((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))
Yet ANOTHER top notch post!!!
WOW you are really hitting your stride, Tshsmom!!!
Holy crabfish, this is so darn cool!!!!!
Yes I have to agree with ND here on this one well alright all of you to be honest. LOL!!!! Its on Sunday night here on tv. We are going to watch it then. I have seen parts of it but never really sat and watched the whole thing. But yes I think we have all touched someones life in a special way.
Candace, DO IT! It's one of my favorites!
Euro, you're probably right. We just need to follow our gut feelings and reach out to those around us. A BLESSED CHRISTMAS to you and yours too!
ND, just another post that I had to blurt out. For some reason, that movie really touched me yesterday.
Tweets, make watching that movie a family tradition with your girls. It makes us all feel more valuable in this life.
I think we will make it a family tradition. J likes the movie so we will sit down and watch it. J also likes the scrooge movie. We got that one from his mom a while back. There are too many of those out there yet. I wish we would have had more money this holiday season. I wanted to buy for the Toys for Tots this year but we ran short. I feel like a scrooge when I cant do stuff like that to help.
Well, I did TRY to get this movie for Richard this year. But you know what he's getting instead. :D
You're absolutely right - we do affect each other's lives for the better all the time, sometimes without realizing it, and we need to remind ourselves of this year-round!
Another excellent movie in this vein is "Meet John Doe". It'll never be as popular as Wonderful Life, but I wish it would be.
Never heard of that one before. But again my parents didnt like those but mom watched Miracle on 34th Street though. She wasnt into the old movies as much but J and I like the ones that have been suggested.
That movie does teach a great lesson. We'll probably never know how many lives we truly touch for the better. And that's okay, that's how it should be.
But even if you don't care about the moral of the story, everyone should watch it at least once. There are many references to all over the place, not the least of which is that Bert and Ernie on Sesame Street were named after the cop and the taxi driver. :)
what a great post ... because i always think .. truly .. that i don't make a difference ~ and no one would really care ... i'm insignificant in the big scheme of things ...
i have never seen this movie ... but thanks for posting about it.
merry christmas ~ my friend.
Tshsmom, _It's A Wonderful Life_ is one of my all time favorite movies! M has never seen it (only clips) and every year I tell her she must sit down and watch the whole thing. Maybe I'll bribe her with popcorn and get her to watch it. In addition to seeing how many times we've each been George Bailey in our own lives, stop to think about the George Baileys out there who have changed your life. I actually examined this rather closely a few years back when trying to figure out why my siblings and I turned out so differently, even though we all grew up in the same combat zone. The thing that saved me were the many people who reached out at various times to impact my life for the better. It seems I always had numerous angels out there to cushion the fall and help me back up. The angels were fewer and far between for my siblings. For me, it really is a wonderful life and I plan to do everything I can to make it a wonderful life for others. Happy Holidays!
SME, I still haven't seen the end of Meet John Doe. I'd better put that on my to-do list for '07.
Squirl, I always wondered about that Bert and Ernie bit. Now I know. ;)
Raven, you're significant in a LOT of lives!
VV, why doesn't it surprise me that this is one of your fav movies too? ;)
You're right(of course). I should have included that part in my post.
I've often thought about all the influences in my life that have made me who I am. I've even thanked most of them.
"...I plan to do everything I can to make it a wonderful life for others." Me too!
Have a Joyous Christmas, my friend!
I didn't know the Bert and Ernie thing! That's kinda cool. Hmm.
I had never seen It's a Wonderful Life until I met Dan, now it's a Christmas Eve tradition.
Courtney, isn't it cool how traditions start? We always watch A Christmas Story while we put up our tree.
tshsmom, I love that movie. I don't rememer the 20 times I saw it until one day I actually stopped and watched it. It's a great movie and it made me thankful for the people who made a difference in my life and the difference I make in others.
Angelique, isn't it amazing how some of the greatest messages in life can be right in front of us?
We all need to be receptive to those messages and the beauty that surrounds us!
Thank you! Sometimes I feel like Raven - then when I do an inventory, I think, hey not so bad! Your inventory says, "giving" - I know you've given a lot to us bloggers and I thank you for it. When my life seems chaotic, during those hopeless days that sometimes come, your blog has been an anchor. May you have the most blest, wonderful Christmas and holiday season.
Merry Christmas to one of my dearest pals and fave blogbuds!!!!!! May 2007 be your best year yet!!!!
Thank YOU, Gardenia and ND!!
I treasure your friendship!
I totally missed "Its a wonderful Life" But I cherish the message it teaches us, another more modern day movie flick graces my movie library that talks how we affect each others life, cross each others path, make the difference by just being there for each other, SME leaves the room when I watch it cause its she can't handle the puns. (Forrest Gump)Life's Like A Box of Chocolates, you never know what you'll get...run Forrest Run...That's okay cause I leave the room when Kenny gets killed again on South Park and SME is left to decipher life's mystery in animation form...lately sme has resorted to more uplifting real true life experiences such as trailer park boys. God I love her!We are so good for each other!
I am happy you found her R. You both are so special. I have it figured any friend of hers is a friend of mine but maybe not in the real sense you are to her lol.... Just friends is fine. I have one love of my life and I really dont know what I would do with two. lol.. WELL two small loves of my life make it worth while though sometimes. Talking about that one of them just came in tattling on the other. Well take care everyone.
SS, I still haven't seen Forrest Gump! I always miss it when it's on TV. :( L and Z won't watch it either...must be genetic. ;)
SME tried to get It's a Wonderful Life for you for Christmas, but she couldn't find it anywhere. There must be a LOT of people with good taste out there.
Tweets, he IS special. We're all so lucky to be part of each other's families!!!!
Yes I have to admit that one.
I love this film. After you enumerated the things you did that changed people's lives, well, I want to do that, too. That's a great idea.
Rhea, I hope that the list will keep getting longer!
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