MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Written by: Christopher Geis
It’s a Wonderful Life
The special season between Thanksgiving and New Years can be a joyful time, a stressful time, a time of anxiety, as well as a time to give thanks. We begin the season by giving thanks for our many blessings and continue with celebrations into the new year.
Life is a journey. There are joyful and difficult times. Yet, it is the difficult times in which we often find that we grow the most. As we prepare for this season and the new year ahead, there may be challenges we face – whether that be a difficult assignment, a bad grade, being bullied or made to feel less than someone else, family issues, having hundreds of assignments to grade after our Fall and Winter breaks, paying bills, feelings of being anxious, or just having to make a difficult decision and decerning what is right vs. Wrong.
It is also a time of preparation. We just celebrated Thanksgiving where we spent hours preparing a feast to enjoy with family and friends. Some of us may have even helped prepare and serve those less fortunate than us – the elderly, poor, homeless, or sick. And now we are in the midst of preparing and celebrating one of many holidays whether that be Hannukah, Kwanza, Christmas, New Year’s, Festivus For the Rest of Us or another holiday. One of my favorite movies of all time is It’s a Wonderful Life. A quick inquiry into Ai provides some of the many messages the movie conveys, including:
The value of life: The movie shows that life is better when people are present and make the choice to live life along with the idea that everyone’s life has meaning and purpose.
The impact of actions: The movie shows how a person's actions affect others, and how even small actions can have big consequences.
The importance of perspective: The movie suggests that people can overcome despair by changing their perspective and allow the help of others.
The importance of community: The movie explores themes of family, community, and hard work.
The importance of forgiveness: The movie teaches the importance of learning to forgive and to be forgiven.
The importance of giving: The movie teaches the importance of learning to give to others.
The importance of looking on the positive side: The movie teaches the importance of looking on the positive side of things.
The importance of realizing what you have: The movie shows how people can forget the good in their lives, and how important it is to appreciate what you have.
The importance of remembering the positive impact you have: The movie teaches the importance of remembering the positive impact you have on others.
If you haven’t seen the movie, I highly recommend watching it over our winter break. Remember your life is a journey, your choices affect that journey. In what ways are you preparing to live your life? Life is good and life is precious – live life, pursue your passions, and make a conscientious decision to be thankful in every circumstance.