Bad things happen to good people
But please remember, life is wonderful, if we look in the right places.
The time of the year that it is, we often find ourselves watching Christmas movies, and that's precisely what I did this week.
I Sat down and watched one of my favorites.
"It's a wonderful life."
For those of you who have never seen it, I highly recommend it, and not to spoil it for you; I’ll give you a quick rundown of it.
It's the story of George Bailey, a man who sacrificed his dreams of college and traveling the world to help others in a time of need.
He chose to ignore his plans of how he saw his life unfold, staying in a town he was eager to get out of to broaden his ambitions.
Allowing others' feelings and plans to come before his own, to handing over all of his life's savings to help keep his late father's business afloat.
Harboring some resentment and frustration about it all yet keeping it to himself and putting on a smiling face.
And at his lowest point, he swallowed his pride and asked for help from the one person he did not want to.
George Bailey was a great man who did great things for others, and yes, unfortunately, it all went wrong.
George was left feeling everyone would be better off without him around, for in his time of need, in his confusion and frustration, he could not see all the good he had in his life.
When was the last time you stood still to recognize all the good you have done in your life?
All the people you have helped selflessly without receiving praise or even thanks?
How often have you felt, for all the good you do in your life, things still go wrong?
Now, at this time of year, with Christmas approaching, all trying to do our best for those around us.
Trying so hard to get all those presents on the Santa list, however, means possible.
Is this really what this time of year is all about?
People will struggle, and people will feel the pressure more than most.
Where all the usual post's on Instagram of all the designer bags under the tree will trigger them and hit them hard.
Or all the presents for their kids "that Santa brought"
Sadly these posts will be up, for it is something you have no control over, but you can control and have a choice to log on and view them.
You have a choice to stop and think back to the one or two presents Santa brought you and the pure joy you felt receiving them.
Older now can appreciate all your parents did for you to make this day magical, and show gratitude to them.
Mental health was very different in 1946 when It's a Wonderful Life was made, but it was still there.
The message was still loud and clear, and a person's feelings who got so lost was unable to think straight and felt the only way to "fix" things was if they were not around.
76 YEARS later, some people may feel this very same way, so please be mindful of this.
Could you STOP and remember back to all that good you have done?
All the great things that are in your life and all the good that is yet to come.
And for the 24 hours (because that's all it is), enjoy the family and friends around you, and be grateful for all you can find to be thankful about, however small.
And make the right choices, the choices that will help you in the best way.
And most of all, be kind to one another and yourself.
As always, thanks for reading,
Marcus.
My all time favourite movie, beautiful Marcus. My mantra at the moment is that your presence to those that you love & cherish the most is so much more important than any present you can't afford to buy. Beautiful. I'll be inviting on to my podcast in the New Year. ❤️🙏
Love this 😍