There’s nothing quite like watching a film or reading a novel that shares a tale of great tragedy and heartache to help you remember what is truly important – keeping things in perspective.
Tonight, a friend and I went and watched the Naomi Watts / Ewan 
McGregor film The Impossible. We knew little about the film going into it, and in hindsight may have picked a different more cheerful film for the night. The original plan was to see Bill Murray in Hyde Park on the Hudson, but poor reviews had us concerned so we made a last minute swap.
For those of you unfamiliar with the premise of The Impossible, let me share, the story follows one family torn apart during the tsunami that hit Thailand on December 26th, 2006. The film is based on a true story, which always makes watching it that much more intense – this isn’t just someone’s imagination at work this really happened to those people.
For me personally, I think it is necessary to watch or read stories such as these to help keep me grounded. Often, I find myself getting nose-close to my problems or concerns and forgetting the big picture – how simple life truly is. Life is about living and loving, if you are doing and feeling those two things really nothing else matters.
There will always be someone out there that has it worse off, and I am not suggesting that anyone compare themselves to someone else. However, I do think a teaspoon of gritty, honest reality is healthy to keep us all in check.
Films like these make me want to go home and hug those I love, including the dog. But it shouldn’t just be a film making you feel these things it should be ominpresent, always there.
So next time you talk to someone you care for, tell them you love them. Next time you see someone you care for, hug them. You never know the difference that action will make for them or even for yourself, you never know when that will be the last opportunity you get to express your love.
There will always been problems, heartache, death, and everything in between but if we lose sight of LOVE then we truly lose everything. Many scientists believe that what sets us apart from the animal kingdom is our ability to think and reason, but I would propose that it is our ability to feel and most importantly to love.
Even though tonight it took a film so raw and intense my abs hurt, I’m appreciative of the reminder.
Signed,
Lola
Project Lola 