I watched the Hours a few days ago. Yes, I guess my lifestyle shows that I am at least 5 years behind the rest of you but it did not take away the impact. What a wonderful film. It has stayed with me for days and inspired me to finish things I should have done a long time ago. Despite the heavy subject regarding three women stuck in a world they do not feel part of or where happiness is long gone and suddenly seems impossible to find I found it a positive story. We all live our small lives in a complicated world but luckily today it is filled with choices (at least in my world). The option to choose how to live ones life or what to do with our lives is no guarantee for happiness but at least it makes the possible paths more visible.
I saw my grandmother in Virginia Woolf even though they lived very different lives. Virginia was ahead of her time and so was my grandmother. I think my grandma lost her freedom, her need to travel and explore other places due to a pregnancy and a lot of pressure from life in a small town. You need to have an idea of survival or an idea of possibilities in order to take life-changing steps. You need role models and someone telling you over and over again that you can do anything you want. My grandmother did what she thought was expected of her and I am very grateful as I would probably not have been here otherwise. I just wish I could believe that her life had more happiness.
Even with all the options in life happiness can pas you by or get lost somewhere on the way. Should we be more careful? Are we doing anything wrong when life is not as bright and shiny as we might wish?
In the film, Leonard – Virginias husband – asks her why someone has to die in the book she is writing. Virginias answers that someone has to die so that we who are left can value our lives more. She lets the poet - the visionary character in the book, take his life. We who are left need to choose life. Suicides is obviously an extreme option but I think she has a point and tonight when I read for little Nils the point was made again in a book about Alfons Åberg.
In this childrens book little Alfons is bored together with his dad. Christmas is over and they have nothing to do. They wonder why life can not be fun all the time and get the idea that everyday of the year should be Christmas except one, which should be a birthday instead. Alfons grandmother laughs at their idea and says;
- That is the most stupid idea I ever heard. Then nothing would be fun as you would not notice the difference between fun and boring moments. We need to have boring moments in order to value the special once.
Films and art give us pictures, books and articles give us stories, and ideas and insights but the packaging of it all is in the eye of the beholder. It is easy to let life go by and it is a lot more difficult to choose life but the fact that I can choose makes me happy. Yesterday I read the book “The heart doesn’t get wrinkles” by Mark Levengood. Short stories, some deep and some fun, but maybe the title said it all. Life is full of stories and possibilities.
Kisses to Jochem who has been travelling for some time and feels lost on the way! There are only possibilities and no dead end!
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