When People Really, Really Screw Up
Part 2 in my unpacking of a perspective shift that I think makes a significant impact in the quality of our life and our relationships.
Yesterday I kicked off a four part series for this week in which I’m exploring a particular perspective on life and people that, I think, makes a huge difference in both our quality of life and our relationships.
As mentioned, the idea is to build out three statements, using three different stories, as a way to articulate this perspective I’m advocating for. Yesterday, by way of one of my fitness coaches on Tonal, I shared the first statement:
It’s not about how you start, it’s about how you finish.
Today, as promised, we’re visiting the fantasy realm of Middle Earth (aka, the world of Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings), to uncover the second important truth.
I’ve been a fan of The Lord of the Rings and all things Tolkien since seeing The Fellowship of the Ring for the first time in theaters back in 2001. Immediately the world of hobbits and elves and dwarves enamored me, and Tolkien’s storytelling spoke directly to my soul.
Since then I’ve read the books several times and watched the trilogy, well, a lot. Especially the first film. No exaggeration, I’ve probably seen it over 50 times.
And yet, for all that, my three youngest kids have never seen it once! Ages 17, 14, and 12, and I had not yet shared my love of Middle Earth with them (well, not technically true. We did play the LOTR edition of the board game Risk years ago, so that’s something).
A couple weeks back I decided to rectify this grievous parenting mistake and told the kids (I didn’t ask them), told them, “Kids, we’re watching one of dad’s favorite movies tonight! Grab some candy and let’s goooo!”
Even though I’ve seen it so many times, each viewing (because I’m a different person every time) offers a different experience. This time around, while cozied on the couch with my kids, I was utterly moved to tears by a scene, and by a character, I’ve never much connected to in the past.
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