So I was up late the other night, clicking thru the channels on TV, and came across the movie "The Bridges of Madison County." For some reason, I was compelled to watch it. I had seen it once before, but didn't remember much about it...guess it didn't make too much of an impression the first time around.
It sure made an impression the second time around.
I'm sure my reaction to the movie was not unique - I'm sure a lot of 40-something women can relate to Francesca (Meryl Streep's character) in one way or another. That feeling that something is missing, that there has to be more to life than just our day-to-day routine. That longing for a little more excitement, a little more romance, a little more LIFE in our daily existence.
I haven't been able to get this little monologue out of my head since I heard it:
“When a woman makes the choice to marry, to have children, in one way her life begins but in another way it stops. You build a life of details. You become a mother, a wife and you stop and stay steady so that your children can move. And when they leave they take your life of details with them. And then you're expected to move again only you don't remember what moves you because no one has asked in so long. Not even yourself.”
I haven't made a formal list of New Year's Resolutions yet. Like every other year, I have all these ideas in my head about getting in shape, organizing my house, etc. But every time I sit down to put these goals in writing, I get this uneasy feeling that I'm focusing on the wrong things.
I'm just building a life of details.
I think I need to throw out those old resolutions, maybe make a new one to move beyond that - to stop building a life of details and start experiencing the big picture.
Easier said than done I guess.
