It's A Wonderful Life

I've been told that It's A Wonderful Life (1946) is the perfect movie classic to watch at Christmas time. In the midst of all the fuss and headaches of what Christmas has become, it's good to be reminded about what's really important in life; how we act does not always show this. Enter goal #52 - Watch It's A Wonderful Life at Christmas time.

The movie centres around George Bailey, whose ambitions and dreams of travelling and seeing the world are constantly postponed due to one 'situation' or another. George watches others living his own dreams and stays behind in his home town, constantly putting others before himself and slowly becoming more resentful along the way. Everything finally goes belly-up one Christmas Eve, and along comes George's guardian angel, who needs to show George just how much his life has affected all those around him, and what life would have been like if he had never been born.

Lessons and reminders:

• Always keep sight of your dreams. Even if they seem impossible to pursue, and things get in the way, don't forget them.
• There are good people in the world. Seek them out and stick by them; they will do the same for you.
• Greed is all around us, but good can prevail. Make the right choices and decide what's important to you; it might not be what you think. Money isn't everything.
  
• Take some time to appreciate friends and family; they might not be there or wait around forever. There's only so much those closest to you can endure.
  
• Never underestimate the effect you, or your life, has on others, even those you don't know.