What you can learn from the movie “Wonder”

This time of year always makes me happy.  Sure I feel stressed at times and hope to find all the perfect gifts or prepare the perfect dish, but I am also filled with an overwhelming feeling of happiness, gratitude and faith. Last weekend, my boys and I curled up in my bed to watch the movie Wonder.  I had heard snippets about this movie, but I had no idea how deeply this movie would move me. Alert!!  I am going to talk about the movie so if you are someone who doesn’t like to have anything spoiled please watch the movie first before finishing this post J For those of you who haven’t watched Wonder, it is about a young boy (Auggie) who has a facial deformity and will be starting school.  His mother (like any mother) is concerned how her child will react and how others will react to him.  The movie chronicles his days at school and some of the hard things he endures.  In addition, the movie is beautifully written to show the perception of the other characters in the movie and what life looks like from their viewpoint and the struggles they experience. More than once I found myself with tears streaming down my face sharing what the little boy went through and my heart ached at the thought of my own children experiencing cruel people and fighting those internal battles.   At the end of the movie, what had been sad and hard turned into something beautiful as everyone rallied around and supported the young boy they had once ostracized. There were many lessons within this movie, with the most obvious being treat everyone regardless of their outward appearance with kindness.  That is something as a mom I am striving to show and teach daily to my kids. The other point that stuck out to me as I watched each of the characters story is that while a co-worker, friend, child, family member, spouse may not outwardly carry the marks of deformity you never know what they may be dealing with inside.  The sadness, loneliness or feelings of overwhelm with what life has thrown at them can be just as real as a physical mark. Join my email list to improve your wellness We live in a day where true human connection has been deprioritized.  We are more focused on our own feelings, the trials and tribulations of the day or reading stories about people on our phones instead of creating our own real life bonds. A cornerstone of our overall health and well-being is related to connectedness and meaningful relationships, yet studies show people are more depressed, unhappy and lonely than ever before. Take heart. Put the phone down, schedule time with friends, family or your kids. Spend time listening, I mean really listening to what is going on in their lives.  Share what is happening in yours.  We all crave deep human connection and need the support of a tribe of people who love and care about us to get through the hard stuff, yet we don’t always take the time to nurture those relationships.  Our overall outlook on life takes a positive spin when we share in each others lives in live time not just through media. The hard stuff that seems insurmountable when left to spin in our own brains, seems just a little more manageable when we have people who can rally around us. We also feel a sense of happiness and gratitude for those in our life that help ease our burdens just by being a part of it. May your holidays be blessed with food, faith, family and friends.