Friday, February 19, 2010

Love Train

Photo by Box of Badgers - click link for a fabulous set of pics!

I've been visiting some bloggy friends lately. I went over to Miss Healthypants' place and read a funny post about her husband, Iwanski, and his obsession with a television program about trains. They are both wonderful writers and have a most lovely relationship.

Then I went over to The Jason Show and read a great post entitled Love Yourself. He makes the point that - well, let's let him tell you himself:
I fully subscribe the the notion that you must make your own happiness, one way or another. You're in charge. If you're not happy, then get happy. Happiness takes work. If you're not willing to do the work to get happy, then don't complain about your misery!
If there's one thing I've learned, it's that you have to love yourself. My mom often observes that ultimately, you have to be able to look yourself in the mirror and like what you see. She also claims that the most satisfying way to find a mate is not to look for one. Instead, she believes that pursuing the things you enjoy and finding fun leads to meeting someone special to love.

So, oddly enough, my final romantic movie couple isn't really a couple. It's a woman who comes into her own, who thinks she needs a man, but learns to relax and enjoy life and love others without worrying about pairing up.

Diane Lane is outstanding as writer Frances Mayes, whose book Under the Tuscan Sun was made into a movie. There were several liberties taken with the truth of Mayes' memoir in developing the screenplay, but who cares? The message is lovely.

Warning: This clip includes plot revelations at the end of the movie, so if you haven't seen it and want to be surprised, don't watch it. Just go out and rent it. Immediately!



Don't you just love the words in this? And aren't they unbelievably true?

They say they built the train tracks over the Alps between Vienna and Venice before there was a train that could make the trip. They built it anyway; they knew one day the train would come.
Any arbitrary turning along the way, and I would be elsewhere, I would be different.

Unthinkably good things can happen, even late in the game; it's such a surprise.

8 comments:

lisahgolden said...

I love those lines at the end. And aren't Iwanski and Miss HP the kind of people you'd love to just hang with?

Maureen said...

I definitely agree with the not looking for a mate thing. It's how I found mine!

Miss Healthypants said...

Aww, thanks for the shout out and the kind words!--and thanks to Lisa for her kind words, too! *smiles*

I do agree about the not looking for a mate thing, too--I was not at all interested in having a boyfriend when I met my wonderful hubby. :)

Jason, as himself said...

Finally, a movie that I have seen, and loved. The quote about the arbitrary turning along the way---really hitting home here!

Thank you for the lovely mention. I appreciate that you found my words to be meaningful. You never know when something you say is going to make someone else think.

shrink on the couch said...

I loved this movie. Haven't read the book. Should I?

dianne said...

I love those words and I loved the film ... xo ♡

dianne said...

By the way, such a great post Holly. xo ♡

Bee said...

I have this book on my shelf; I think you've just inspired me to read it! It's funny, those thoughts about constructing something before you actually figure out the entrances/exits. Recently, (I can't remember where), I read that a person should figure out where she wants to be FIRST and then make the rest of it happen. Sadly, most of us live in a place because we've always lived there . . . or because a job moves us there. So rare is the actual choosing.

And on the subject of happiness: I recently went to a friend's 50th, and she was so HAPPY. (She's not noted for that particular emotion. She said that she had just decided to BE that way.)

(I'm not sure if this comment makes sense at all; blame the jet lag; but this film excerpt is definitely swoon-worthy.)