You know what your problem is, it’s that you haven’t seen enough movies – all of life’s riddles are answered in the movies. Steve MartinEvery year, when the Oscars roll around, I look at the list of nominated movies and mentally count how many I’ve seen. Unfortunately, the number is always pretty low. Out of this year’s nine nominated movies for “Best Picture,” I saw three. It’s a darn shame.
When I was preparing for the ten weeks of disability I’d need after my mastectomy and TRAM flap reconstruction surgery, I tried to focus on the opportunity of forced inactivity. With nowhere to go and no ability to work, what would I do with all of that time? Watching movies sprung to mind immediately.
I prepared by setting up my Netflix queue with lots of movies I wanted to see and upped my subscription to two movies at a time to keep them coming. It was a special thrill to realize I could watch whatever I wanted. Girly movie? No problem, this was my private showing so I didn’t have to negotiate with my husband about what “we” wanted to see. For someone who couldn’t stand up straight and was supposed to be resting, it encouraged me to relax and enjoy the downtime.
Setting up a comfortable space to watch my movies was also important. I made sure I got yet another tutorial from my teenagers on how to work the DVD player. Our sectional sofa made it easy to sit with my feet up. On the sofa, I made sure to have warm throws and extra pillows in place for comfort.
Relaxing and watching those movies was a gift I gave myself during those difficult weeks of healing. It strikes me that I shouldn’t have to wait for a surgery to do again.
Last December, I posted my “Best Christmas Movies Collection.” After three prior difficult holiday seasons, I was ready to relax and enjoy the magic of movies. Watching the Oscars last Sunday encouraged me to get back into the habit. I’ll be checking out Amazon’s “Oscar Central” site for all of the movies I missed and doing my best to catch up. (Amazon associates site.)
The thing I struggle with the most on a daily basis is knowing when to stop and relax. Using my nest as a workspace doesn’t help because boundaries become fuzzy at best. That’s why it’s important to build cues into the nest that encourage you to take advantage of downtime. For me, the memory of sitting all by myself on a Tuesday morning and watching a great movie reminds me that “life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” Ferris Bueller
Did you miss seeing any great movies this year? If so, order a movie, pull up a chair and give in to the journey. You’ll be glad you did.
Survival > Existence,
Debbie
Where We Go Now 
Comments
Usually I do watch the Oscars
Usually I do watch the Oscars. It was something I always used to do with my mom. She loved them. This year I was stuck in an airport trying to get home, so I saw none of the show. I’m not even sure exactly what movies were nominated this year, much less what movie won. So unlike me! I’ll catch up eventually. Generally, I do try to see all the movies that made the cut. It’s another way I remember my mom and still “share” with her. She loved movies and so do I. Thanks for the post and reminder!
Enjoy Catching Up On All The Great Movies
Hi Nancy:
I know February was a tough month for you. Maybe this month you can slow down and take some time to watch a few movies. It’s a good way to reconnect with yourself and share with your mom. Enjoy!
Survival > Existence,
Debbie
Saw your video!
Just saw your video on DailyRecord.com and you were awesome! So nice to hear your voice and story. 😉
Thank You!!
Renn:
Thank you so much! It’s nice to be seen and heard!
Survival > Existence,
Debbie
LOVED this post so much –
LOVED this post so much – thanks for giving me permission to relax – I really identify with your comment “The thing I struggle with the most on a daily basis is knowing when to stop and relax.” I am learning so much from you Debbie 🙂
Always Racing Against the Clock
Marie:
Every day I struggle with the race against the clock. I guess I should be smarter and realize I’m never going to win and give myself a break, but that’s not easy for me to do. I’ll be working on that this weekend for sure. Glad you loved the post. I’ve learned so much from you too!
Survival > Existence,
Debbie