Living a Better Story

This is my only New Year’s resolution: to live and believe a better story. About and for myself; about and for others. I watched Donald Miller’s “Let Story Guide You” DVD this morning (he also has a perfect blog post up today) and was reminded again of the power of story. Story proves our need for process over results.

Think about it; you could tell someone that the movie Life is Beautiful is about how one man uses humor to protect his son during their time in a Nazi prison camp in Italy. But that summary is no comparison to the actual experience of watching the film and feeling the tears hot on your cheeks at the tragically triumphant end. The end, of course, being nothing without the charming beginning and the romantic middle. It takes the whole story, the entire 120 minutes. And the joy isn’t in reading the quoted critical acclaim from the back of the case; the joy is in watching the movie itself, experiencing its life. Its beautiful life.

So here’s to living a better story this year. Seeing every decision, relationship, or assignment as a square on the storyboard of my life. Here’s to seeing beauty in the tragedy and purpose in the games. Here’s to valuing the process over the result. As they say in another wonderful story, “Lechaim!”

6 Responses to “Living a Better Story”

1. Katie says:

   January 1, 2010 at 1:55 pm

   I love this resolution. I think I’ll join you. And what a precious photo!!

   Reply
2. Kathy Nickerson says:

   January 1, 2010 at 10:23 pm

   Great photo. Great movie. Great life!

   Reply
3. WidneyWoman says:

   January 2, 2010 at 12:20 am

   Love the pic! Happy New Year!!

   Reply
4. Cheri' White says:

   January 2, 2010 at 12:31 am

   What a darling picture! What a great post!

   Reply
5. Serenity says:

   January 2, 2010 at 11:05 pm

   I’m so glad you posted a New Year’s sort of post. I stretched this holiday out more than usual, saving our sparkling grape juice toast for last night and my first of the year journal writing for today. And now I’m ending the evening by reading this, and it’s such an inspiring post. Happy New Year! I’m so full of hope for it.

   Reply
6. Valerie says:

   January 5, 2010 at 3:34 pm

   This is one of the most adorable pictures I have ever seen! Great picture. Great post.

   Reply