A message for today from 'White Christmas'

*This blog was discussed in our FreeAgentUnderground Show today, you can hear it in entirely by clicking the audio link at the bottom of this post.

"White Christmas" is a classic Christmas movie that I own and watch every Christmas season along with "It's a Wonderful Life" (my favorite). I was watching the other night and keyed in on a quick exchange between the two leading characters, Bob and Phil.

It's a profound banter about putting off what's really important.

In the scene, Phil is irritated at Bob's focus on work and fame and his lack of effort put into relationships. Here's how it goes, and the point culminates in the last line that Phil rattles off:

Bob
Will you leave me alone?

Phil
No.

Bob
Why not?

Phil
Because you're a miserable, lonely, unhappy man.

Bob

You're wacky. I'm a very happy man.

Phil
Well then you're happy for the wrong reasons and that's the same as being lonely and miserable except it's worse.

Bob
You know, you're off your nut about a mile and a half, I got everything in life I want.

Phil
Except the most important thing…a girl.

Bob
Well…I'll get around to that one of these days.

Phil
My dear partner, when what's left of you gets around to what's left to be gotten, what's left to be gotten won't be worth getting whatever it is you've got left.

What first got me was Phil's quip about Bob being happy for the wrong reasons. What did Bob base his happiness on? He says he has everything in life he wants. And in the movie, I admit I appreciate that he is a successful free agent! He does what he loves (singing and dancing), he brings joy to others, and he's well off financially. But I can see Phil looking into the future. Someday Bob will likely lament nobody to share his life with, thus Phil's perspective.

So...what is your happiness based on today? Comfort and security, or purpose and meaning?

Then the last line is a doozy. You might read it again (I had to). Are you putting off a life you feel gnawing at you? If so, how long will you?

You have a core purpose made up of your cares, passions, joys, dreams, strengths, abilities, talent and more. For you to live a life of real consequence, you need to be fully engaged in all of these for the majority of the hours of your days. As 'work' takes up the best of your days and energy, you must be fulfilling your purpose in your work. And to fully fulfill all those aspects, my experience is that it's immensely hard as an employee, as no company can be committed to your purpose, but only to theirs.

So...how long will you put it off? If you wait till you're old, tired and retired, we won't get your best. We need it now.

Read this line again again, let it sink in:

"When what's left of you gets around to what's left to be gotten, what's left to be gotten won't be worth getting whatever it is you've got left."

Things won't get better. You have to make them better.

Merry Christmas!
Agent Kevin Miller

 

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Comments

[Tiana Krenz]

I love that movie, Kevin! It really is about balance, isn't it? Ideally, your family and your career ought fit together, right? So few people are able to make that work these days.

Great Post!

[Vicki]

I love that movie!

I agree -- don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today.

I disagree that "If you wait till you're old, tired and retired, we won't get your best."

Not to nitpick, but I can think of at least a few examples off the top of my head of people who didn't really blossom until their "golden years". I don't think it's over for you when you reach any particular age.

Frank McCourt leaps to mind -- a retired schoolteacher who launched a career as a bestselling writer in his sixties. Who knows if he would have had as much to write about, or as rich a viewpoint, if he had written "Angela's Ashes" in his thirties?

It's best to not put off your dreams, but it's also never too late to pursue them...

[Jill]

I don't mean to nitpick myself, but in the job I currently have, I'm surrounded by those who are approaching 'old, tired and retired'. Many have great dreams of what they plan to do 'when they retire'. Last year, a couple of them died shortly after retiring. Another had a massive heart attack & stroke a month before her retirement, which she kept postponing. These examples are extreme cases. Of course, there are those who simply can't afford to retire.

Yes, there are plenty of people who blossomed during their golden years and I heartily applaud them and their successes. I just don't want to wait to do the same.

[Sarah Cook @RaisingCEOKids]

Thanks Kevin for the reminder of not putting off the life that has been gnawing at me. I believe that I am on my way. I love that being able to listen to the Spirit has helped me in the right direction.

[Teri Miller]

Wow. Never caught that line. Makes me wince. And makes me think about our kids...and how I tend to keep putting off things for them. "oh, we'll get violin lessons for Eliza one of these days...and Ian can take piano someday when we have more time...classes at the high school for the big kids? what a hassle...maybe we'll get to it next year..."
But.
If I don't get on it, I'll miss it. Will be too late. Right now, my life is my children. Gotta stop putting off their lives (which is my life) because its hard or a hassle or I can't fit it in between laundry loads or housework or cooking or bills & budgeting. There are more important things to do in life than file my bills!!!
Thanks for the reminder, love. Priorities. So hard to keep them straight in the midst of busy family life. Gotta go start getting what needs to be got before its too late to get it!

[Kevin Miller]

Tiana - family and career. Personal and business. Yeah, I never saw a
distinction, as I was blessed to grow up in a home where it was all
just...life. It used to be this say, back on the farm. It's when we gave
up the farm to go work at the factory that we shut off our humanity to
pull a lever. We're still suffering from that. But...it can be cured!

[Kevin Miller]

Vicki - The average person begins their 'legacy' work in their 50s, and
yes, more and more examples of folks who didn't come to fruition till
much later. And they give credit to the years of experience. But I
haven't experienced any who were glad they waited...most wish they'd
have gotten to it earlier to produce more and greater. That quote of
folks on their death bed regretting not what they did, but what the
didn't do...haunts me. I don't believe I'm here to create my own little
heaven on earth, but to inspire others to seek heaven. And I can't
justify putting it off, not for a moment!

[Kevin Miller]

Jill - Amen, and amen. Thank you.