Looking At Maleficent Totally Different

On Monday, June 2nd, I was reminded of several important lessons in life while watching the new movie, “Maleficent” starring Angelina Jolie. I went to the theater with my daughter, Alyssa, and my mother. The theater was almost empty, so not only were we able to choose any seat in the whole place, but we didn’t have to worry about interrupting anyone if we decided to speak to each other.

So in an empty theater, we started our viewing pleasure with a billion previews of movies to come. Maybe there were not literally a “billion” previews, but there sure were a bunch of them!

Do you know what “maleficent” means?

Definition of Maleficent: causing or capable of producing evil or mischief; harmful or baleful

I grew up watching Disney’s cartoon animated version of “Sleeping Beauty” which steers the viewer to see Maleficent as an evil woman without just cause to be evil. The new movie with Angelina Jolie has me looking at Maleficent totally different. Actually, watching the movie with my sweet daughter and mother reminded me of five very important life lessons.

5 Important Life Lessons

My “Maleficent” movie adventure reminded me that:

1. If you don’t take the time to learn someone’s backstory, your view of them, their actions and their life will be incorrect.
   

   Definition of backstory: a story that tells what led up to the main story or plot; a person’s past

2. Forcing your judgement on another person robs you of a closer relationship with them because you assume a position of arrogance.
   

   Definition of arrogance: an insulting way of thinking or behaving that comes from believing that you are better, smarter, or more important than other people

3. Age is just a number that represents the amount of time you have physically spent on Earth and does not represent your maturity, wisdom, intelligence or the depth of your emotional commitment to an issue or relationship.

“There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.” ~ Sophia Loren ~


4. Relationships require nurturing which can’t be accomplished if you are selfish.
   

   Definition of selfish: having or showing concern only for yourself and not for the needs or feelings of other people

5. Love is the secret of life.
   

   Definition of love: a feeling of strong or constant affection for a person

Did we all enjoy the movie?

Oh yes!

Even more than the movie, I thoroughly enjoyed being with Alyssa and Mom. It’s the first time in a very long time that the three of us have gone to a movie together. I’m so grateful that I not only had the opportunity to enjoy the movie with both of them, but thankful that I have a mother and daughter that love me back. Thank you both for…well, thank you for everything.