A Christmas Wish

One of the most interesting outcomes that emerged from the inaugural Show a Little Heart video competition was how these young filmmakers were able to successfully tackle complex emotional issues.

The competition was devised by Heart to Home Meals for young adults to explore relationships and influences of older people.

Looking at the videos it is hard not to be impressed with the compassion and love captured in these short stories.

Two of note offer a similar message: how much we can learn from each other and why we should cherish the time we have with loved ones. What makes them so fascinating is that while the conclusion is similar, they begin their stories at the opposite ends of the life cycle.

The first is called “Balloon” and centres on a toddler and his grandfather.  At the start of the video the child is consumed with what ever is grabbing his attention. The relationship appears to be about what the old man can do to keep the child happy. Most of the interactions are mundane and fleeting but the video suggests they are also moments that could have a lasting impact on the child and his grandfather. Their expressions of happiness are different but both are genuine.

When you watch “Happiest Time of My Life” you are quickly aware of how the woman who is the focus of the video misses her spouse. The person she called her perfect partner.  She reminisces about how their decades together were made up of many special moments that may seem unexceptional. Playing board games or sharing a love of books written by Ray Bradbury allowed them to grow together.

At the conclusion of the video the woman tells us there is not a day goes by that she does not miss her husband. Her voice can be heard as we see video of her going out to shovel the snow off her path…a routine task that must now be done on her own is made a little easier by the everlasting shared experiences with her husband.

Towards the end of Balloon we see video of the young boy sleeping.  That is when the filmmaker delivers her message. The look of contentment from the sleeping boy is inter cut with video of what he may be dreaming about:  playing soccer with his grandfather. This is a joyful occasion for both of them. You see one learning how to run properly while the other is employing all his efforts to keep up with the energetic child. It is an instant that has an everlasting impact on both of them.

The videos remind us that lasting memories are built from brief shared moments that should be savoured.

Positive interactions no matter how brief can make someone’s day – and those type of experiences can shape our attitude more than we are aware.

Both videos are a reminder, particularly at this time of year, about the need to know our priorities. The Holiday period can be filled with unimportant urgency.  Some people seem to be in perpetual overdrive mode.

Is this necessary?

Maybe this year we should try to build lasting memories by taking time to dwell on all the moments that lead towards Christmas and not just the day itself.

Whether you are getting set to enter your second century or marking a child’s first Christmas all of us can benefit from a period of reflection. 

The message from “Balloon” and “Happiest Time of My Life” centres on the importance of cherishing the time we spend with our loved ones.

This is true not just during the holiday period but every day of the year.

From all of us at Heart to Home Meals, we would like to wish you a safe and happy holiday season. 

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