 |
| Photo from Disney.com. |
The kids and I went to see “Inside Out” on rainy Friday night. I decided to take them after a busy week because we like seeing movies in the theater, but I’m picky about which ones I let them see.
I didn’t expect to spend the movie reflecting on my one word for the year. {Read more JOY posts.}
Joy is actually the name of one of the characters. There’s also Sadness, Disgust, Anger, and Fear. They help make 11-year-old Riley’s memories, feelings, thoughts, and personality.
The movie has adventure as Joy and Sadness try to get back to Headquarters. (Get it? HEADquarters …) There’s also story lines about friendship, family and change. The ultimate message was probably a little lost on 5-year-old Ben, but 8-year-old Cate understood it.
She summed it up when she whispered to me toward the end: “Joy is still there with Sadness.”
Joy spends most of the movie trying to make all Riley’s memories happy. But happiness is fleeting; joy is lasting. That’s what Sadness teaches Joy – and that’s what I’ve been learning the last few years.
Sadness – and the other emotions – has a place in life, but it doesn’t define our lives. No 11-year-old girl who loves hockey is going to be 100% thrilled to move her life from Minnesota to San Francisco (like the movie plot). Substitute whatever sadness you’ve experienced. I thought about people I miss, words I wished I said and the ones I should have kept inside, friendships that have changed, and the birth moms who have built our family while experiencing sadness of their own.
In the vault of my memories, some would be blue, signifying sadness, but there is still joy. This world has death, grief, sickness, conflict, and fractured relationships. But through it all joy can remain.
From the inside out, we can be changed when we choose joy. {Tweet that.}
And speaking of #choosingJOY, here are some joys from my ongoing list :: 304. Reading first thing in the morning. 305. Yard sales on Friday! 306. … And 20-cent chapter books for Cate. 307. Grilling out three nights in a row. … 310. My kids are using the plastic lids from their popcorn chicken containers from Walmart’s deli as boats in the bathtub. Whatever works. … 312. Good mail on a day I’ve been feeling melancholy. … 314. The four of us hanging out at the lake. 315. Missing my two best local friends while they’re both out of town – so grateful for these friends and the way we do life together. 316. Home study visit done and it went well! 317. People in the community being excited for our adoption with us. … 319. Hot afternoons at the pool. 320. Playing Settlers of Catan until after midnight at the lake. 321. Having a party at the lake house even though we still aren’t “done” getting it together. 322. Shelter Point Retreat! A name for the lake house! 323. Watching Cate at horse riding lessons. 324. Cate’s excitement about church camp. …329. Soda tasting.
I’d love for my #ThreeWordWednesday friends – and any friends! – to join me in sharing joys on social media by using #choosingJOY. Instagram is my favorite place to share, but I’m on Facebook and Twitter too.
Learn more about “Inside Out” at its website, Focus on the Family’s Plugged In, and IMDb.com.
I’m also linking up with Mary Carver for Works for Me Wednesday because (surprise!) kids’ movies can work for me.
Want more insights? “Peace in the Process: How Adoption Built My Faith & My Family” is available on Amazon. Like me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter, peek into my life on Instagram, follow 152 Insights at Bloglovin’, or subscribe to receive “Insights in Your Inbox.”
My kids saw this movie – but I haven't yet. I can't wait. What a BRILLIANT premiss. And I loved your reflection. Joy can be present with sadness, but I need reminding of that… often. Great words- thank you!
Kristin, I love when we can learn right in the midst of our children's activities. Wonderful post!
Happiness is fleeing; joy is lasting…at 30 years old, I am just starting to understand this. People, food, books, and so many other things can make me feel happy, but joy, I can't get that from wordly things. I haven't seen this movie, but it sounds like a great one for both kids and adults. Thanks for the encouragement to seek JOY!
I love when God messages show through in movies! Was this a faith-based movie? I want to see it! #choosingJOY YES, LORD!
We saw this movie this weekend also, and I sat there writing 10 different blog posts in my head 🙂 But my top one would have been exactly what you captured: Joy and sadness coexist. Love your take on this! Hadn't realized "joy" was your word for the year, but I'm not surprised.
I just love the way Cate summed it up. Absolutely lovely! And you know I love your JOY journey. I love YOU! xoxo
Oooohhh….I want to see this movie! Trying to hold out for it on DVD! Come quickly!
It's a good one, Bethany! Y'all will enjoy it!
I loved when she said that too, Beth! So glad to see you linked up today! Whoo-hoo! 🙂 Love you, friend. xoxo
Isn't that fun when the blog post ideas abound?! I feel like when I read books too. Thinking and learning about JOY this year has rocked my world – in a good, life-changing way. It's been neat to see God work through it. So glad you're here, Christi!
It wasn't officially a faith-based movie. It's a Disney/Pixar movie, but I am glad to see a movie with such a wonderful message doing so well in the theaters!
Understanding happiness versus joy is such a process. I feel like it's been such a part of my journey the last few years – and it overflows into so many other concepts. I definitely went to see the movie for my kids, but I'm glad I did! 🙂 I'm glad you're here, Laura.
Yes, me too! Surprise life lessons right there in the middle of entertainment are always such blessings.
Thank you, Karen! I hope you get to see it soon. 🙂
I didn't jump in today (I'm at the beach!) but I did read this and loved your take on the movie. My 19 year old saw it over the weekend and loved it, she assures me I must see it too. I am just now getting that you are numbering your joy things in your posts (duh), patterned after Ann V. I'm supposing! Choosing joy since May 2014 has made a huge impact on my life!
Hey – great, you picked a name for the Lakehouse! Yay!
Oh, so I must use this as the reason to see the movie (no kiddos at the house any more….), so thank you!
I'm so glad you read and commented from the beach! Yeah, I'm just keeping a list of joys on my phone and numbering them for organization sake. 🙂 And thanks for your comment on the lake house name. Have a great vacation!
No kids needed – go see the movie. 🙂 Enjoy it!
I was just today telling my cousin how much I want to see this movie. I have a friend who always talks about the *committee in her head* – those voices that clamor for attention from us. The accompanying tangled emotions. And it sounds like this movie captures that idea. I love the ending *lesson* that your daughter summed up, "Joy is still there with Sadness." Oh yes. Last year my word was JOY, and the year was only 6 days old when my dad fell badly, and then died 10 days later. In the end, as I looked back, I found out that God had not necessarily given me joy (happy feelings), but He had taught it to me – that indeed it rises above circumstances, for it is based in forever.
GOD BLESS!
I loved this movie SO much… It was so deep. So much more depth than I expected… Absolutely beautiful…
I can't wait to see this movie! I've only heard amazing things about it! As for joy and sadness, your post is making me think about how the two are connected. Of course, I haven't seen the movie to know what it says, but I wonder…can we have true joy without ever experiencing sadness? Do we need one to have the other? I know that's not exactly what you are saying here, and I'm not sure it's what I believe. Just what I'm thinking about…
What a wonderful movie review. I wish my kids were smaller, so I'd have a good excuse to go:) Maybe I'll have to just go by myself – there's joy in that, too!
You should go. 🙂
YES! Joy and sadness are connected – the movie does a really neat job of showing that through the two characters. I do think when there is sadness to the door to joy swings wide open because we've experienced both sides and know how they're intertwined. I'm hoping there's a chapter on this in your book … 🙂
Yes, much deeper than I expected too! Thanks for commenting, Misty!
Yes, the movie does capture that idea – and it does it so well. I love hearing about your joy journey, Sharon!
Hi Kristin – love your insights, love your writing style and we loved this movie too. I saw it with my two as a treat last Sunday night. I quite often have a little snooze during animated movies – kids are occupied, dark room, sitting down – no brainer – but with this movie we were all riveted – such a beautiful message, joy and sadness need each other, one enriches and gives meaning to the other. So good. Thank you !!
Thank YOU, Tracey!