A Little Spirited Romp
Photo by Aleksandra Tanasiienko on Unsplash
Christmas is right around the corner, 5 days to be exact, and I thought this would be a nice opportunity to bring this blog some Christmas spirit.
Recently, I watched Spirited on Apple+. *Sidenote* I am a huge fan of Ryan Reynolds’ work, football team included (go Wrexham AFC!). And while it was a fun movie to watch, it was yet another remake of Charles Dicken’s classic novel A Christmas Carol, albeit an entertainingly cheeky one.
Various renditions of A Christmas Carol are some of my hubby and my’s favorite movies. In fact, we watch them throughout the year because we’re those type of people. Can we say Christmas music in June???
We enjoy the 1984 George C. Scott version, as well as the 1992 The Muppet Christmas Carol, the 1992 animated version featuring the voice talent of Jim Carrey and the 1983 animated version called Mickey’s Christmas Carol.
If you aren’t familiar with A Christmas Carol, *Spoiler Alert* it follows the story of Mr. Ebenezer Scrooge, a rich but miserly old man who loves no one and nothing, except for money. On Christmas Eve, he’s visited by 3 spirits, the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future. Over night, he learns how important it is to love and to have love in one’s life. He wakes up on Christmas morning with a new lease on life and joy and love to share.
Which begs the question, why does Dicken’s classic change of heart story continue to resonate?
Besides being delightfully British, I imagine that this story speaks to a hopeful place in our hearts. The idea that there is always a chance for redemption, no matter how far gone a person appears to be. This gives us hope. Hope for ourselves, for our loved ones and those that we have the empathy to hope for. It reminds us that during our journey to achieve our goals, we should never lose track of the things that are truly important in life, love, family, joy and a spirit of giving. All the ingredients that make Christmas the most wonderful time of the year…well, that and gingerbread and mulled wine.
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!
