Is Bedford Falls Where You are Meant to Be?

Every year during Christmas time I sit down with my family, and we watch our favorite holiday movies.? As we sit down with our Egg Nog and a glass of wine, we watch everything from “Elf”, “Christmas Vacation”, “Scrooged”, “The Holiday”, “The Grinch” and a multitude of others.

We save “A Wonderful Life” for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day every year.? It is a timeless piece and every year it seems to resonate with us.? The film was made in 1946 and it still somehow it still hits home.

The story is beautiful.? A son of a Savings and Loan Banker who so desperately wants to do something different with his life.? He wants to see the world, meet new people and do most importantly, leave Bedford Falls- the town where he grew up.

He met the love of his life in Bedford.? He tried to get away for a honeymoon and the market crashed and he could never leave.? He sacrificed his own life to make sure his brother had an opportunity to go to college.?

Not a day passed in George Bailey’s life when he didn’t desire something MORE.? He always felt like he got the short end of the stick.

You know, at times I have felt like George Bailey.? You see, I grew up in Austin.? I have lived here since 1973 and have seen so many changes to Austin that it simply isn’t the city where I grew up anymore.? I left Austin for 4 years and went to college in Mississippi and promptly came back to Austin upon graduating in 1995.?

I have been here ever since.

At times this past year, I have found myself daydreaming of “what’s next” as my wife and I have two kids- 1 of which will be a high school senior next year and the other will be entering high school next year.? I have thought about how exciting it would be to have a change.

Those feelings are fleeting though.? When I start thinking about it for a minute- I realize that leaving Austin may not be what is in our best interest.

The one thing about getting older, is that you realize how much you love your relationships, and you realize that the most important thing in life is the people around you.? The ones that love you.

You see, one thing that I have is family.? A living father, a living mother, a loving wife, 2 kids, a brother, a nephew and niece and a sister-in-law.? We all live in Austin.? ?

All of us.? We may not have this forever, but today- we do.?

We have everything we need and more.? We are surrounded by people that love us.?

As we approach 2025 and you are seeking something new.? Something exciting.? ??Sometimes these things you are trying to change are necessary.? Sometimes they are warranted.?

Sometimes the answer is not now.?

Sometimes the answer is for the future.

Sometimes the answer is that you have the best darn thing in front of you.?

You are doing what you are meant to be doing.? You are meant to be in your “Bedford Falls”, just like George Bailey was meant to be there.

I challenge you to think about your situation in life.? If you are discouraged about what you don’t have- take a minute to think about what you do have.? Think about how you have impacted others in your life.?

The one thing I pray to God for everyday is for another day.? You are promised today, but who knows what will happen tomorrow.

Smile.

Laugh.

Love one another.

Have the best darn day in your “Bedford Falls” today.? It may be EXACTLY where you are meant to be and you are doing EXACTLY what you are supposed to be doing with your life.?

Don’t daydream your life away when it is right in front of you.