(I am going to “somewhat” talk about the movie, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - which is now alongside my all-time favorites!)
The right response to loss, according to the film, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is acceptance rather than denial. Mike, the tugboat captain, says, “You can be as mad as a dog at the ways things went, you can swear and curse the fates, but when it comes to the end, you have to let go.”
Benjamin’s mother always told him, “You never know what’s coming.” Given the unpredictability of his life, he learns to appreciate life as a series of valuable moments, each to be cherished. Because he was not expected to live long, Benjamin grew up with the expectation that each day might be his last and therefore saw each day as a gift. Though he lived his life backwards, important moments—like his first steps, his first kiss and the birth of his first child—are no less special and meaningful.
By observing The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, the film helped me further appreciate life as it is: a series of precious moments—often unexpected, sometimes sorrowful and occasionally nearly perfect—which are fleeting, but are also gifts to be cherished.
P.S. If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.
