Through Night and Day - the not so popular lessons I learned

source:  www.imdb.com

Recently, the 2018 movie Through Night and Day suddenly made noises.   The movie stars Alessandra de Rossi and Paolo Contis who played Jen and Ben.  They were childhood best friends turned into boyfriend and girlfriend to almost husband and wife.  Their relationship was tested when the couple after their engagement traveled to Iceland to witness the aurora borealis as Jen has been wanting to see the aurora borealis saying that once she sees it she can actually die.  It was also in Iceland where they ended their relationship.  Fast forward after three years, Ben moved on and was about to get married in the New York where he originally wanted to settle with Jen.  Planning to move permanently to New York, Ben went back home to Baguio to sell all their properties.  Ben learned that Jen suffered from brain tumor and had brain surgery leaving her bald.  It was also revealed that the change in her behavior during the Iceland trip was due to her sickness.  Ben spent some time with Jen until the last sunset together where Jen died in the arms of Ben while watching the sunset after forgiving each other.

Since 2018, a lot of reviews and blogs have been made about the real life lessons or takeaway from Through Night and Day.  Let me share with you about the not so popular lessons I learned from this movie.

One-bag travel

1.  Travel Light.  Whether you are a solo traveler, couple or family traveler, always remember to travel light.  Carrying a lot of things burdens the one who carries it (especially boyfriends/husbands).  It adds pressure to a supposedly pleasure trip.  When traveling, always bring what is really necessary.  In life, we also can relate to traveling light.  If we keep on adding up unnecessary things in our life, it adds up our burdens thereby adding up pressure to our life.

Grateful journal

2. Journal.  The good old journal will never fail you.  It is a collection of memory and emotions written in a notebook.  Like in the movie, Jen collected memories through her journals.  She did not only write but also put ephemeral, memorabilia and photos that recorded their lives together even after the breakup.   Make your journaling creative and unique.   The possibilities are endless just like our daily adventures are.  

3. Carpe diem quam minimum credula postero.  Seize the day, and have little trust in the next one.  This was written by the Roman poet Horace.  When Ben and Jen traveled to Iceland, they made the most out of the moment, well most of the time at least.  When travelling with a loved one and enjoying every single moment, that is seizing the day!  It does not matter who likes the scenery or not, who enjoys the activity or not but the most important thing is that togetherness in being in that moment.  Those are precious moments that cannot be repeated, cannot be re-done, but will only be memories, which brings me to the next lesson.

endings could be beautiful beginnings

Camera is a must

4.  Do not forget to record moments.  If it weren't for Jen's documentation with cameras, go pro, instax, journaling, etc.,  Ben wouldn't have things to look back to after Jen has  gone.  Today would only be a memory tomorrow, record the moments so that there will be a lot of things to remember and review tangibly in the future.  When traveling, it is really essential to have at least a mobile with camera  to capture each moment but if you are able to bring those DSLRs, why not?

5.  Of burning bridges and building walls.  After the breakup of Ben and Jen, they stopped communicating, even prevented their families to get connected but what happened the bridges they have burned were the same bridges they walked on again and the walls that they built had to be forcefully broken to bring closure to the old relationship.  I guess it is all about healing and forgiveness that give closure to a broken relationship.  It is not advisable to burn bridges and build walls after  a broken relationship because it will only bring forth more regrets and what ifs. Burning bridges and building walls are both temporary solutions to stop the hurt.  It is only through forgiveness and letting go that bring peace to a person after a broken relationship.  

burn bridge, build walls?

So, those are my five not so popular takeaway lessons from Through Night and Day movie.  Let me end this blog with my favorite lines from the song, I will be here sang by Jen and Ben, "If in the dark we lose sight of love, hold my hand and have no fear.  'Cause i will be here."

God bless everyone.