My Oxford Year Movie: When the present is all you have

The Netflix movie My Oxford year is about an ambitious American woman who got a scholarship in Oxford.  She had all it planned - with her notebook where her bucket list was written.  She even wanted to have a political career back home.   But life has different plans for her.  

My favorite quotes:

1. Just because something is fleeting, it is not meaningful.

2.  Every moment is an opportunity to learn, to grow, to change, and to make a difference.

3.  Sometimes the hardest lessons in life are the ones that bring the most growth.

4.  Life is not about avoiding pain.  It's about finding the things worth hurting for.

5. You can love someone and still let them go, if it means they'll fly higher.

This movie is not just a rom-com, it's about living life to the full, the courage to change your plans and get out of your comfort zone, and the bittersweet truth that some pages of your life is short BUT unforgettable.

Warning:  Tissue is needed when watching this movie.

The Life list

 

Here are the five lessons I learned from the movie the life list.

1. Self-love and self-kindness.  You have to love yourself first and loving you is being kind to you.  Nobody else will complete you, but yourself.

2. Everything in this world is ephemeral. Life is too short.  Everything is lasting for a short time - ephemeral.  So why not take appreciate every moment and live one day at a time.

3. Nobody is perfect (unless your name is perfect he he he!).  We all have flaws.  Let go of controlling yourself to reach perfection --- you cannot.

4. Family.  It's always family that you can get support from.  Tell them, inform your family about your life, don't hold grudges on them, lve them and cherish every moment with them.

5.  Search for what is important in life.  Focus on more meaningful relationships, experiences and opportunities to have  a more fulfilling life.

Lessons I have learned from teenagers

"When he was not yet my crush, I never noticed how often he would text me.  But now, when he stopped texting me, I suddenly had a crush on him and misses him.  It's okay, I HAVE MOVED ON."  These words were the coming from a 15-year-old daughter of a girl friend of mine.   How I wish I would have the same attitude as this teenager, wherein I can just easily move on and shrug off things after any hurts and untoward events in my life.  

I wondered how a teenager can easily say these words, "I have moved on."  I tried to look back to my teenager years, but due to memory gap (he he he) I barely remember most of my teenage years.  Remembering a few crazy things i have done during teenage years, I realized life was less complicated then.   I only wanted to be an adult when I was a child but now, I am an adult, I am learning from the teenagers :)  I remember only playing dolls and robots (yeah I did, my brother was a Voltes V addict) and never worrying about any pains or hurts except the physical pain that I might get from playing.  Life as a teenager then was so easy.

Now, as an adult, i learn from the young ones - teenagers who live a carefree life.  From them I learned...

1.  Do not make life complicated.  Stay cool.  Everything will come to pass.  Move on, it's easy!

   

2.  Be thankful, even for the broken heart. Yeah!

3.  Say what you mean and mean what you say.  Just like that.  No adds or subs.  Simply and plainly say it.

4.  Friends are important.  Take care of your relationships with your friends.

and lastly..... 

5.  Be T.A.N.G.A. T-otoo A-kong N-agmamahal sa’yo. G-aano man kasakit A-y titiisin ko. :)  Translated in English as sacrificial love.