You Can't Take It With You
Whenever you need a reminder about the meaning of life (to have fun!), watch “You Can’t Take It With You,” the 1938 Frank Capra film based on the Pulitzer Prize winning play written by George S. Kaufman.
I couldn’t one night so I stayed up and watched it.
I was more than pleasantly surprised.
Rarely does an old black and white movie move me to tears.
I was engrossed with the talent and authenticity of the actors.
And the intelligence of the dialogue.
I loved all the characters, especially Grandpa Vanderhof AND Mr. Kirby. But it was Mr. Kirby who brought me to tears when he realized that he had all the money in the world but no real friends.
Grandpa Vanderhof, on the other hands, walked away from a big successful career. Rode down the elevator one day and never went back.
Instead, he runs created this zany household filled with laughter and love, encouraging people to be themselves and follow their dreams. They weren’t rich, but they were happy.
The Kirby’s on the other hand, were rich and miserable.
Now, I don’t think that the movie (play) is trying to say that to have a lot of money means you’ll have a lot of unhappiness.
For me, the whole point of the story is to live your life having fun.
In one scene (my favorite scene), Grandpa Vanderhof approaches a man who is using an adding machine to count numbers. It certainly looks like the most boring job ever.
Grandpa Vanderhof approaches the man and says, “Are you having fun?”
It turns out the man is a creative inventor, ahead of his time. Mr. Vanderhof’s commitment that people enjoy themselves and follow their passion is larger than anything else. He invites the man to come and live with his small clan of dreamers. Oddly enough, the man follows and his whole world comes to life when he begins living in the Vanderhof home.
The Effect This Movie Had On Me…
In MY quest for success, I am sometimes prone to forfeit friends and fun, even time with my children. And it’s true what they say. Before you know it, it’s too late. They’re already off doing their own thing and you can’t seem to get them back.
I know that’s probably not true. I’m a good mother who always spent a lot of time with her kids…and yet…I have had bouts of working too hard too much too often. For what? It almost never worth the sacrifice.
The other day as I sit there writing a sales letter for a client, I thought, gee, instead of this being a grueling process that I get obsessed and compulsive about while neglecting all other aspects of my life (such as cooking dinner, taking breaks, exercising, spending time with friends), why not make this a fun process?
Is it possible that writing this letter could be fun? And how much more successful would this letter be if I had fun writing it? Wouldn’t that mean the energy would be at a higher vibration and as a result, it would sell more for my client?
Wow, what a concept! Actually having fun working!
Thanks Mr. Vanderoff, who says in the movie, “Why do it if it’s not fun?”
