Page 14 - The Connection Warren-Watchung Edition September 2012

PAGE 14 THE WARREN-WATCHUNG CONNECTION SEPTEMBER 2012
WARREN COUNTRY
FLORIST
CALL NOW TO GET STARTED
ON YOUR WEEKLY BOUQUET PROGRAM.
$25.00 Per Week (plus tax), Billed Monthly
908.757.1100
164 Washington Valley Rd. Ext. • Warren, NJ
WARRENCOUNTRYFLORIST.COM
YOU DESERVE IT!
Support your hometown business
and add beauty to your life.
No messy arranging owers from
the supermarket, cleaning week old vases,
or remembering to place an order.
It’s a win-win situation!
Look good, feel good . . .
you will, we promise!
THE
“FEEL GOOD”
BOUQUET
A fresh, seasonal arrangement
delivered to your home
or business every week.
On January 7, 1947, almost a decade prior
to my birth, “Its A Wonderful Life,” produced
by Frank Capra was released. Even with its
age, its recognition as a classic is profound.
Jimmy Stewart played George Bailey, the main
character, and it was his character that signif-
icantly touches the lives of each and every
person in his little town called Bedford Falls.
The story line left me and I’m sure many
others reflecting upon its meaning and its
affect in our own personal lives. I can’t even
recall on two hands how many times I
watched it. But I do remember that during
each viewing I was so certain that my life had
such great meaning and that life in itself was
the greatest gift of all.
Obviously if I am taking the time out to
write about this subject then it would be quite
apparent that I am recommending you watch
it as well, if you haven’t done so already. In a
nutshell, the story goes as follows...
George Bailey, a kind and generous man,
has given so much of himself that he neglects
his own needs and desires. One of his wishes,
aside from the obvious one of needing more
quality time with his family was to travel, but
this fantasy continuously gets interrupted due
to his work ethics and commitment to his
inherited and modest building and loan com-
pany. This opportunity was given to him by his
kind father, whom he respectively did not
want to disappoint.
The biggest competition George encoun-
ters is protecting his business from falling prey
to Mr. Potter, a wealthy, scrooge-like character
that is motivated to take over the town of
Bedford Falls. Due to a serious error made by
his uncle Billy, on Christmas Eve, George finds
himself and the business in jeopardy. Billy had
meant to deposit $8,000 into the bank, and
then loses it. Ironically Mr. Potter finds it and
unsurprisingly withholds it knowing that it just
gave him even more power, enough power so
to see George’s business collapse and further
legal ramifications if the money is not
returned to the bank before the bank examin-
er notices it missing. Now Potter finally has
the power to take over the town, but what
devastates George more is the effect of these
consequences on his wife and children.
George begins to believe that suicide is a
way out and he truly was better off dead
under these circumstances. With that thought
he attempts suicide, but is interrupted by an
angel named Clarence who guides him
through a lesson of what life might be like in
Bedford Falls without George Bailey. This jour-
ney becomes mutually beneficial because if
Clarence can prove to George his self worth
then he can earn his wings.
In order for Clarence to earn his wings, he
had to show George Bailey how important his
life is because if George Bailey didn’t exist, his
brother would have drowned in the ice pond
and would have brought sorrow to many. If
George Bailey didn’t have life, he would not
have made the pharmacist aware of his mis-
take of prescribing the wrong medicine and a
life would have been lost that would have
brought more sorrow and pain into other lives
along with the pharmacist job and reputation
in jeopardy. George Bailey, you and me, and
our life, is so important to everyone else’s life.
The inspiring lesson that George learned
through this journey was that his sacrifices
created a life more meaningful, a “wonderful
life.” The beauty of giving made his dreams
that he thought were lost even more valuable.
And that his life was wonderful by being sur-
rounded by people that he had such an
impact on. Knowing his effect was a gift in
itself. There was a reason for failure, without
it life's course would be thrown off track.
In our own personal journey with life, and
as the sole driver, we must always remember
our influence, our importance to the people
around us. In life we have failures, adversity
and obstacles. You may lose money in retire-
ment/stock markets, lose your job, be diag-
nosed with a dreadful disease, get divorced or
become disabled. When these things happen,
while upsetting, it’s part of life, your life plan.
Total happiness and success does not arrive
without obstacles or failures. Rather than self
pity and anger, realize that you are a beautiful
person living a beautiful life in a beautiful
world. These obstacles and set backs are just
part of the journey. Accept that and always
know what your purpose is. Your purpose is
to be happy in this wonderful world. So I say
to you my friend, it’s a wonderful life! and lets
share it together.
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE
By: James Madalone
REMAX PREMIER, THE JAMES MADALONE REALTY GROUP
60 Mountain Blvd, Warren, NJ 07059 • Direct Office: 908-754-1587 • Cell: 908-963-8470
Email: jamestm6@hotmail.com • www.jamesmadalone.com
www.theconnectionsnj.com