The Way is a fabulous little story about family, friends and the challenges we face while navigating this ever-changing complicated world. Is there anyone in the whole world who couldn't relate to that? I don't think so.
Martin Sheen is an ophthalmologist that plays Dad. Emilio Estevez plays Martin's son (in the movie and in real life) that is studying to get his doctorate degree (Dad's way). Son then decides to give up on the doctorate and instead travel (Son's way, and, according to Dad, the wrong way). Dad knows Son is in Spain but no details. Son dies while walking the Camino de Santiago Trail, which starts in St. Jean de Port and finishes in Santiago de Compostela, some 780 km later. Son didn't make it very far before he died. Dad travels to Spain to collect the remains of deceased Son. Dad identifies the body and is then given Son's possessions, which is his backpack with the necessary items to make the trek. Dad decides to make the historical pilgrimage in honor of Son. Dad meets a Dutchman, a Canadian, and an Irishman. In the end, Dad has developed great new friendships and discovers there is a difference between the life we live and the life we choose.
If you want to know more, you will have to rent the movie. Great movie.
Lesson Learned: For many things in life, there is no right way. We all like to think our way is the right way. And maybe for ourselves, it is the right way. But one must be open and flexible, not rigid, when it comes to another way for another person. Sure, things like making the perfect pasta, cheesecake, etc., there may be a right way and a wrong way. But when it comes to a person's happiness and fulfillment in life, there is a way, or many ways, and that is not for others to judge.
Oh, wait, I forgot. A couple summers ago, my family was hiking the back country of Montana. He-who-shall-not-be-named, along with two of the nephews, were going to go ahead of everyone else. They were in superior shape to the others. They would hike out quickly and get the cars moved. When the rest of us made it out of the mountains, we could jump in the cars, get on the road, and get home early. He-who-shall-not-be-named said he didn't need a map; he knew the trails like the back of his hand. He-who-shall-not-be-named took a less desirable fork in the road. (I had to stop myself from saying the "wrong" fork.) So I guess if you finally make it to your destination three hours after the slowpokes, it would technically have to be classified as "a way."
Oh, yeah, and I forgot to tell you, the slowpokes hiked out and had no keys to the one car in the campground parking lot. And we had to go through the campground begging for water and a cold beer. And we didn't have any food. And we didn't know if the three of them were dead or alive or where they might be. And we were just getting ready to ask the ranger to start a search when they got out of some guy's truck. They ended up coming out 30 miles down the road, and some guy just happened to be heading "our way."
Life is not the way it's supposed to be. It's the way it is. The way you deal with it is what makes the difference." ~Virginia Satir
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