The other day, I stumbled upon a 2019 series on Prime Video called Modern Love, which was inspired by essays in The New York Times. Each episode has different characters and a different story, but they are all about love and relationships. The title got me curious, so I decided to watch it. Here are some of the lessons from all the episodes:
Episode 1: Do not rush things. Take your time.
This episode tells the story of a girl who struggled to get a stable relationship despite being super intelligent. She would bring men home, but her doorman would always tell her they were not right for her, and he was always right. One day, she fell pregnant with a man who was not ready to be a father. She was conflicted about whether to keep the baby or not, but she did. She moved to another city and gave up on finding love.
However, that’s when she met the love of her life who was kind and supportive. When she came home after three years, the doorman told her that he was perfect for her because he saw contentment in her eyes. So, the lesson is to not rush things and take your time.
Episode 2: Mistakes are there to be made. Do not let them ruin something good because you cannot forgive.
This episode is about a couple who moved in together after falling in love at first sight. They had a lot in common and were ready to face life together. However, temptation hit, and the girl almost cheated on her boyfriend with her ex. She stopped halfway through, but her boyfriend left anyway. For two years, they lived without each other.
However, they reunited after a story about the guy’s startup journey got published in a magazine. Despite the mistake, the girl was honest about it, and they learned to forgive each other. The lesson here is that mistakes are part of life, but do not let them ruin something good.
Episode 3: Learn to trust people – it makes life easier.
This episode is about a lady who is bipolar. One day she is happy and full of energy, and the next day she cannot get out of bed. She meets people on her good days, but she cannot dare to trust them and be honest about who she is until she decides to take a leap of faith and tells a co-worker who turns out to be a good friend. Trusting people may not always lead to good outcomes, but it helps you learn and grow.
Episode 4: It is okay to be vulnerable and share your true feelings.
In this episode, a couple’s marriage is about to end because they were not open enough to be vulnerable and share their true feelings. The husband works and does not share anything about his work life with his wife because he thinks she would not understand. However, the wife wants to be involved and be part of her husband’s world. They find this out during dinner after their last therapy session, where they decide to speak up and be vulnerable. This leads them to fight for their marriage, and they succeed by speaking openly and listening to each other.
Episode 5: You cannot be everyone’s cup of coffee/tea.
It is okay if some people do not like you. This episode is about a girl who was obsessed with being attractive to everyone. She would manipulate people into liking her and pretend to be a nice person to gain their approval. However, this made her relationships miserable because who would want to be with someone so concerned about what others think of her? She meets someone after a breakup with her ex, and they were open and honest with each other. From that one person she met, she decided not to care anymore because the truth is people do not care.
Episode 6: Life can be confusing
This episode is about a girl who grew up without a father. She turns 21, which is a big deal, but her father is still not there. She meets a man at the office where she works who looks just like her father and is around the same age. She becomes obsessed with him and they go for dinner. He cooks for her, and something changes. The man falls in love with her, but she wants him to play the role of a father.
For some reason, the age difference doesn’t bother her, and he cares for her deeply. One day, the man asks if they can talk, and he tells her he is taking a sabbatical because he cannot function due to his love for her. As he leaves, the girl realizes she is also in love with him.
As I said, life can be confusing.
Episode 7: Walk the Talk
This episode is about a couple who is considering adopting a child. They find a homeless girl who wants to give away her baby because she cannot support it.
The couple is very liberal and advocates for people to live their lives however they prefer. They talk about how capitalism has screwed up people, but they begin to fight when the homeless girl comes to live with them until she gives birth. One cannot tolerate how liberal she is, and they argue. It reminds me of people who talk about being kind and good but behave the opposite.
The man later realizes his mistakes and apologizes for his behaviour. He is a good person who was afraid of becoming a father. Fear can make us behave badly.
So, walk the talk, or shut up.
Episode 8: Death Will Come
Death is inevitable, and it comes to people at different times. This episode is about an old couple who lost their previous significant others but fell deeply in love when they met. Love will find us all, just like death will. And it can happen early or later in life.
They got married, and they were happy. Their love was like something from a book, but death does not care. When it is time, it will come, and she lost the one person she was living for. It was the beginning of her end.
“Old love is different. More realistic. Yes, it is different, but it is also the same. Ken and I did what young people do. We fell in love. We travelled. Young love, even for old people, can be bountiful.”
Death is scary, and losing people we love is scary. So, live every day like it’s your last. Love like it is all you can do, and be kind. Live because death will come.
Until next time,
Jane 🙂
1 thought on “#TheOtherDay: Life is not perfect ”
Death is scary and losing people we love hurts. Living everyday like it’s your last day with bipolar is more harder………… Thanks Jane for the this article