October was a good month — filled with family time, entertainment, rest, and reflection; from movie nights and exploring the suburbs to attending an awards night and beginning the script for my very first video.
There were plenty of moments to enjoy, but also opportunities to reflect on the things I watch, the values I hold, and the direction I want my life to take.
Not every moment of growth comes from something extraordinary; sometimes, it comes from spending time with loved ones, appreciating a day off, or simply remaining faithful in the little things.
The first half of October was simple, but enjoyable nonetheless; much of my time was spent enjoying movie nights with family, something I've continued to appreciate as an opportunity to spend time together and make memories.
We watched Backrooms earlier in the month, which I thought was a pretty good movie overall. However, one thing that bothered me was how heavily the story focused on mental health and negative memories. Personally, I would've preferred if the movie explored memories themselves, rather than making so much of the experience revolve around bad ones. It just seemed like there was not enough shock and uneasy. Memories are such an interesting concept, and I think there was an opportunity to explore them in a more meaningful way.
Thinking about it afterward, I suppose there's something worth reflecting on there; our memories are part of who we are, but they shouldn't necessarily determine who we become. We all have experiences we'd rather forget, but we also have moments worth cherishing and define who we are. I believe it's important to recognize both without allowing the negative to overshadow everything else.
The following week we continued our movie nights with The Boogeyman. This one was simply fun to watch; nothing too over the top, and thankfully, the jump scares weren't obnoxious either, haha. Sometimes horror movies try so hard to frighten their audience that they become more annoying than entertaining, but I didn't feel that way about this one.
While neither evening was particularly eventful, they were still meaningful in their own way. I find that spending time with family doesn't always require some elaborate activity or special occasion; sometimes, simply sitting together and enjoying a movie is enough.
These moments also remind me that the relationships we build and maintain are far more important than the entertainment itself. Years from now, I may not remember every detail of the movies we watched, but I hope to remember the time we spent together.
“I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life. And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.”
“Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.”
The second half of October was a little more eventful; between going to the theaters, spending time with family, enjoying my days off, and beginning a personal project, there was quite a bit more going on.
I went to the theaters to watch Street Fighter. I found did not find it as entertaining and I couldn't help but feel that the overall quality resembled something you'd find in bad lower-budget YouTube video. What bothered me more, however, was the way certain traditionally masculine ideals seemed to be treated. Honor, glory, courage, hope, and other things that men often appreciate felt almost like they were being made fun of; as though the movie had been approached from a feminist perspective so it didn't particularly respect those values.
Of course, I was still able to enjoy the experience, but the values made it hard to enjoy.
A few days later I was blessed with a day off and another opportunity to spend time with family. I was able to travel around some of the surrounding suburbs and enjoy brunch before meeting back up with everyone for Awards Night. It was a fun experience, and I appreciated the opportunity to share memories, share experiences, and continue seeing the family grow.
One of the more exciting things about that day was that I finally began writing the script for my very first video! I've been wanting to get this project started, and I genuinely believe that once I finish that first video, everything else will become much easier to approach. Sometimes the hardest part of doing something new is simply getting started; now that I've taken that first step, I want to make sure I continue moving forward.
The following day I had another day off. I originally wanted to catch up on some sleep, but something woke me up, and I couldn't manage to fall asleep again, haha. Rather than letting that ruin the day, I decided to enjoy some of my hobbies instead.
I also finished watching the 2007 Devil May Cry anime, which I genuinely enjoyed. Something I appreciated was how unapologetically cool it was; it didn't feel corny, nor did it seem interested in undermining its own characters or traditionally masculine themes through the kind of feminist messaging I dislike in some modern entertainment. It was simply enjoyable for what it was, and sometimes that's all I want from a show.
As the month came to an end, October 31st arrived, a day many people observe as Halloween. I didn't participate or go out that evening; surprisingly, there were barely any people outside anyway.
I had considered going street preaching, but ultimately didn't feel led in my spirit to do so. Instead, I remained indoors and enjoyed the Sabbath as I normally would. I do feel like if there was more people out, I would have gone out.
Looking back on these last couple of weeks, I think there was a good balance between enjoying life and continuing to work toward personal goals. Spending time with loved ones, appreciating rest, developing my interests, and making progress on my first video were all meaningful in different ways.
More importantly, I want to continue making sure that my pursuits never take precedence over my faith. I can enjoy entertainment, pursue creative projects, and appreciate my free time while still remembering that my ultimate responsibility is to seek God's Kingdom and walk in obedience to Him.
October was a month of appreciating the little things; family movie nights, time spent exploring, fellowship, hobbies, and the opportunity to begin something new.
One of my biggest takeaways from this month is that personal growth doesn't always come through dramatic changes or difficult circumstances. Sometimes, it comes through reflection, learning to appreciate what God has provided, and recognizing opportunities to improve ourselves.
As November begins, I hope to continue making progress on my first video and eventually bring it to completion. I also look forward to spending more time with family, enjoying the blessings God provides, and continuing to grow in wisdom and understanding.
Above everything else, my desire remains the same; to seek God's Kingdom first, remain obedient to His commandments, and become a better servant of our Lord and Saviour, Christ Jesus.
