While a lot of content on television can throw sensitive people off balance, there is also some great high vibrational content that has the potential to bring joy, laughter, and healing to our lives!
Being a sensitive person, I have never been a big fan of television. Covid forced us to remain indoors for so long. During the extended lockdowns, my husband Suraj inspired me to drop my bias against television and introduced me to some great content. As a result, I have begun to enjoy some daily ‘productive’ TV time!
I have to acknowledge that each movie or show we have watched so far has brought healing in some form – to myself, my marriage, my relationship with my children, my role as a healer, and my existence as a human being.
In this post, I would like to reflect on a television series called ‘Modern Family.’ We have been watching it on Disney Hotstar. It has a total of eleven seasons and we just completed watching nine seasons.
This show tracks the journey of three families who are related.
One is what we would label a ‘conventional family’- with a father, mother, and three children. The parents get married and bear children at the ‘perfect age’ (by worldly standards).
The second one is a non-conventional family – with same-sex parents and one child.
The third family is also somewhat non-conventional. There is a huge age gap between husband and wife, and they are from different cultures. The wife has a young son from a previous marriage. The husband has two adult children from his previous marriage (they are part of the first two families). This couple has another baby together and the husband becomes a father again at 60 plus years of age!
The show traces the journey of these three families, as separate entities as well as a combined unit. Each family has its own set of strengths as well as challenges. Each character has managed to touch upon the depths of what it means to be human.
Joy, laughter, togetherness, playfulness
Sadness, fear, envy, anger, competition
Frustration, helplessness
Love, romance, sexuality
Almost all emotions and aspects of life have been captured with a dash of humour and lightness. Like everyone else, the families experience the routine ups and downs of life. But no matter what unfolds between them or around them, one element always remains intact – love.
Core Learnings From This Series
- Life is easier when we don’t take it too seriously
- All of us are broken in some ways and that’s OK!
- It is safe to feel and express (appropriately) different emotions
- Everyone is operating on different timelines and comparison between people is futile. Depending on our life’s circumstances, we may reach certain milestones early in life and others late.
- Love is the essence of life. As long as there is love, there is hope. Without love, the world would be ‘dead.’
Considering that this show has its roots in western culture, some aspects of it may not appeal to the sensibilities of an eastern audience.
Initially, I could not relate to certain parts of the show either. However, I put culture aside and decided to take only the value the show offered on a human level. And it does offer huge value!
Kudos to the team that created this series and to all the actors who have put up a brilliant performance. Thanks to each of you, my evenings are filled with lightness and laughter!
When Spirit Meets Science 