Click the link to watch: a film about friendship | 10,000 miles
What? I don’t ever remember smiling for 40 minutes and 16 seconds straight. But this wonderful video certainly made me do so. Maybe it struck a chord because I can relate to so many of the events. Maybe it piqued a sentimental feeling of nostalgia with my own set of friends. Or maybe a good story just captures your heart. The movie is about six college-aged childhood best friends who document an epic, one month road trip through the National Parks of the western United States. Inside jokes. Mishaps. Nicknames. Hardships. Bonding. Lessons learned. Stunning vistas. New experiences. Sing-a-longs. Belly laughs. Mild injuries. Life-long memories. The chief protagonist chronicles and narrates the adventures of this close group of friends. It is cleverly edited. Has a sweet soundtrack. And keeps a swift, imaginative pace. The Takeaway Quote is this: “Just a group of guys living their lives to the fullest.” If you are having a bad day or need some inspiration to get out and do something with the people you love, then this short film is a great use of less than one hour of your time.
So What? As I write this, my 19 year old daughter is in Antigua, Guatemala with her good, good friend since 8th grade. They live with a local family, study Spanish in the morning, volunteer in the afternoon with The God’s Child Project and explore rooftops cafes in the evenings. As I write this, my 23 year old son is driving west with his best friend since 6th Grade. They will set up and compete on their “portable” ping pong table with some of the most iconic national monuments in the desert of southern Utah framing their never-ending 12 year battle for table-tennis supremacy.
As a parent, I often wonder what legacy(ies) I will leave my children. What will they value or emulate from the years of living in our home? Sometimes I wish I had clearer answers to that important question. But this I do know: my kids know the importance of deep, lasting friendships. They have seen it modeled by their parents and lived out in day-to-day life. They cannot escape the priority we have placed on creating and nurturing relationships. They have seen us succeed and fail at this endeavor. And now I have the privilege to observe my kids giving it a go themselves. They are making friends. They are keeping friends. And they are creating epic trips with friends. So, I am left with only one question: When are you taking your next adventure with the people you love most?