The movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” is a beloved staple of many families’ holiday seasons. It tells the story of George Bailey, a small-town boy with big dreams to see the world, but who ends up staying in his hometown to run the family savings and loan business. After considering himself a failure, he has a unique opportunity to discover how rich an impact he had on his entire community simply by living an apparently ordinary life. It is one of the actor Jimmy Stewart’s greatest performances, not only for the story, but also for the personal sacrifices reflected in his acting.
Ned Forney, who usually blogs about the history of the Korean War, published this heartbreaking and revealing background story of how Jimmy Stewart channeled his own traumatic experiences from World War II into his portrayal of the personal crises of George Bailey. It proves, much like Bailey’s story in the movie, that heroes don’t have to be larger than life like Theodore Roosevelt. They can be ordinary like George Bailey and the rest of us. During this holiday season, let’s celebrate the ordinary among us as well as the extraordinary. Sometimes, there really Is no difference between the two.
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and a joyous New Year to all. Thank you for your support!