Collateral Beauty

The best thing about the film, Collateral Beauty, is the concept that is also its title. In my own words, it’s the generous, kind, and beautiful things that happen on the periphery of what’s tragic or evil. We’ve seen it this past year, for instance when Trevor Noah suggested that if a Muslim registry is created, we will all register. We see it when we appreciate the sunset on a day that was full of hurt.

It reminds me of a quote from Mister (Fred) Rogers that I’ve used to help my kids understand bad things that happen in the world: “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping."”

Collateral beauty is also tied, for me, to gratitude; to continuing to notice and appreciate what works, what’s lovely, what blessings surround us. If there is a coaching exercise for this post, it is to show gratitude in whatever format works for you – a journal, a pay-it-forward activity, or some sort of statement.  

There will be plenty of damage in the year(s) ahead of us; My hope comes from the idea that there will be an equal or greater amount of collateral beauty.