NCIS: The TV World Connection

There might be only a few TV/Movie loving people out there who will understand this post. And that's okay...this one if for you!

Everyone these days is talking about the TV show called "This Is Us". I am hooked on this show as well. It's in its 2nd season and I think of all the episodes, there have only been 3 where I haven't cried. This drama is deep and was filmed in such a great way that it touches every viewer is some way. The title "This is Us" is talking about the Pearson family and their life...but it could also mean "This is Us" as any family in America. Families that have ups and downs; tragedies and addictions, but love each other in a unique and beautiful way. I don't mind TV shows that make me cry, in fact, sometimes it's nice to have a reason to let the tears flow, you know?

As much as I like "This is Us", there is another TV show that currently has me captivated, and yet at the same time dreading the day where I catch up to current day (thanks Netflix). This show is called NCIS (Navy Criminal Investigative Service). It's a crime show. There are a million out there, but there's something about this one. I've been watching the live seasons of NCIS for the last few years, and the show is mostly designed to be a different story; a different crime to solve each week. Unlike "This is Us", you can jump in to NCIS at any time and not be lost. So that is what I did, until recently when I decided to go back to the beginning and watch the entire (15 seasons) show in order. What I found is that the story line of the core cast is incredibly rich and you get to the point where you feel like you are part of their family. Now that I know this group of people like their my friends and I'm (emotionally) invested in their lives, I find myself both excited to go home and watch more episodes and yet sad that I'm running out of episodes to watch. Don't judge me.

It's funny because I don't relate to these characters (yes, I understand they are characters and not real people) in the same way I relate to This is Us. I'm not from a military family. I feel no need to go into law enforcement. I didn't have a bad childhood. I have no daddy issues (My dad will be happy to hear that). But yet, there is something special about the relational dynamics of this group of co-workers. The team leader, Gibbs, often has to fight for his team and explain why they should not be split up. Because they often have their lives on the line, they have to trust each other completely to have one another's back. And yet, they find ways to use humor and lighthearted banter to lift each other up. The psychology side of me is fascinated, yet also fully pulled in to the emotions of this group.

I applaud the acting of these men and women. They have succeeded in making me as the viewer feel a part of their world. To cry with them and agonize with them. My heart breaks when theirs does, and I laugh along with them. After watching it now from the beginning, I understand how they have made it through 15 seasons without being canceled. It's not a flashy show, and there's no overt sexual encounters like most TV shows these days feel they must have. They simply have been successful at making the viewer (me at least) feel like I want to be part of their world.

McGee has always been my favorite character. He's smart in that computer geeky kind of way. He's picked on as the "probie" yet confident and understated. Most people probably gravitate towards DiNozzo as their favorite. He's charismatic, outgoing, and always cracking jokes. He's never been my favorite character, nor his partner Ziva. But something changed when I watched their story from the beginning. Because they were good for each other. Independent in their own ways, strong, a bit annoying to us (the viewer) and to each other. But over the years as they learned to trust each other, and as we watched how their connection grew, it was easy to find myself rooting for them when their relationship turned romantic (in a subtle way). You just knew, particularly with DiNozzo that his life became better. And that look he gives her...my heart broke into a thousand pieces. To have someone look at you like that...wow. Spoiler Alert...they don't end up happily ever after. But you know their lives were forever changed by their love for each other. If those two actors never dated in real life...they are incredibly gifted actors.

So I have no real specific point to this post. I guess I just want to capture the moment, and to dream a little about love and life, with the help of a TV show.

Words Matter

Today is Valentine's Day. Surprisingly, it's been a good day. If you've known me for any length of time, you already know I've never been a fan of this "love" day. There are many ways you can "make lemonade" with this day as a single person; calling it "Gal-entine's Day", "Love Day", "Friend Day", etc...but none of that really ever works when you feel alone.

I promise this gets happy in a moment.

I am growing as a person...this year I wore pink instead of my usual black.

Seriously though...

I've had a relationship with Christ since I was 9 years old, and am secure in my relationship with Him. Not perfect, but secure. In the past, Valentine's Day has also been a day of guilt as others have told me if I was really strong in my faith, I wouldn't feel loneliness because I have God to fill that need. So, the guilt placed on me has actually compounded by distaste for the day.

Another year has gone by, and I'm still single, and this still is not my favorite day, but God gave me a little gift this year. Well, maybe a couple.

The first is a knowing in my spirit that my feeling are okay and that I don't have to feel guilty that my heart desires relationship. While I am content in my singleness (finally) and I am excited for my future whether I ever get married or not; I believe I was created to love and be loved. Feeling lonely sometimes or wanting to share my life with another human does not take away from my relationship with God. He created me to be who I am; and he created me to value true love and to desire genuine connection. I'm totally fine with taking just a little bit of time to eat (a lot of) chocolate and wallow just a little. As long as I get up tomorrow and know that God has a purpose for me and I move forward knowing that life is meant to be experienced no matter what part of the journey I am on.

The second gift was a bit subconscious until a co-worker pointed it out in connection to the day. I've been on a bit of a cleaning spree this last month. I finally hit a breaking point with the clutter in my work world. So I cleaned up my email box with the intention of beginning a new time/project management process (I'm optimistic it will work) and I'm cleaning out bins and drawers.

Today I got to the desk drawer where all the things that I no longer have room to display on my cubical walls go to rest. There are past pictures of family and friends, mementos from events I've been a part of, and encouragement notes I've received from co-workers or volunteers that I've worked with. Reading through these notes became the gift today. Love comes in many different ways. I am incredibly "lucky", if you believe in luck, to have met and become friends with some of the most amazing people through my job. I needed that reminder today. These are people that challenge me, encourage me, accept me, respect me, and they are people who are on this special journey of faith with me in ways not everyone would understand. What a special blessing. I have been at the same organization for 13 years, so I don't know what it's like other places, but if I took a poll, I bet I would find it is rare to be able to say that you are loved by your co-workers.

The most special note I found was from one of the volunteers I used to lead, it was dated 2013 (5 years ago). She chose to share with me some thought she wrote down after her very first day as a volunteer and what it meant to her to have been chosen to serve in ministry with us. The day she emailed it to me, she wrote me a note saying she was sharing this with me because she knows there will be days that are hard and days where it is easy to forget our purpose. I know that it was a relevant message on the day she sent it to me...and it remains relevant today, 5 years later.

If you don't think your words matter to people, or if you are questioning sending that encouragement to someone today, please don't let anything stop you. We all know that words have power and that the"sticks and stones" phrase is a joke. Choose to be someone who encourages others. Choose to be someone who is positive and loving. I am so thankful to the people in my life who have chosen to share notes, emails, and words of encouragement with me.

It may even bring light to someone on their least favorite holiday.