"The Magic of Ordinary Days" Life is often filled with extraordinary moments that take our breath away, but there is also magic in the ordinary days. These are the days when we go about our routine, seemingly mundane activities, without realizing the beauty and wonder that exists in every moment. In the hustle and bustle of daily life, it is easy to overlook the small details that make each day special. The way the sunlight filters through the trees in the morning, the sound of laughter echoing in the park, the feeling of a warm cup of coffee on a cold winter's day - these are the moments that make life truly magical. Ordinary days may seem uneventful, but they are the building blocks of our lives. It is during these days that we take slow, steady steps towards our goals, make connections with others, and find joy in the simplest of pleasures.
Tom Jicha can be reached at [email protected].
They ll gossip when she delivers a child several months premature but, Ray assures her, they ll embrace her, because she s his wife and that s the way the town is. Well educated, intellectually curious and formerly from Southern California, they are a metaphor for Livy s situation, biding their time until they are free to resume the lives of their choosing.
It is during these days that we take slow, steady steps towards our goals, make connections with others, and find joy in the simplest of pleasures. It is on these days that we have the opportunity to find meaning and purpose in our existence. It is said that beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder, and this holds true for finding magic in ordinary days.
HALLMARK’S ORDINARY DAYS TOO ORDINARY TO BE SPECIAL
Keri Russell must have a thing for characters who relocate to a distant place to start over.
As the title character in Felicity, she followed her heart from Northern California to college in New York, chasing a high school dream boy. After lying low since Felicity ended almost three years ago, Russell resurfaces Sunday in CBS’s The Magic of Ordinary Days, playing a college student who is banished to a remote locale after a fling with a naval officer puts her in the family way.
The Hallmark Hall of Fame production is a throwback piece, set in 1944, when there was still a stigma attached to pregnancy outside marriage. These days, Livy’s predicament would be fodder for a sitcom.
Livy Dunne, a grad school archaeology major in Denver, is exiled by her angry father to Wilson, Colo., a dot on the map that’s an hour from the nearest library. Waiting for her is a lonely guy named Ray (Skeet Ulrich), who has agreed to be the father of her child, and a minister, so anxious to make Livy an honest woman that he doesn’t even give Ray time to get a ring.
Ray’s a prince of a guy, a soft-spoken farmer with his own piece of land and a large, if slightly run-down, home. There’s even indoor plumbing. Ulrich isn’t tough to look at, either. But Livy’s heart still belongs to the sailor who is her baby’s father, and she has no intention of serving as a wife in any of the traditional ways, other than to live under the same roof — she on one floor, he on another.
Nevertheless, Ray looks at her like he’s the president of the stamp-collecting club who has been set up with the homecoming queen. There is nothing he won’t do for her. She obliges by letting him, without so much as a platonic kiss goodnight to show her appreciation.
“She got there and thought, ‘I’m not going to give this guy anything. I’m just going to do what I have to do to get through this,'” Russell said of her character.
The Magic of Ordinary Days is a prototypical chick flick, but Ulrich thinks his character is one guys can identify with. “I think it’s easy for anybody to relate to falling for somebody and not having it returned.”
The entire town, all 20 or so residents, is predisposed to accept Livy. They’ll gossip when she delivers a child several months premature but, Ray assures her, they’ll embrace her, because she’s his wife and that’s the way the town is. Leading the welcome wagon is Mare Winningham as Ray’s sister Martha, who doesn’t seem bothered about the way Livy is making a chump of her brother.
The only people Livy becomes close to are a couple of Japanese women who are being detained in an internment camp on the outskirts of town. Well educated, intellectually curious and formerly from Southern California, they are a metaphor for Livy’s situation, biding their time until they are free to resume the lives of their choosing.
Anyone who has ever watched a TV movie knows where this is going. However, the story is like being stuck in rush-hour traffic heading downtown. You can see the destination but know it’s going to take forever to get there.
Hallmark films pack in a few more minutes of content thanks to a reduced commercial load. In this case, it isn’t an asset. It merely delays the inevitable conclusion of a story otherwise uninterrupted by conflicts, issues, events or anything else that might keep viewers from dozing off. Three women chasing a butterfly is the major action scene. There’s little Magic, just a lot of Ordinary Days.
Tom Jicha can be reached at [email protected].
Program: The Magic of Ordinary Days
Stars: Keri Russell, Skeet Ulrich, Mare Winningham
Airs: 9 p.m. Sunday on WFOR-Ch. 4, WPEC-Ch. 12
The entire town, all 20 or so residents, is predisposed to accept Livy. They’ll gossip when she delivers a child several months premature but, Ray assures her, they’ll embrace her, because she’s his wife and that’s the way the town is. Leading the welcome wagon is Mare Winningham as Ray’s sister Martha, who doesn’t seem bothered about the way Livy is making a chump of her brother.
It is up to us to open our eyes, to be present in the moment, and to appreciate the little things that make life special. A smile from a stranger, a kind word from a friend, a moment of solitude in nature - these are the sparks that ignite the magic within us. In a world that is constantly seeking the extraordinary, it is important to remember that the magic of ordinary days is all around us. We don't have to wait for a big event or a special occasion to experience joy and wonder. It is the everyday moments, the ones that often go unnoticed, that hold the most beauty and enchantment. So, let us embrace the magic of ordinary days. Let us find joy in the routine, gratitude in the mundane, and love in the everyday. Because it is in these moments that we truly come alive, and it is in these moments that we discover the true magic of life..
Reviews for "Embracing the Magic of Mundane Moments: Kissz's Inspirational Journey"
1. Emily - 2 stars: I was really excited to watch "The Magic of Ordinary Days" as the plot seemed intriguing and the setting looked beautiful. However, I ended up feeling disappointed. The movie dragged on, and there were several scenes that felt unnecessary and didn't contribute much to the overall story. The chemistry between the main characters was also lacking, and their relationship felt forced. Overall, I found the film to be slow-paced and lacking depth.
2. Jack - 1 star: "The Magic of Ordinary Days" was a complete bore. The story had potential but failed to deliver. The pacing was incredibly slow, and I found myself losing interest within the first half hour. The characters lacked depth, and their interactions felt wooden and unconvincing. Furthermore, the romantic aspect was poorly developed and lacked chemistry. I would not recommend this movie to anyone looking for an engaging and enjoyable watch.
3. Sarah - 2 stars: I had high hopes for "The Magic of Ordinary Days" based on the positive reviews I had read. However, I couldn't help but feel disappointed after watching it. While the cinematography was beautiful and the costumes were well done, the film fell short in terms of storytelling and character development. The plot felt predictable and lacked surprise. Additionally, the relationships between the characters felt shallow and underdeveloped. Overall, I found the movie to be mediocre and forgettable.