The Richest Man in Town

Sending peace and love at Christmas

Hi friends,

My favorite movie, especially this time of year, is an easy choice: It’s a Wonderful Life (1946). Though financially poor, George Bailey is considered "the richest man in town" because of his impact on Bedford Falls and the many friends who rally to help him when he faces a financial (and midlife) crisis.

The film's climax shows the town's residents donating money to save him from ruin, showing that his true wealth lies in the lives he's touched rather than material riches. I love how the movie shows how his guardian angel, Clarence, is sent to help Bailey by showing him what life would have been like if he had never existed. Specifically, Bailey contemplates suicide but is shown how many lives would be worse without him.

The movie carries a profound message: Each life is exceptionally and uniquely important. Bailey, for example, learns that had he not been alive, he wouldn't have been present to save his drowning little brother, Harry, when they were kids. Mr. Gower, a pharmacist, would have gone to prison for accidentally poisoning a patient, and his wife, Mary, would him ended up a lonely librarian. The film's enduring message? An ordinary person's choices and sacrifices touch other lives in immeasurable ways, most of which can’t be quantified.

At the end, the town's response in raising money to save him proves Clarence's point that "no man is a failure who has friends."

The first time I watched the movie as an adult — on Christmas right before the pandemic — my eyes welled with tears. It’s a touching reminder of the beauty of our everyday lives, everyday actions and choices, and the impact we have on others. The story offers a powerful message about the significance of the lives of all of us. Every so often, it's worth going back in time, reflecting on the kindness we have done for others, and considering what others have done for us.

Life itself is the greatest gift — the gift of life, of being a part of this world and taking part in it. Let's not forget that our mere existence is a beautiful miracle.

To quote Ralph Waldo Emerson: "To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded."

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A quick note as the year winds down: Thank you for reading these emails, and thank you for all of your comments, replies, and shares. It means so much.

In 2024, I’m grateful to have married to my soul mate, Ally. Over the summer, we moved from Brooklyn to Queens to live next to Ally’s 93-year-old grandmother, Maria. There is no price tag on that. We explored some of the Caribbean, plus Maine, Boston, Ireland, and Barcelona (thanks, Dimitry). We learned more about our family heritages. We invested a chunk of our savings. We also visited a bunch of art museums, attended several weddings, and walked a lot of dogs.

Early this year, I met one my closest friends and grew closer with a few others. Then I started working with the wonderful team at the Prison Journalism Project, an independent, national nonprofit organization that trains incarcerated writers to be journalists and publishes their stories. I also fell in love with yoga, exercised almost every day, and (best of all) made enormous strides in my mental well being.

Beach meditation, Sarasota, Florida

What lies ahead? I plan to co-write a book with a former athlete who has a good story to tell. Ally and I want to spend several weeks next summer in Italy and Spain, and we hope to visit Japan with my dad, too. A career pivot — and plenty of exercise — is on the horizon for both me and Ally. Outside of that, time will tell. We like to leave a lot of room for serendipity and spontaneity.

I’d love to know: What are you most grateful for? What are you looking forward to in 2025? Reply directly or comment below.

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As this year winds down, please take care of yourselves, and may we all celebrate the gifts of life, however we can.

Happy holidays,
Matthew