Have you ever told yourself you are frugal, responsible, and low-maintenance… and then immediately ordered wine because life is hard?
Have you ever justified a luxury purchase by saying, “It’s not expensive, it’s an experience”?
Have you ever said, “I don’t need much,” while sitting in a recliner with a blanket and a server on standby?
If so, welcome. You are my people.
Let me be honest about who I am. I am frugal. Truly. I know how to stretch a dollar. I love a good deal. I will absolutely compare prices like it is an Olympic sport. But I am also… boogie.
I am the kind of woman who will save money on groceries and then spend it on comfort. Because what is the point of saving money if you cannot occasionally sit in a chair that feels like it hugs you back?
When I lived in San Diego, one of my favorite things to do was go to boogie theaters. You know the kind. Lounge chairs. Actual food. Wine. Someone coming to you so you do not have to stand in line holding your snacks like a peasant. It was cinema, but make it luxury.
I found it.
IPIC Theater in Beverly Hills.
Let me tell you something. This place understands me.
The lounge alone made me feel like I should whisper because I was suddenly classy. The chairs were beautiful. The lighting was perfect. I felt like I needed to sit up straighter, even though I had no intention of doing that once the movie started.
When I got to my seat, it was a Lazy Boy recliner. A real one. Not a fake recliner pretending to be comfortable. And then the surprise happened. A blanket. Folded neatly. Waiting for me like they knew I was emotionally tired.
There was a button for service. A literal button. You press it, and someone comes to you. No awkward waving. No climbing over strangers. No spilling your drink in the dark. Just press the button and sit there like you have made it in life.
Obviously, I ordered a glass of red wine. Pinot Noir. Because I am boogie but consistent. And I ordered the Harvest Bowl, which made me feel healthy enough to justify the wine. Balance is important.
Everything was perfect. The food was delicious. The wine was smooth. The blanket was warm. And for the first time in a long time, I thought, This is it. This is my happy place.
Then the movie started.
I watched Anaconda with Paul Rudd and Jack Black, and yes, it was exactly what I needed. Comedy and action. If a movie can make me laugh, I am in. I do not need deep. I need entertaining. I need distractions that remind me life can be fun.
The story follows Doug, a wedding videographer who lost his passion for filmmaking. Life happened. Responsibilities piled up. Dreams got buried under survival. Then his friend Griff, played by Paul Rudd, an aspiring actor who refuses to give up, reminds him of who he used to be. Together with a group of friends, they decide to remake their favorite movie, Anaconda.
It is ridiculous. It is chaotic. It has twists and turns. And somehow, in the middle of all that humor, it gets emotional.
By the end of the movie, Doug admits how much he admires Griff for never giving up on his dream. Even when it was inconvenient. Even when it looked silly. Even when life tried to shut it down. They kept going. They finished the film.
And there I was. In my recliner. Wrapped in a blanket. Sipping wine. Suddenly feeling attacked by personal growth.
Because that is when it hit me. How many of us have given up on our dreams?
Not because we did not want them anymore, but because life happened. Bills happened. Fear happened. Failure happened. And instead of saying no to the obstacles, we said later to the dream.
Later is dangerous. Later feels responsible. Later sounds mature. Later makes you feel like you are not quitting, just postponing. But later has a way of quietly turning into never.
I know this because I have lived it.
There were seasons where I put dreams on pause because survival felt more urgent. Seasons where I told myself I would come back to it when things were calmer. When I was more confident. When I had more time. When I had more money. When I had more faith.
Spoiler alert. There is never more time.
Life does not slow down and politely ask if you are ready now.
Watching that movie reminded me that dreams do not disappear because they are unrealistic. They disappear because we stop feeding them. We stop believing they matter. We convince ourselves that wanting more is selfish, irresponsible, or foolish.
But I believe something deeply. If a dream lives inside of you, it was placed there for a reason. No one else has that exact dream because no one else has your exact assignment. Someone else might do something similar, but they cannot do it the way you were meant to.
Dreams are not accidents. They are invitations.
Yes, obstacles will come. Doubt will come. Fear will scream louder than faith sometimes. That does not mean you quit. It means you press through. It means you keep going even when progress feels slow and the results are not immediate.
Doug could have stayed a wedding videographer forever, convincing himself that passion was a luxury. Griff could have given up on acting and called it realism. Instead, they chose to try. They chose to finish. They chose to believe the dream still mattered.
And that is the lesson I walked out with that night. Dreams are not meant to be abandoned. They are meant to be stewarded. Protected. Fought for.
Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is pick up a dream you put down years ago and say, I am not done with you yet.
So yes, I am frugal. And yes, I am boogie. But more than that, I am reminded that life is meant to be enjoyed and pursued with intention. Enjoy the nice things. Laugh at movies. Sit in comfortable chairs. But do not forget why you are here.
Do not let obstacles convince you that your dream expired. Do not let fear decide your future. And do not wait for later when now is calling your name.
Press the button. Order the wine. Wrap yourself in the blanket. And then get back up and chase the dream.
Remember you are my lovers, whether you love me or love to hate me you are still my lover!
Don’t forget Jesus loves you and so do I!