My husband and I went to see the movie Mamma Mia! I expected to like it, but I was surprised that my husband enjoyed it even more than I did!

This made me wonder: What about this lighthearted movie touched him in a particularly satisfying way? Perhaps his musical background enabled him to appreciate the fact that actors who are not trained singers went for it anyways. I thought he might get annoyed at their everyday-person singing voices, but he really gave everyone kudos for putting it out there and “selling it” with joy.

The lesson I got from this: Sometimes we worry about trying something new or engaging in an activity we’ll never be really great at because people will think us inept. The truth is that people with generous hearts will always give you credit for trying and going for it. And it’s always worth the effort to do what will take you out of your comfort zone or make your heart sing.

Secondly, as escapist entertainment, it didn’t hurt that the music-accompanied personal challenges of the Mamma Mia main characters took place on a gorgeous Greek isle! I thought it amusing that the script kept trying to make it seem like such a big trial that the Meryl Streep character was “stuck” there working to keep a charming dilapidated Inn going.

The lesson I got from this: If you’re going to face tough life challenges that take great heart and fortitude…try to face them in a beautiful location.