katIf you haven’t seen this movie yet, “The Life List,” you need to add it to your must watch list! I have been a huge fan of Sofia Carson ever since I discovered her on Descendants LOL. I’ve seen her other movies, “Purple Hearts” and “Feel the Beat.” I just think she’s such a beautiful latina actress and I personally love her talking voice LOL.
Anyway, I randomly opened Netflix and saw she was the protagonist in this new movie so I clicked on it, read the description, and immediately proceeded to watch it the night before getting my wisdom teeth extracted. Not going to lie, I was so nervous about my surgery the night before, that I honestly didn’t think it’d be a good idea to watch the movie but I did anyway LOL. I was like, “What if I’m allergic to the anesthesia- or worse yet I die!” Yes, I’m a little dramatic. Thank God I’m alive so I can come on here and tell you how great of a movie it was and how you should watch it too- especially if you’ve been feeling stuck or in a rut! It was a great motivator for me and had some good punch line moments that really resonated with me.
I loved this movie. Especially the way they got me emotionally invested in these characters. I thought the way they portrayed the relationship between Alex and Finn was quite interesting. I mean they had this funny moment at the beginning; he seemed like a charming, endearing guy- I was kind of rooting for them even if everyone else did not seem to be. After suddenly hearing from Zoe, Alex’s sister-in-law or Julian’s wife, about the four test questions Alex’s mother shared with her in order to determine if she’s truly in love- I started to further question the relationship. I mean it was clear he was a bit of a gamer bum from the start but I figured as long as Alex was happy her family should not assume she is not in love or settling. After going through this set of questions with Zoe, in addition to Alex’s hesitation to state if she’s truly, madly, deeply in love with Finn earlier in the movie- it becomes clear Alex was not sure about Finn.
The four question are as entail:
- Is he kind?
- Can I tell him everything in my heart?
- Does he help me become the best version of myself?
- Can I imagine him as the father of my children?
Shortly after, she realizes Finn is a gamer, bum boyfriend who only wants to use her to fulfill his own wishes and dreams. Not only that, he is insensitive to her grieving process.
I especially loved this movie for its portrayal of Alex and her mom’s relationship. From the beginning, we can tell they are close. Even her siblings point this out- saying their mother treats Alex like her favorite child. It reminds me a lot of the relationship my sister and I have with my own mother. I feel we are both her favorite for different reasons in various ways. I am more physically close to my mother at times, she is seriously my best friend. Yet, my sister on the other hand is not as physically close but my mother loves her fiercely, protects her, and babies her more than me that’s for sure! But one thing is true- there is no greater love than the fierce love of a mother. Mothers, like Alex’s, help you when you’re in a rut, they recognize when you’re stuck, and better yet they believe in you and want to help you become the best version of yourself.
I was in absolute tears after Alex’s mother passed away and I loved the tough love approach, humor, and genius of her coming up with this “Life List” ultimatum as one last attempt to help her daughter even after she is far gone. She imparts all her motherly wisdom in her simple yet trusting advice. She knows her daughter so well, believes she can accomplish all of her dreams, and it is so apparent that she loves her daughter so deeply. I swear I was crying and laughing watching every DVD as Alex went through this journey. The mother was a true star in this movie. She is almost like a divine savior archetype, although we come to learn later on in the movie her mother too was less than perfect.
I loved this movie up to the very end. She found true love but it wasn’t her romance with her lawyer friend Brad that I thought was the truest form of love. I actually thought Alex’s love for herself and her mother’s love was the truest of love she had. I thought she’d dump the guys, go on a single girl, self love journey but I heard things end differently in the books than in the movie? Either way, I did not hate the ending. I just don’t think she should have jumped from one relationship to the next as quickly as she did but alas this was a bit of a rom-com movie so we’ll let it slide.
Did anyone else find it was incredibly rude when at the end Brad insensitively, in the name of truth, told Alex she was only with Garrett because of the way he made her feel- as if he fully understood her experience in this relationship? I did, however, in the end come to appreciate his honesty- since he’d never been so honest throughout the movie with that golden retriever energy of his. Perhaps, that is exactly what she needed, someone who calls her out and challenges her- but they were not quite on the same page until the end. But again, I do think that night he could’ve been more sensitive, though I think they had been drinking.
This movie was far from a christian, or religious movie, but I could still watch it and digest it for what it was. I appreciated it. It’s definitely for mature audiences. Even though it is a secular movie with hardly any mention of God- I definitely think it was spiritual.
The biggest takeaway for me from this movie was that life is short, way too short, to be living it like you’re a passenger in a car and not in the driver’s seat. Life is too short to watch from a window. No, you have to maneuver life where you want it to go. Otherwise your time will just flow away. You will give up on your dreams, aspirations, and goals. You will settle for less than you deserve and accomplish less than you know you can.
So after watching this movie I decided to look at the vision board I made at the beginning of this year. I set some goals which I hope to accomplish by the end of the year but I realized I don’t really have a bucket list (the ‘life list’ is essentially a bucket list). So I dropped this year’s vision board to ChatGPT, the homie, and asked her to help me build a life list of sorts.
Here’s what it came up with:
🕊️ Faith + Spiritual Intimacy
- 🌿 Spend 24 hours in prayer (no tech, just you + God)
- ✝️ Take a solo “wilderness” retreat for 2–3 days with just your Bible + journal
- 📖 Lead a Bible study series
- 🔥 Attend a revival or outpouring event
- 📜 Create a Scripture memory wall in your home
✍🏽 Writing + Storytelling
- 📚 Finish and publish your first book (testimony, poetry, devotional, or novel)
- 💌 Write a letter to your future self to open in 10 years
- 🎙️ Start a podcast or YouTube series on your spiritual journey
- 📝 Write a spoken word poem and perform it at a local event
- ✒️ Handwrite a prayer or create a video journal for your future spiritual or physical children
- 📓 Design your own faith-based workbook or planner for women
🎶 Music + Creativity
- 🎧 Record an EP or single and release it on Spotify
- 🎹 Learn and perform a worship set (voice + piano) for a friend or small group
- 📸 Do a music video or visual devotional
- 🎨 Host a “Worship & Create” night — candles, music, art journaling, prayer
- 🎼 Write a song inspired by each book of the Bible you read
🧠 Learning + Skills
- 🖥️ Master Excel
- 🥗 Take a cooking class and make 7 healthy recipes from memory
- 🇰🇷 Have a full spiritual conversation in Korean
💖 Relationships + Connection
- ☕ Take someone different to coffee each month for a year
- 👭 Host a “Beloved” Bible brunch or creative sisterhood circle
- 🌐 Make a group chat or mini online space for women pursuing purity and purpose
🧳 Adventure + Rest
- 🌲 Stay in a cozy cabin and spend time with God
- 🌎 Visit 3 places that make you marvel at God’s creation
- 💼 Travel somewhere with just a backpack and faith
- 📸 Do a “Creation Photography” walk and make an album called “God’s Beauty”
- ✨ Go stargazing and journal prayers under the stars
I really loved it! So I’m sticking with it and asked ChatGPT to help me start working on it for this month. This what is suggested:
🌿 April: The “Sacred Spark” Month
Theme: Rooted in purpose, blooming with intention.
🗓️ Week 1: (this week)
🔹 Write a letter to your future self
- Journal your current prayers, what you’re believing for, and a blessing over future-you.
- Title it “Beloved & Becoming” or something beautiful. Seal it or save digitally.
🔹 Start Korean Christian flashcards
- Learn 5–10 phrases (I’ll help you with them below!)
- Try writing your first short prayer in Korean by Sunday 🌸
🗓️ Week 2:
🔹 Outline your book
- Pick your topic (devotional, testimony, purity, etc.)
- Brainstorm title ideas, chapter themes, scripture anchors
- Pray over it and dedicate the draft process to the Lord 🙏🏽
🔹 Practice your Korean words again + memorize 2 Bible verses in Korean
So in order to hold myself accountable I’m posting this on here! Let’s see how much I can get done in the next two weeks.
Now, again, I highly encourage you to go watch “The Life List” and actually go make your very own bucket list. If you’re indecisive like me or don’t know how to even start a life list, hop onto good old chatGPT and she will definitely help you.
I also encourage you to reflect with God through prayer this week about the things you want to accomplish in your own life. Ask yourself the why and make sure it’s aligned with his purpose for you. This isn’t always easy to discern- as it wasn’t easy for Alex to figure out her path in life, but I believe you will find your way. Take action and see what happens along the way and if you make some mistakes, it’s ok. Love yourself enough to take this leap of faith. But always rely on the Lord for discernment.
Isaiah 55:8-9
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
With love,
Kat
