Rediscover the Things that Make You Feel Alive

Good morning!

I hope this finds you well.

Welcome to another edition of The Matt Viera Newsletter.

The newsletter with the goal to inspire you to invest in life experiences.

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A few things in my life are essential to me. 

And as silly as it may sound to some, movies are one of those things.

Going to see a movie in a movie theater has been a habit for as long as I can remember. 

Since I was a kid, I made it a point to see a movie in the theater at least once a month. 

It was never something I made excuses for. 

Whether I was a full-time student, unemployed, or working full-time, the movie theater has always been my sanctuary.

I even have specific actions I have to take when it comes to the movie-going experience:

• I always arrive at least 30 minutes before showtime

• I always buy a large popcorn, even if I know I won't finish it

• And I refuse to go to a theater if it doesn't offer self-serve butter for popcorn

So when I say movies and the movie-going experience are important to me, I mean it.

But somewhere along the way, I stopped going.

The pandemic (and lockdown) definitely had something to do with it.

Theaters were closed. Life changed. New routines took over. 

Without realizing it, I let go of one of the activities that always brought me simple, consistent joy.

Last week, though, I found myself back in a theater. 

And as I sat there waiting for the movie to start, popcorn in hand, a familiar feeling came rushing back. I was completely at ease. Completely present.

And for a moment, I found myself asking: Why did I ever stop?

But almost immediately, I realized I was asking the wrong question.

The real question isn't why I stopped.

The real question is: Will I pick it back up again, fully and intentionally?

Because here's the truth: going to the movies has always been the one activity where nothing else matters for at least two hours. 

I'm not thinking about work, bills, the future, or the endless stream of responsibilities we all carry. I'm not checking my phone. I'm not worrying about what's next.

I'm simply there completely immersed in the moment.

And that kind of presence is rare.

The truth is, sometimes, we drift away from the things that bring us joy without even realizing it.

Life gets busy, circumstances change, and we convince ourselves we don't have time or simply fall into new patterns. 

But the things that make us feel alive are worth protecting.

And when we notice we've let them slip away, it's worth trying to bring them back.

What's the point of all this?

The point is this:

We live in a world that constantly demands more from us: more productivity, more efficiency, more hustle. 

It's easy to fall into the trap of thinking every minute needs to be "useful."

But being present, joyful, and fully immersed in something you love is not wasted time. 

That's living.

When you reconnect with the things that light you up (whether it's movies, hiking, painting, travel, or anything else), you give yourself a powerful gift: the gift of presence. 

The gift of feeling human again in a world that often pushes us toward being machines.

And often, those small, seemingly "silly" passions reconnect us with the version of ourselves we like best.

If there's something you used to love but drifted away from (a hobby, a ritual, an experience) maybe it's time to ask yourself:

Will I pick it back up again, fully and intentionally?

Because life is too short to live on autopilot.

Sometimes, reclaiming even the smallest joy can open the door to a life that feels infinitely bigger and more alive.

Quote that caught my attention:

“For me...I feel like gratitude has really helped me to keep perspective on everything. The gratitude of doing what I get to do. The gratitude for my everyday life. The gratitude for simple things.”

—Joseph Benavidez

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