ME BEFORE YOU: A STORY OF LOVE AND LIFE

“Push yourself. Don’t settle. Just live well. Just live”

- William Traynor

This movie came as a surprise to me. I never knew of its existence and while switching channels on my television one day, I noticed this movie, playing on Romedy Now. Out of sheer curiosity, I decided to watch it. Little did I know that this movie would change my perception of life. The story revolves around the life of Louisa Clarke (Lou), a regular job hopper who stumbles upon a job that changes her life forever. She becomes the caretaker of Will Traynor, a wealthy quadriplegic young banker whose cynical attitude towards life changes when Lou shows him life is worth living and in turn, Lou finds herself confiding her dreams in a man who understands her and her potential. . The story headways with a deep bond between the two and fate taking their steer, changing their lives in ways they never imagined.

Although I was against Will’s decision to perform euthanasia and how he never gave Louisa a chance to make his life better, I wondered why he went ahead with his decision, even after the encounter with Louisa. Will’s life was perfect in all spheres and yet it took only an accident to change his life forever. He found himself falling into a never-ending abyss.

Doesn’t that make our lives similar to Will’s? There comes a time in life when we encounter an incident which changes our life forever. It’s like an unexpected storm that shakes the very foundation of our life and then nothing is the same as before. Will’s parents and friends strived hard to pull him back into living a normal life but somehow everyone, including Will knew within themselves that he would never have his old life back. At times, untangling from a crisis is not easy and there are times when our dear ones are also helpless. In the long run, we find ourselves giving up and letting the problem take its course. No one realizes that life always endows a ray of hope, a helping hand in some form or other. . Louisa Clark became that ray of hope for Will Traynor.

Louisa made him feel loved and gave him a new perspective towards life. . He tells her how she is pretty much the only reason that makes him want to get up in the morning. She stirred in him the desire to live again, even if it was just for a short time. His choice to not carry on was not him giving up on his life. He was triumphant in realizing how with the help of Louisa, he had lived his life to the fullest. She was his way of attaining salvation, his redeemer from his miseries and he finally knew he could leave in peace, knowing that he was loved and will always be loved, and out there was Louisa who would be continuing his legacy in a way by accomplishing her dreams.

This movie taught me that life is not a bed of roses. It is not a black and white film. At times it makes us takes dangerous roads and in the process, we fall into an abyss. But that’s not it. It’s not like there is no way out of it. As I said before, life always presents a way out. There is light even at the end of the darkest tunnel. These dangerous roads are important in one’s life. They help us better ourselves by modifying us, our perceptions, and our way of life as well. Both Louisa and Will’s life changed in ways that helped them perceive life with a broader understanding. In the end, they were able to find their true selves through that journey.

Louisa helped Will find his light. She was the instrument that life presented to Will to be his better self. That is the power of Love, another significant message that the movie propagated. If you have someone who loves you dearly and holds onto you no matter how harsh the storm is, you can conqueror your problems Love supports you, pushes you to be your best, and compels you to give your all into fighting the storm. Sometimes it remains a silent spectator because often there are battles that are to be fought alone. Irrespective of the situation, love is always by our side. All I would ever ask you to remember is love, a little hope and determination are enough for you to fight your storms, live your dreams and move on.