Everything We Need to Know About Living was Taught on Gilligan's Isle

All I Learned of Life Can Be Found on Gilligan's Island

Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale
a tale of a fateful trip,
that started from this tropic port,
aboard this tiny ship.

All stories start somewhere.  Many start with "Once upon a time..."   We are like a tiny ship setting off in the sea of life, little knowing what lies ahead.  I suppose if we did, we would never pull up anchor.

The mate was a mighty sailin' man,
the Skipper brave and sure,
five passengers set sail that day,
for a three hour tour,
a three hour tour.

We never think things will take as long as they do.  I think we all tend to underestimate the amount of time it will take to achieve our goals, to do what it is we think we want to do.  And while we are sailing along, the time seems to be stretch well beyond imagined.  

The weather started getting rough,
the tiny ship was tossed.
If not for the courage of the fearless crew
the Minnow would be lost.
The Minnow would be lost.

Storms comes up but somehow we survive.  We soldier on.  We are courageous in the face of danger, of what might appear to be insurmountable odds.  We are the crew that keeps us safe.  We persevere and see our vessel through the tumult and the drang.

The ship aground on the shore of this uncharted desert isle
with Gilligan,
the Skipper too.
A millionaire and his wife,
a movie star,
the professor and Mary Ann,
here on Gilligan's Isle.

There are times when we find ourselves in uncharted territory.  We may even feel like we are on an island where no one will ever rescue us.  We look around and the people we are with are not people we would ever have imagined ourselves being in relationship with.  But we learn to support each other and forge a way of life that, surprisingly, help us survive.  We even come to love these people, value their differences and honor the diversity that is "us" now.

So this is the tale of our castaways,
there here for a long long time.
They'll have to make the best of things,
it's an uphill climb.
The first mate and his Skipper too
will do their very best,
to make the others comf'terble
in their tropic island nest.
No phone ,no lights, no motor car,
not a single luxury
like Robinson Crusoe
it's primitive as can be.

Make the best of things.  Make other comfortable.  Learn that phones, light, motor cars are not what's important.  Luxury is life itself.  The basics are all we need to be happy.  It can be a long, long time.  It can also be over in an instant if the island where we have found ourself is suddenly swamped by a sudden storm.  Make the best of things and tend to our nest.  Life is what you make it.  Life is good.

So join us here each week my friends,
you're sure to get a smile,
from seven stranded castaways
here on Gilligan's Isle!

I think the folks on Gilligan's Island had the right idea.  They had no control over their fate.  They found themselves on an island, yet maintained the hope that someday they would get off it.  In the meantime, they turned their lives as stranded castaways into adventures that each week taught them valuable lessons.  It showed them life is what you make it.  In the end, the did get a smile each week, rise to every challenge and took what came their way in stride.   Most of all, they never gave up.  That is the lesson of this silly TV show, but, really, isn't that what we all need to keep in mind?  

Song is by The Wellingtons.