Shrinking Apple TV Review: The Life Lessons That Stayed With Me

When the Shrinking series on Apple TV first came out, I heard so many people talking about it. Since Apple TV was the one streaming service I didn't have access to at the time, I never got the chance to watch it. However, once I finally did, I was hooked, line and sinker. While Season 3 has been out since January, I only recently got around to watching it. It seems to be the perfect timing.

About Shrinking Apple TV Series

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“Shrinking” follows a grieving therapist who starts to break the rules and tell his clients exactly what he thinks. Ignoring his training and ethics, he finds himself making huge, tumultuous changes to people’s lives … including his own.

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My Review of Shrinking Series on AppleTV

Shrinking is filled with a solid mix of comedy and real-life issues. I honestly think it's hard for someone not to relate to at least one of the main characters in this series. I love how they created a close-knit group of friends from all walks of life. If I'm being honest, I'm a little jealous of the friendships they have and the amount of support they continually show one another. But that's also one of the reasons I feel blogging will always be a part of my life, because you, dear reader, are part of my community.

Sadly, I can see bits and pieces of myself in Brian. I know I can sometimes come across as someone who doesn't really care about other people's lives because I get so focused on what I'm trying to accomplish. But if you've been around here very long, you know it's actually quite the opposite. I probably care a little too much when it comes to the people I love. Then there's Liz. Oh goodness... I definitely have a fixer side too. When I care about someone, my natural instinct is to jump in and help however I can. Sometimes that's a blessing. Other times, I know it can be overwhelming.

Then there's Mia. Because I've always struggled to find people who truly appreciated me for who I am, my circle of friends has remained pretty small throughout my life. Yes, it gets lonely sometimes. Since I work as much as I do, I don't get to spend nearly as much time with the people I care about as I'd like. As a result, some friendships have quietly faded away over the years, not because anyone did anything wrong, but simply because life got busy.

There have been seasons when that loneliness became almost overwhelming. That was especially true when I was a stay-at-home mom raising three young children. Looking back now, I honestly think that's what led me to start blogging back in 2012. The online community that grew from those early blogging days became such an important part of my life, and I'd like to think I was able to encourage others just as much as they encouraged me.

That's why I believe social media and the online friendships we build really do matter. There are so many people who don't have opportunities to get out and connect with others regularly. Some work from home. Some stay home raising children. Others are caregivers, dealing with health issues, or simply live in seasons where life feels isolating. Yet I truly believe we were created to need other people. We need encouragement. We need wisdom. We need someone to celebrate with us, cry with us, and remind us we're not walking through life alone.

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That brings me to Paul. He's always eager to share his wisdom, and honestly, that's what this blog has always been about for me. I've lived through a lot in my life, and the older I get, the more I realize there will always be another obstacle waiting around the corner. If I can share something I've learned that helps someone else avoid some of the heartache I've experienced, then sharing my story has been worth it.

I also loved how this series tackled parenting. As a parent currently trying to find the happy medium between allowing our adult son to be a husband and father while resisting the urge to step in and take over, it's been a journey. Watching this series reminded me that sometimes loving someone means standing your ground and allowing them the opportunity to step up and do what needs to be done. That doesn't mean you stop loving them or helping them. It simply means you trust they're capable of growing through the situation.

That's probably one of the biggest themes I took away from this series. No matter how old we are or how much life we've experienced, there's always something new to learn. Every character in this series had flaws. Every one of them was carrying something. Every one of them made mistakes. And yet, they kept showing up for each other.

It also reminded me that some people simply don't change, no matter how badly we wish they would. That's a difficult lesson to accept, especially when it's someone you love. But I've learned it's possible to disagree with someone's actions while still loving the person. I have family members in my own life where that's exactly what I've had to learn.

As a woman who feels like she's going through a transformation herself, watching this series now couldn't have come at a better time. I still haven't completely pulled the trigger on some of the dreams God has placed on my heart, but I can feel myself getting closer every day. I know what I'm capable of doing. I'm finally seeing opportunities that could help turn those dreams into reality. At the same time, just like several of the characters in this series, I'm scared. My husband is nervous too because he understands the risks involved.

So, for now, I'm preparing.

I'm creating products I've dreamed about making for years. I'm incredibly proud of how the Book Lover's Journal turned out, and there are many more resources already in the works.

Maybe that's another reason this series resonated with me so much.

Sometimes the biggest changes in our lives don't happen overnight.

Sometimes they begin quietly... one small decision at a time.