Bedtime Stories

My wife and I recently saw the movie Bedtime Stories which we feared would be just another Adam Sandler movie. I tend to like Adam Sandler movies and we were in the mood for something light hearted and perhaps a little crass. The movie instead turned into a wonderful tale of right versus wrong in a world of smug, demeaning jerks.

The plot of the movie follows the life of Skeeter, the son of a hotel owner who raises his son to imagine and dream. Skeeter's father ends up losing the hotel, though Skeeter is allowed to keep working there as a handyman with the forgotten promise of the buyer of one day being allowed to run the hotel. Skeeter is hard-working and delightful with the hotel guests, much unlike the rest of the hotel staff who see themselves as much better than him. His sister is forced to go out of town to look for a new job and she asks him to tend her two young children. The fun comes when Skeeter tells his neice and nephew a bedtime story which comes true the following day. He then tries to use the stories as a means of getting his desired position at the hotel. Things don't go exactly as he plans which is expected in an Adam Sandler movie.

Again I will not ruin the movie for anyone, but do want to talk about why I find this movie to be inspiring, which surprisingly is more than just the fact that Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" plays through several scenes in the movie. Skeeter is pleasurable and works hard to be kind and helpful to those around him. He is given the chance to become great and while he tries to take the easy route, ends up learning that he must act and do something in order to make great things happen.

As a side note, Jonathan Pryce who plays Skeeter's father, also acts as narrator for some of the movie. Those of you who know me well are aware of my feelings about narrators. Rarely have I met a movie with a narrator that I did not like.

Minor but important change

Those returning readers will notice that there has been a minor change made to the title and description of my blog. When I first began to post on this blog I wanted to share with everyone the different medium that I found that inspired me, and I hoped would inspire others, to reach my (our) potential. Since then I have returned to school for more education, specifically a Ph.D. in Communication Studies. During the past few months I have started looking at things in a distinct manner. Now when I watch a movie, read a book, or listen to music I am searching for methods, or the rhetoric, that the artists use to portray this idea of the human potential. What does this mean for the future of this blog...not much will change. As I review the books, music or movies that I find, or are recommended to me, I will focus more on how the idea of potential is communicated to the reader/listener/watcher.
As always, I look forward to your comments. I really hope that people will share their thoughts and recommendations with me as that will add volumes to the effectiveness of this work. Thank you all for reading.

For the first time...

...I feel Wicked. My wife and I recently braved the Michigan winter weather to go see the Broadway musical Wicked. The musical is the story of the witches of the land of OZ sans Dorothy for the most part. I personally find the music to be amazingly inspiring but that is not what I wish to discuss here.
What I was even more impressed by were the performers. I could only imagine the amount of work that went in to their whole lives of practice and lessons to get to the point they are at performing in a Broadway musical in front of thousands of people every night. Their voices were amazing. The acting was pretty good. I am inspired by the fact that these people spend their energies to bettering themselves so they can do what they love and entertain people.
I think we should all give that much of ourselves to doing what we love so that other people know and can be equally inspired by our efforts.

Passionate Vampires

My reading lately has consisted mostly of school material, though I did take the time recently to read a recommendation from my wife. I had been wanting to and just had not taken the time to read Twilight by Stephanie Meyer. I was amazed by my reaction. I must admit that even with the glowing praise from my wife, I was still expecting to find a semi-immature piece of teenage literature. What I did find was a passionate work that made me think twice about all things normal in my life.
The story centers around teenager Bella, who moves to the small town of Forks, Washington and meets the mysterious Cullen family. She is particularly taken with Edward, a strangely pale and yet charming individual who no one seems to know anything about. As Bella and Edward strike up their friendship, she discovers that he is more than a normal 17 year old boy. He is in fact a vampire. Suddenly what Bella knew as normal is turned upside down. Most of all she is confronted with the passion of living a life distinct from any she has ever known.
The reason this makes it onto my list is that this book is filled with Passion. The relationship between the two main characters is intense, though not in the immature high-school manner that most assume. Bella is not your normal teenager and Edward is obviously not in the slightest bit normal. This book challenges everyday life and causes the reader to look at things differently than they normally would.
Along with this book, the movie has now come out and while it is not as good as the book, though only slightly, it still does a fantastic job of portraying the passion. At one point Edward is showing Bella the world from his point of view. Bella says, "This isn't real, This kind of stuff just doesn't exist." To this Edward replies, "It does in my world." The reality is that they live in the same world just with differing perspectives on that world.
This is the difference between those who live a passionate life and those who live normal, boring lives. It is all about perspective and the walls that we construct so that we aren't able to move beyond what we have told ourselves are the acceptable boundaries of normalcy. Everyone should take the opportunity to change their point of view from time to time to stretch the boundaries of the mind.

If you could do anything...Will Hunting

A few weeks ago I finally sat down to watch the movie "Good Will Hunting" and was quite moved. I must caution anyone who does not like strong language (profanity) to not watch this movie in its original version. If you can watch it on television or find an edited version, I highly recommend it.
The premise of the movie follows Will Hunting as a genius working as a janitor at an Ivy League school. He is discovered when we solves a complicated math problem on a chalkboard in the hall of the school. A brilliant professor at the school tries to befriend him and put him on the path to mathematical godhood. He resists, not willing to leave behind what he feels is his roots as a common no-good orphan. Will begins to see a counselor who helps him to work through some of his problems. Due to his voracious reading habit, those around him realize that he is a genius and can solve almost any problem put before him.
As always I won't give away the exciting details about the plot. This movie raised some interesting questions in my own mind...What would you do if you could do anything? Think about that. If you had the ability to do whatever you desired, would you be where you are now? Would you be in the same career in which you find yourself? What would your life be like? If you can answer that you would be doing exactly what you are doing where you are doing it, Congratulations, you've got it.
If not, why not? What is impeding you? As the eternal optimist, I always argue that everyone can attain their dreams. You can do anything. Don't stop yourself. Allow yourself the desires of your soul.
Ask yourself often to remember. What would you do if you could do anything? Then make it happen.

Life is Beautiful

My wife and I were out at garage sales a few weeks ago and I was excited to find Life is Beautiful on DVD for just one dollar. What a steal!
This movie puts an interesting spin on the events of the Holocaust. The story revolves around a family who is put into concentration camps. The father wishes to keep the pain from his son and so tells him that it is a game, with the winner getting a tank. The entire movie shows the strength of the spirit. With atrocities occurring around them, the family is able to emotionally endure in a sense.
It is stories like this that make me think about how I react to the hardships that occur in my own relatively simple life. Can I be better at looking at the bright side of every situation? Could I better help those around me by being optimistic in every sense? I believe so.

If you build it....

I apologize for not having posted for quite a while. My family has been in the process of moving cross country, which does not provide for much blogging time. Part of the process included me and my father in a moving truck for 3 days crossing over some of the most flat and mostly boring terrain that the US has to offer. We crossed Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois and Indiana on our way to Ohio. Anyone who has done the trip will know that the most abundant landscape is that of green cornfields. I admit that my love for corn in waning after having seen it for 3 days straight. As conversation was not easy in the loud diesel truck I took to thinking about things that I could blog. I'm weird and I know it and am ok with it. Driving across Iowa I thought of a movie that fits perfectly into this blog and also what I am doing now in Ohio trying to complete even more schooling: The Field of Dreams.
Now for those who are not American, this is a baseball movie and so it may not connect on that level. However, the message I believe is universal. The basic plot of the story is that of a man whose father was a baseball player. The man is now a farmer and has extensive cornfields. During his youth he found a love of baseball but never really was able to know his father before he died. This visibly troubles him. One day while working in his fields he hears a voice that tells him, "If you build it, he will come." The man is beside himself and believes he is going crazy or that someone is playing a joke on him. During the course of the movie he comes to terms with hearing the voices, which occurs several times, and figures out what he needs to do to achieve his real dream of being more involved with the game his father was so passionate about. The end is brilliantly emotional.
So what does this have to do with my life and many of yours, I am sure. Well, at times in life, we will hear a voice, or have a feeling, or perhaps have a loved on give us some advice, that really rings true and gives us insight into our burning passions and deepest dreams. Those voices or feelings come to help give us an push in the direction of achieving our dreams. A lot of times we do not understand exactly what those voices are saying, or what they mean, or even where they are pushing us. The important thing for us to remember is to follow the voice or feeling. Most people are doing a job that they are not passionate about, but it was available and the easy option. If we assume that life is to be easy, we are kidding ourselves. Accomplishing what we are meant to do in life is never easy. I, for example, know that I am supposed to be back in grad school to complete a third degree. I'm not sure where exactly it will lead me but I know this is where the voice is leading me and that if I follow, I will be able to have my dreams and help my family to attain theirs.

My favorite book

Just wanted to let everyone know that the iTunes music store is giving my favorite book in audio format today for free. That's right, you can download the entire audiobook of the Alchemist for free. Everyone should go and download it and listen to it. I know what I'm listening to all day tomorrow.

I would like to see...

I know that there are more people in the world that feel as I do. I know there are people who regularly visit this blog to see what I have written. Please, if you feel the same, or even if you don't, leave comments. If you have suggestions for my list, or even if you just want to agree or disagree with something I've written, please leave a comment.
I'd love to hear from and get to know everyone who visits my blog. Thanks for reading and a pre-emptive thanks for commenting.

I'm Bigger Than My Body...

And Waiting on the World to Change... These are song titles from musician John Mayer and the songs are exceptional. Bigger Than My Body talks about how society has gounded us and clipped our wings, and yet someday we can fly and soar and leave our old self behind. Now, I am a large man for those who don't know me (6'6", almost 2 meters, and about 280 pounds), but many times in my life I have felt like my soul is trying to explode from my body. I know others have felt the same.
Waiting on the World to Change is political in nature, and yet it works for me on all levels. There are many facets of our lives and societies that need to change. Politics is only one of those facets. I believe that mutual respect is another. Communication another. Belief in the potential of humanity another. I am waiting on the world to change. It can change, if we do something about it. It won't change on it's own.
Also, check out the song Gravity, also by John Mayer. It has been featured on the show House M.D..

Inspiration Peak

I added a section for websites that I like to visit that go along with my blog topic. The first one added to the list is Inspiration Peak. The link I put will get you to the forums where I also regularly post. It is a great site to talk about anything inspirational. They also sell motivational gifts and have places for sharing poetry and stories as well. It is an impressive site.

Someone Watching Over Me

Throughout my life I have noticed that there have been people strategically placed by the powers that be to help inspire me to complete my personal mission or personal legend (for those Alchemist fans). At times we do not realize our own potential and the great things that we could do for the world. There are very intuitive people out there that give their all, whether it be conciously or not, to help others on their way. Sometimes it is a family member and others it is a kind old lady in a grocery store that you have never seen before and will never see again.
In the movie Raise Your Voice, Terri the main character has enormous potential to become a gifted musician. She loves it but does not realize the power her ability has. Her brother does and does everything he can to motivate her to chase her dream. Unfortunately her brother dies tragically in a car accident. Before he dies, he sends a dvd of Terri singing to a music school Terri is hoping to attend in the summer. She is invited to attend and works on honing her musical skills. The whole movie she is visibly shaken by the death of her brother that she deems as being her fault. Near the end of the movie she realizes the impact her brother has had on her life and the amazing gift he gave her. She encapsulates this in the song "Someone Watching Over Me". It is an amazing message and I encourage everyone to listen to the song and to think about the people who have helped you along the way. Also, be that type of person and help others as well. It will not only enrich their lives but yours as well.

Homer Hickam did it...Why can't I?

I've recently been thinking about the fascination that small children have with being astronauts. Almost every child goes through the phase of wanting to grow up and go into outer space. I truly believe it come from our desire to get as high as we can. Our young minds equate achieving our dreams with soaring high into the air.
For years, movies about space have intrigued and captivated the public and given us a glimpse of our own dreams. October Sky is the emotional and motivating story of Homer Hickam's dream of breaking free from his small mining town home. When a new teacher comes to Homer's town and challenges the students' goals and life's ambitions, Homer decides to learn as much as he can about space and rocketry. He and his friends set out to enter and win the science fair and send a homemade rocket into orbit. Homer's determination inspires his whole town as they all cheer him into the heavens.
The main thing that I gleaned from this story is that each person has his/her place and mission in life. Homer's was in space, while his dad's was with the mine. Homer felt that the mine was a trap, while his father felt comfortable there and felt he was best put to use in it's shafts. Every person should be inspired to their best place, whatever it may be. There also was a great sense of community in this story, something I believe is truly lacking in most western societies today. This story shows that the dreams of a few can bolster the dreams of many and also that the help of a community working together can skyrocket the ambitions of a few highly motivated souls.

Fahrenheit 451

The topic most discussed with this book is that of book burning. There is so much more to this work by Ray Bradbury. For me, this book raises one question...What would you be willing to give up for knowledge?
The main character of Fahrenheit 451, Guy Montag, works as a fireman in a world with fireproof buildings. His job consists of burning the belongings of people who are found to have books that are on the restricted list, which are most. The people with books are arrested. Guy starts to show a change of heart when he meets a neighbor girl who appears very peculiar in the way she acts. He also witnesses a woman who will not leave her house as it is burning, because she does not want to leave her books. This all comes to a climax as we find out Guy's true heart and what he is willing to give for knowledge.
This seems to be a great fear among literary types as there are many different works that address similar themes. I can think of the book 1984 by George Orwell and the movie Equilibrium for a couple of examples from my lists. What would we be willing to give or do if the simple freedoms that we enjoy as human beings were threatened or taken away? Would we be willing to fight against the powers that be for the right to own a Bible, Koran or other religious book? Would we be willing to die for the right to feel emotion and passion?
Please let me know if you can think of other examples of this theme that I can add to my list.

Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium

The first thing that impresses about this movie is the performance of Dustin Hoffman. He plays a toy store owner with longer than normal life and a flare for the eccentric. Evidence of this can be found in his pet zebra named Mortimer and that he believes an accountant is a cross between a counter and a mutant. Natalie Portman plays Mahoney, a gifted musician who has lost her ability to progress. Through the movie and Magorium's strange method of inspiring Mahoney, she learns to live life for the beauty that it is and find the magic around her. The Counting Mutant also learns that life is more than numbers and work.
I would love to own a magical toy store. Children are so full of life and are interested in anything. Life for children is magical. If only it could be so for more people/adults. Disinterest causes people to stall in their progression. If we can not see the wonder in the world, we can not dream of things bigger than ourselves.

"Mortimer, fetch! Stupid Zebra!!"