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!!"

The Sandlot

I've watched The Sandlot about 15 times and decided that it needed a rewatching since summer is on the way. Its got great lines and is pretty hilarious and there are few boys that can't say they wish their childhood had looked like this. The story centers around a group of boys that spend their time playing baseball at an old diamond they call The Sandlot. A new boy moves into town who wants to play with them but does not know how. After the initial joking and mocking one of the boys helps the newcomer to be accepted. The new boy's knowledge of baseball is quite limited and when they find themselves without a ball he runs home to his stepdad's trophy room to get the baseball signed by Babe Ruth to play with. Of course he then proceeds to hit a home run over the fence where a ferocious beast of a dog awaits. The rest of the movie shows their attempts at getting the ball back.
The inspirational part comes when Benny, the best player of the boys, has a dream where Babe Ruth comes out of his closet. Babe tells him he should just hop over the fence and get the ball. He also tells him that most people have one moment of greatness but that most don't realize it when is in front of them. This is Benny's moment for greatness.
We should all pay attention for our moment of greatness. We also need to be prepared with the ability to complete the task. We are all meant to succeed,we just have to make it happen. "Heroes get remembered, but legends never die".

August Rush

I've been anticipating this movie for a long time. I love the work that Freddie Highmore does. The basic plot of the movie is that two musicians have an intimate meeting, that turns out to be a one-nighter thanks to her father. Well, a child is soon born and again her father intervenes and makes her believe the son has died and he places the boy in an orphanage. The boy's name is Evan and he grows up believing that his parents are out there. He feels that he is surrounded by music and that if he can learn to make music, his parents will hear him and come back. With the help of an understanding social worker and others who teach him, he learns to use his musical talent. As usual I will not give away the ending, but the impressive part of this movie is the journey that Evan goes through in his quest to find happiness with the parents he knows are out there for him.
As I watched this movie I could not help but be inspired by someone who has nothing in life, but knows that there is something for him to accomplish that will bring himself and others joy. It seems to me that everyone in the world has a mission to accomplish during their lifetime that will elevate their soul and everyone around them. We get lost in the noise, which if we listen closely is really music pushing toward our goal. Take the time to listen to the music and learn from those around us who are willing to share their experience with us.

"You know what music is? God's little reminder that there's something else besides us in this universe; harmonic connection between all living beings, every where, even the stars."

I am Legend and Bob Marley

I did not go into my viewing of this movie expecting to be inspired. I was pleasantly surprised to find a great message. The basic plot of the movie is that a disease has taken over the world and left all but one man, Robert Neville (Will Smith), as mad zombie-like freaks trying to destroy their last shred of humanity. Neville sees it as his duty, as the only one immune to the virus, to try and cure it. At one point he discovers that he is not the only human left and he takes the opportunity to explain the music behind his attempts to cure the disease.

He (Bob Marley) had this idea. It was kind of a virologist idea. He believed that you could cure racism and hate... literally cure it, by injecting music and love into people's lives. When he was scheduled to perform at a peace rally, a gunman came to his house and shot him down. Two days later he walked out on that stage and sang. When they asked him why - He said, "The people, who were trying to make this world worse... are not taking a day off. How can I? Light up the darkness."

Amen, brother!

The Star Spangled Banner

Wow, this is the most inspiring rendition of the National Anthem I have heard in a long time. I was amazed and got chills and misty eyes. Enjoy and keep the tissues close.

I'm a Believer

Few songs have the pure emotional charge that this song by Christina Milian has. Believer received most of it's attention by being a major part of the movie "Be Cool" in which John Travolta helps Christina Milian rise above mediocrity and attain her dream of becoming a famous singer. This song speaks for itself. Listen to the passion in her voice.

I am Sam

One thing that I've noticed about humanity in general is that we tend to complain about anything that we don't see as perfect in our lives. Most of us let that be a debilitating factor in our lives that stops us from attaining the goals we've unconsciously set in our minds.
I was very refreshed to finally watch the movie "I am Sam". The main character is a mentally disabled single father who is fighting to keep custody of his daughter and raise her the best he can. He acknowledges that he doesn't always know what to do and that at times he feels terrified about his inadequacies. Sam is much unlike the rest of the world in that he does not complain. Even with most people telling him he cannot do it, he finds a way to get it done. If he is unable to do something himself, he finds a friend who can help him make up the difference.
Few of us are born with the disadvantage of being unable to progress mentally past a certain point. This incredibly inspirational movie proves that "all you need is love" and you can conquer anything. With whatever disability or disadvantage you may be facing, with the right friends and the will to fight for what is right, anything is possible.