Avatar tells a story that is very familiar to all of us because we've all seen it before. We've seen it many times. But we've never seen it this pretty, and we're supposed to be impressed. I suspect that most people will be. I saw it in IMAX 3D, which it was supposedly made for.
There's no doubt that it looks incredible. Strictly from a visual standpoint, this may be the most impressive film I've ever seen. It's in every other category that it falls a little short. First off, I won't be spoiling anything by saying that this is basically just a $300 million remake of Pocahontas. In that story (the fictional one, mind you) John Smith falls in love with Pocahontas. In Avatar, it's Jake Sully that falls in love with a native. Notice any similarities in the initials? It's the same tired old story that we've seen so many times. To be honest, I'm growing kind of sick of seeing a story about a "primitive" people forcefully relocated to fulfill the greedy demands of the white man. I mean, really. How many times have we seen this? It was painfully predictable and filled to the brim with flat acting, two-dimensional caricatures, er...characters; and cliches. My other problem with it is that the aliens look, dress, act and talk almost exactly like Native Americans. If this was supposed to be set on a completely different planet, I was hoping for a little more originality and creativity than that. Having a culture that is so much like one here on earth kind of takes me out of the escapism that this film could have been.
The only original aspect of the film is the idea of living by proxy through another body. That's a pretty cool idea. I just wish they would have done more with it. Oh yeah! And our planet is slowly becoming uninhabitable! What an exciting, new....wait...dang it, that's been done too!
This movie cost them somewhere around $300 million to make. It would have been nice if they had cared a little more about making a movie with a story worth telling, and maybe even one that hasn't been done before. In the end, I'm giving it three stars because it has some truly beautiful imagery in it. I got chills a few times just watching it. On a very basic level, it was fun to watch, and I'm actually glad that I saw it. But I came from the theater with a feeling similar to one that I would have after just having watched the most amazing laser light show I had ever seen. It's a feast for the senses, and not for the mind.
Apart from pushing the visual effects envelope forward a bit, this film does next to nothing for cinema or the art of storytelling.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Happier Than I've Ever Been
So, lately, with everything that's been going on in my life, it's got me to think. And I believe, considering everything, both the good and the bad, there has never been another time in my life when I have been this happy. It's not because I'm not facing any challenges or anything like that, because, of course, I definitely am. I don't believe that anyone is exempt from those kinds of experiences. But I am watching as all of my dreams are slowly coming true. I'm not sure exactly how it's happening. I'm not even sure what I did to deserve all these good things in my life, and I suppose that doesn't really matter.
So, I'm going to school at the university of my choice, I have a working car, I have a full-time job that I love, I'm healthier than I've ever been, and I'm dating the sweetest, most beautiful girl I've ever met! Now, when I say that she's the most beautiful, I don't just mean the way she looks, although that is definitely the case too. I mean she's beautiful in every meaning of the word; just who she is. She's kind, smart, funny, and silly, and warmhearted and just a joy to be around. And she also just happens to be unbelievably gorgeous! I can be having the worst day, and just seeing her makes all the negativity instantly go away. I still have a hard time believing that I'm lucky enough to have her in my life. She's a bright light in my life, and just a dream to me. And the best part about this dream is that it's real.
So, I'm going to school at the university of my choice, I have a working car, I have a full-time job that I love, I'm healthier than I've ever been, and I'm dating the sweetest, most beautiful girl I've ever met! Now, when I say that she's the most beautiful, I don't just mean the way she looks, although that is definitely the case too. I mean she's beautiful in every meaning of the word; just who she is. She's kind, smart, funny, and silly, and warmhearted and just a joy to be around. And she also just happens to be unbelievably gorgeous! I can be having the worst day, and just seeing her makes all the negativity instantly go away. I still have a hard time believing that I'm lucky enough to have her in my life. She's a bright light in my life, and just a dream to me. And the best part about this dream is that it's real.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
My Opinion of Michael Jackson's This Is It
So, I meant to post a review of this on the night that I saw it, but I never got the chance. So, here goes:
This film was quite simply amazing. I mean, it really was. Fans of Michael Jackson will undoubtedly love this. Open-minded fans of music in general will also love it. The film is filled to the brim with infectious music, and incredible choreographed dancing and visuals. That alone makes it worth watching, and easily one of the most purely entertaining documentaries ever made. But beyond this, it also shows us a personal glimpse of how Michael Jackson works. It's all very candid and real. Seeing this may, for many people, lay to rest a lot of the sordid rumors surrounding the entertainer. But something I respect about this film is that they didn't even approach that topic. The film was concerned implicitly with showing him as something that simply cannot be denied: he was one of the most purely talented entertainers who has ever lived. If it was possible for anyone to embody the concept of music, he did.
Watching this movie was quite the experience for me. I honestly was not expecting much at all. But I found myself thoroughly entertained and immersed throughout the entire two hours. Two hours, by the way, would usually seem like a long time for a documentary. But the music, dancing, and unique insights into perhaps the world's most recognized performer turned this into one of the most entertaining and fulfilling films of any kind that I ever seen. I highly recommend this. I give this a very rarely-given 5 out of 5 stars.
This film was quite simply amazing. I mean, it really was. Fans of Michael Jackson will undoubtedly love this. Open-minded fans of music in general will also love it. The film is filled to the brim with infectious music, and incredible choreographed dancing and visuals. That alone makes it worth watching, and easily one of the most purely entertaining documentaries ever made. But beyond this, it also shows us a personal glimpse of how Michael Jackson works. It's all very candid and real. Seeing this may, for many people, lay to rest a lot of the sordid rumors surrounding the entertainer. But something I respect about this film is that they didn't even approach that topic. The film was concerned implicitly with showing him as something that simply cannot be denied: he was one of the most purely talented entertainers who has ever lived. If it was possible for anyone to embody the concept of music, he did.
Watching this movie was quite the experience for me. I honestly was not expecting much at all. But I found myself thoroughly entertained and immersed throughout the entire two hours. Two hours, by the way, would usually seem like a long time for a documentary. But the music, dancing, and unique insights into perhaps the world's most recognized performer turned this into one of the most entertaining and fulfilling films of any kind that I ever seen. I highly recommend this. I give this a very rarely-given 5 out of 5 stars.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Gonna go see Michael Jackson's This Is It tonight.
Yep! I sure am! It's funny because, in most places around the country, the showings are sold out. But not here in Rexburg. Very few people around here are interested in seeing it. And I can't say that I blame them. There's obvious controversy surrounding Michael Jackson as a public figure, and I'm very aware of that. I think his life and death is a tragic tale. I think he's severely misunderstood, and judged as being something he isn't. Now, this isn't just blind fan worship or anything. Nothing like it. I've simply paid attention to the accusations and facts, and things like that, and it just never added up to me. Although, with that said, I can also see how it is very easy to be convinced that the things he's been accused of are, in fact, true. I don't believe it, but I can see it. For that reason alone, I don't blame anyone for not wanting to see this movie, and I have no desire to pressure anyone into seeing it.
I have mixed expectations for this. It is a documentary, and I very rarely have any desire to go and pay money to see a documentary in the theater. But I have huge respect for Michael Jackson as a performer, and an entertainer. So basically, it could either be hugely entertaining, or painfully boring. We'll see. I'll post a review of it here tonight after I see it.
I have mixed expectations for this. It is a documentary, and I very rarely have any desire to go and pay money to see a documentary in the theater. But I have huge respect for Michael Jackson as a performer, and an entertainer. So basically, it could either be hugely entertaining, or painfully boring. We'll see. I'll post a review of it here tonight after I see it.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
A Me Update
So, before now, all I've posted on this blog were just things I already wrote on Facebook. A friend of mine made me promise him that I would create a blog. Now that I actually have one, maybe I should actually use it as a blog! We'll see how it goes. I've always been terrible at keeping a journal, but maybe this will be different.
So, I'm in Rexburg, ID right now, going to BYU-Idaho. I'm studying Elementary Education. Although, right now, I'm technically not enrolled. I'm taking some time off to work full-time, so that when I start attending school again in April, I'll be in a much better financial position. This whole thing has definitely been an interesting experience. I mean, it's been great overall! I'm a Sophomore, taking time off, like I said. But I've made the best kind of friends that anyone could possibly hope for. I've also experienced heartbreak of almost every kind. Instead of going into those details now, I think I'll save them for separate posts. All in all, there's no other place I'd rather be right now. The funny thing is, I really mean it.
While I definitely miss my family and friends back in New Hampshire (they mean the world to me), this is where I need to be right now. That's very clear to me. This is the first time I've ever lived out on my own, and I feel it shaping me into the person I need to become. More on this later.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
To Love Before You Judge
(Written August 8, 2009)
Is the fact that we're all different something that everyone can understand and agree upon? Are there people out there that are simply incapable of grasping this concept? Are some people actually convinced that it is inherently bad to be different? It seems to me that this may be the beginning of how we start to see, think, and do things so backwards sometimes. And what is "different" anyway? Do we even know?
Too often, we judge someone before we even know their names. Something about them that is immediately apparent, we find offensive, and then we back off. Not only do we back off, but we do and say hateful things to them. It happens everyday. We'll be driving on the highway, and someone will cut us off. It doesn't make the least amount of difference whether it was done on purpose or not. Now this person is suddenly a worthless hack that should never have earned his/her license.
Far more alarming than this, though, is our tendency to openly and liberally condemn people who pose no immediate threat to us. What motivates this? Is it because of their tattoos? Their body piercings? Sexual orientation? Birthmarks? Assumed disabilities? Difference in religion and beliefs? Music tastes? Movie tastes? Favorite restaurants? Political affiliations? Some of this may seem silly...I take that back. ALL of this should seem VERY silly, as reasons to hate or judge anyone! Unfortunately, we seem to be experts at finding far more than what I just listed to use as justification to hate. Whatever the excuse is, it doesn't matter. It simply needs to stop. And if I'm not mistaken, it starts with you and me.
Those who know me know that I would never, myself, get a tattoo, body piercings, drink or smoke, etc. For my own reasons, I hold to certain standards. There are some things that I will always do, and other things that I will never do. It's simply the way in which I've chosen to live my life. This, in no way, makes me better than anyone else on the planet. I have a lot of respect for people who have personal convictions and live by them. They'll protect themselves and their children from things that they feel are not right for themselves and their family. Good for them for doing that. It should be respected and encouraged. But shame on all of us for judging those who, in our own estimation, do not "measure up." What's worse, is that we do this without considering, even for a second, their circumstances.
We, as a human family, are better than this.
Allow me to take this just a step further. The limitations inherent to language sometimes make it difficult to adequately express feelings on a matter that means so much to me, on a deeply personal level. With that said, I'll do my best. Recently--as in the last five years or so--I've seen many close friendships, and other meaningful relationships, fall apart, or simply end. And this because of a mistake that one or the other made. Or, maybe they're going down a path that is considered to be dangerous or harmful. While that may be true, is that reason enough to abandon them? Would true friends ever do that? Quite simply, no! What better way to protect them from what we deem as harmful than through love? Just at the time that we feel the need to distance ourselves from someone is usually the exact time we need to reach out to them. We, as human beings, are innately capable of giving so much love and light. So much that it may be impossible to measure. Why do we continually truncate this God-given ability? Why do you think it was given to us in the first place? It's safe to say that it is understood that we will all occasionally tread dark paths. Often, the only way off of it is through the light of love offered by true friends and family.
Is the fact that we're all different something that everyone can understand and agree upon? Are there people out there that are simply incapable of grasping this concept? Are some people actually convinced that it is inherently bad to be different? It seems to me that this may be the beginning of how we start to see, think, and do things so backwards sometimes. And what is "different" anyway? Do we even know?
Too often, we judge someone before we even know their names. Something about them that is immediately apparent, we find offensive, and then we back off. Not only do we back off, but we do and say hateful things to them. It happens everyday. We'll be driving on the highway, and someone will cut us off. It doesn't make the least amount of difference whether it was done on purpose or not. Now this person is suddenly a worthless hack that should never have earned his/her license.
Far more alarming than this, though, is our tendency to openly and liberally condemn people who pose no immediate threat to us. What motivates this? Is it because of their tattoos? Their body piercings? Sexual orientation? Birthmarks? Assumed disabilities? Difference in religion and beliefs? Music tastes? Movie tastes? Favorite restaurants? Political affiliations? Some of this may seem silly...I take that back. ALL of this should seem VERY silly, as reasons to hate or judge anyone! Unfortunately, we seem to be experts at finding far more than what I just listed to use as justification to hate. Whatever the excuse is, it doesn't matter. It simply needs to stop. And if I'm not mistaken, it starts with you and me.
Those who know me know that I would never, myself, get a tattoo, body piercings, drink or smoke, etc. For my own reasons, I hold to certain standards. There are some things that I will always do, and other things that I will never do. It's simply the way in which I've chosen to live my life. This, in no way, makes me better than anyone else on the planet. I have a lot of respect for people who have personal convictions and live by them. They'll protect themselves and their children from things that they feel are not right for themselves and their family. Good for them for doing that. It should be respected and encouraged. But shame on all of us for judging those who, in our own estimation, do not "measure up." What's worse, is that we do this without considering, even for a second, their circumstances.
We, as a human family, are better than this.
Allow me to take this just a step further. The limitations inherent to language sometimes make it difficult to adequately express feelings on a matter that means so much to me, on a deeply personal level. With that said, I'll do my best. Recently--as in the last five years or so--I've seen many close friendships, and other meaningful relationships, fall apart, or simply end. And this because of a mistake that one or the other made. Or, maybe they're going down a path that is considered to be dangerous or harmful. While that may be true, is that reason enough to abandon them? Would true friends ever do that? Quite simply, no! What better way to protect them from what we deem as harmful than through love? Just at the time that we feel the need to distance ourselves from someone is usually the exact time we need to reach out to them. We, as human beings, are innately capable of giving so much love and light. So much that it may be impossible to measure. Why do we continually truncate this God-given ability? Why do you think it was given to us in the first place? It's safe to say that it is understood that we will all occasionally tread dark paths. Often, the only way off of it is through the light of love offered by true friends and family.
The Silence Piercers
(Written July 22, 2009)
So, this is something I wrote, based upon probably the most disturbing dream I've ever had. I'm considering eventually adapting this into a screenplay, and making it a feature-length film at some point. This is quite a bit darker than most of the things I usually like to write, but...well, it kind of had to be. Enjoy!
The Silence Piercers
...Walking amidst the greens and birds
No wind or songs to be heard
The Silence is a presence, unwelcome indeed
From this pressure I wish to be freed
Faces without features
Friends, family, teachers
Unfriendly, nondescript plates of skin
Where faces should be, their souls trapped within
I know them, I know them, if only
I could look into their eyes and see
Some semblance of light, of love, just a hint
But nothing; no sign of divine origin
This Silence I don't like, rocks my soul at its core
A threat from somewhere, somehow I am to be no more
Walking still, I have no goal
All there is to feel is cold
Closer and closer, but to what?
The path draws narrow, a knot in my gut
My eyes fix on a box, marble, black
Trimmed with dreadful gold, I turn my back
A force within me turns my head
To see my body, lying, dead
The awful Silence is no more
As fear rises, featureless faces scream in horror
Openings, not quite mouths
Rip open, to pierce the Silence, Screams and shouts
As if Screams could be woven
These beings were entrusted with an omen
Staring at my corpse, how could this be?
The Screams overwhelm, I drop to my knees
Blood from my ears, my hands catch the drops
Clenching my hands, against my chest my heart knocks
Clearly dead, yet very much alive
Escaping this nightmare becomes my drive
Screams all around me, they have me trapped
My mortal eyes emerge at last
Thick confusion veils my mind
As time crawls by, deep fears unwind
A familiar sensation, a comforting smell
Back in my bedroom, returned from Hell.
So, this is something I wrote, based upon probably the most disturbing dream I've ever had. I'm considering eventually adapting this into a screenplay, and making it a feature-length film at some point. This is quite a bit darker than most of the things I usually like to write, but...well, it kind of had to be. Enjoy!
The Silence Piercers
...Walking amidst the greens and birds
No wind or songs to be heard
The Silence is a presence, unwelcome indeed
From this pressure I wish to be freed
Faces without features
Friends, family, teachers
Unfriendly, nondescript plates of skin
Where faces should be, their souls trapped within
I know them, I know them, if only
I could look into their eyes and see
Some semblance of light, of love, just a hint
But nothing; no sign of divine origin
This Silence I don't like, rocks my soul at its core
A threat from somewhere, somehow I am to be no more
Walking still, I have no goal
All there is to feel is cold
Closer and closer, but to what?
The path draws narrow, a knot in my gut
My eyes fix on a box, marble, black
Trimmed with dreadful gold, I turn my back
A force within me turns my head
To see my body, lying, dead
The awful Silence is no more
As fear rises, featureless faces scream in horror
Openings, not quite mouths
Rip open, to pierce the Silence, Screams and shouts
As if Screams could be woven
These beings were entrusted with an omen
Staring at my corpse, how could this be?
The Screams overwhelm, I drop to my knees
Blood from my ears, my hands catch the drops
Clenching my hands, against my chest my heart knocks
Clearly dead, yet very much alive
Escaping this nightmare becomes my drive
Screams all around me, they have me trapped
My mortal eyes emerge at last
Thick confusion veils my mind
As time crawls by, deep fears unwind
A familiar sensation, a comforting smell
Back in my bedroom, returned from Hell.
Why Does Charity Farms Mean So Much to Me?
(Written March 18, 2009)
There comes a time when most, if not all of us will want to try and find some way to make some difference in the world. But for us, it is never enough for it to be some transitory, temporary thing. We want to have an actual, visceral impact. All my life, I’ve been frustrated by the feeling I have that I can never do enough; especially for those that I really care about. It is painful for me to think that I can never actually help those that I love. That frustration is still alive and well today. If we are to constantly suffer, or at least consistently re-enter a cycle of happiness and suffering, is any amount of offered service ever valid? Really, what is the point of serving, if this cycle will inevitably continue?
It is far too easy to allow ourselves to spiral down to where we will seriously consider these questions. These questions are seeds of lies. Sometimes, during our own darkest moments, we fail to see the reality of the human connection, and then suddenly everything seems pointless. I’ve been there. Ironically, the idea of Charity Farms was brought to my attention during the last time I was in this dark place. It couldn’t have been better timing.
This beautiful concept was introduced to me by my friend Kerry, who is pained every time he thinks of suffering children in third-world countries. If something like Charity Farms were in place today, those same children would not be suffering.
For the benefit of those who don’t know, let me explain the vision of Charity Farms, as I see it. The idea is that we will buy pieces of land in different parts of the world, (including this country) and have a farm on that land with veggies, fruits, grains, animals, etc. Also on that land will be an educational facility where people will be able to come and learn how to provide for themselves and for their loved ones. In connection with this company, we will eventually run orphanages with a very strong emphasis on education and life-survival skills. The beneficiaries of the farms, educational facilities, and orphanages will be primarily the homeless, the impoverished, and the orphans. These people will have an opportunity to have work experience, farming experience, learn how to feed themselves and others, and learn essential skills and principles that will have a lasting impact throughout the rest of their lives.
But the vision of Charity Farms really even goes so much deeper than this. The strongest emphasis of our services will be on the orphans in countries outside of North America. These young orphans have very little opportunity, if any at all. If they are able to be in an orphanage, most of these orphanages focus only on giving food, shelter, and clothing. When they reach the age of 18, and have not been placed in foster homes, they will be out of the “system,” and will enter the world having no education on how to face the rigors of life. A discouraging and staggering number of these orphans end up on the streets; involved in crime, drugs, and prostitution; and a high number of them will very unfortunately commit suicide. We want to offer these kids genuine love. Love is a healing power that is far more powerful than anything else. As a human family, the amount of love we can give together is literally limitless.
I think that there are people who consider suicide, who will genuinely believe there is no one out there who cares. Beyond that, they believe that they have nothing to give to this world. If they have nothing to give, what is the point of anything? The world that these orphans are accustomed to presents to them the idea that there truly are no opportunities to become anything more than just slaves to a never-ending cycle, which will always end in suffering. As we offer them opportunities for education, character development, human interactions, etc., we will not only be giving hope, but we will be saving lives.
This is something that can only be done together. I believe that one person can change the world, but it will sure go a heck of a lot faster, and have more of an effect as we put forth the effort together.
As these people learn how to take care of themselves, that will empower them to then be able to take care of others around them. And isn’t that what this life is all about? Is there anything more satisfying than being able to help and lift each other? Selfless service is the gateway to true and lasting joy.
These people that cameras don’t see are literally our brothers and sisters in very much the same way as the people we physically interact with on a daily basis. Charity Farms will simply act as a vehicle by which we will be able to take care of the members of our extended family, who are as far away as the other side of the world. The mileage between us in no way diminishes or takes away from the very real human connection that we all share. We all live in the same world. As we take on our responsibility to take care of and lift each other, by first improving ourselves, this human connection will inevitably be strengthened, and this already strikingly beautiful world will be a much better place because of it.
There comes a time when most, if not all of us will want to try and find some way to make some difference in the world. But for us, it is never enough for it to be some transitory, temporary thing. We want to have an actual, visceral impact. All my life, I’ve been frustrated by the feeling I have that I can never do enough; especially for those that I really care about. It is painful for me to think that I can never actually help those that I love. That frustration is still alive and well today. If we are to constantly suffer, or at least consistently re-enter a cycle of happiness and suffering, is any amount of offered service ever valid? Really, what is the point of serving, if this cycle will inevitably continue?
It is far too easy to allow ourselves to spiral down to where we will seriously consider these questions. These questions are seeds of lies. Sometimes, during our own darkest moments, we fail to see the reality of the human connection, and then suddenly everything seems pointless. I’ve been there. Ironically, the idea of Charity Farms was brought to my attention during the last time I was in this dark place. It couldn’t have been better timing.
This beautiful concept was introduced to me by my friend Kerry, who is pained every time he thinks of suffering children in third-world countries. If something like Charity Farms were in place today, those same children would not be suffering.
For the benefit of those who don’t know, let me explain the vision of Charity Farms, as I see it. The idea is that we will buy pieces of land in different parts of the world, (including this country) and have a farm on that land with veggies, fruits, grains, animals, etc. Also on that land will be an educational facility where people will be able to come and learn how to provide for themselves and for their loved ones. In connection with this company, we will eventually run orphanages with a very strong emphasis on education and life-survival skills. The beneficiaries of the farms, educational facilities, and orphanages will be primarily the homeless, the impoverished, and the orphans. These people will have an opportunity to have work experience, farming experience, learn how to feed themselves and others, and learn essential skills and principles that will have a lasting impact throughout the rest of their lives.
But the vision of Charity Farms really even goes so much deeper than this. The strongest emphasis of our services will be on the orphans in countries outside of North America. These young orphans have very little opportunity, if any at all. If they are able to be in an orphanage, most of these orphanages focus only on giving food, shelter, and clothing. When they reach the age of 18, and have not been placed in foster homes, they will be out of the “system,” and will enter the world having no education on how to face the rigors of life. A discouraging and staggering number of these orphans end up on the streets; involved in crime, drugs, and prostitution; and a high number of them will very unfortunately commit suicide. We want to offer these kids genuine love. Love is a healing power that is far more powerful than anything else. As a human family, the amount of love we can give together is literally limitless.
I think that there are people who consider suicide, who will genuinely believe there is no one out there who cares. Beyond that, they believe that they have nothing to give to this world. If they have nothing to give, what is the point of anything? The world that these orphans are accustomed to presents to them the idea that there truly are no opportunities to become anything more than just slaves to a never-ending cycle, which will always end in suffering. As we offer them opportunities for education, character development, human interactions, etc., we will not only be giving hope, but we will be saving lives.
This is something that can only be done together. I believe that one person can change the world, but it will sure go a heck of a lot faster, and have more of an effect as we put forth the effort together.
As these people learn how to take care of themselves, that will empower them to then be able to take care of others around them. And isn’t that what this life is all about? Is there anything more satisfying than being able to help and lift each other? Selfless service is the gateway to true and lasting joy.
These people that cameras don’t see are literally our brothers and sisters in very much the same way as the people we physically interact with on a daily basis. Charity Farms will simply act as a vehicle by which we will be able to take care of the members of our extended family, who are as far away as the other side of the world. The mileage between us in no way diminishes or takes away from the very real human connection that we all share. We all live in the same world. As we take on our responsibility to take care of and lift each other, by first improving ourselves, this human connection will inevitably be strengthened, and this already strikingly beautiful world will be a much better place because of it.
The Symphonic Human Experience
(Written March 11, 2009)
Here I am in the midst of life
Watching, wondering, in awe of everything
Clouds weaving in and out of strange and wonderful shapes
Trees moving in time with the wind
Stars, our protective nightlights, sparkling in the sea of black blue
Surrounded by constant beauty
What could I have done to deserve the gift of this world?
A symphony of people, opportunity, places to see
Life was meant to be
More than one can comprehend in a single moment
The fear of what we cannot understand
The comfort of a friend’s voice, and that of a warm hand
The dark becomes light at just the right time
It is silly to think
That there is no divinity within and without
There can be no doubt
There is more to this existence than what our senses tell us
We lock the suspicion in our hearts
There is more
There MUST be a beneficent Conductor leading this symphony
This Conductor has given us a gift, a chance
A chance to become our full selves
Life is our gift…
Here I am in the midst of life
Watching, wondering, in awe of everything
Clouds weaving in and out of strange and wonderful shapes
Trees moving in time with the wind
Stars, our protective nightlights, sparkling in the sea of black blue
Surrounded by constant beauty
What could I have done to deserve the gift of this world?
A symphony of people, opportunity, places to see
Life was meant to be
More than one can comprehend in a single moment
The fear of what we cannot understand
The comfort of a friend’s voice, and that of a warm hand
The dark becomes light at just the right time
It is silly to think
That there is no divinity within and without
There can be no doubt
There is more to this existence than what our senses tell us
We lock the suspicion in our hearts
There is more
There MUST be a beneficent Conductor leading this symphony
This Conductor has given us a gift, a chance
A chance to become our full selves
Life is our gift…
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
You Are a Light
(Written March 6, 2009)
It seems that the very existence of reality, and even just life itself, is dependent upon there being opposition. Up, down; light, dark; good, evil; and so forth. It’s easy to assume that these opposing forces are very much equal. And there will be times when we will convince ourselves that darkness and evil are actually more abundant. This mindset becomes easy for us to adopt in our daily thoughts, especially amidst experiencing painful trials and hardships. But, if I may, I will submit that these oppositions are definitely not on equal grounds. More important, the power lies within each of us to tip the scale more towards light, since light is what we are.
When considering the properties of light and dark, in particular, it is easy to see that light is far more powerful than darkness. Just take a walk outside at night, and you will see. Isn’t it interesting that though you are surrounded by darkness, all it takes is a few insignificant lights to see your way through it completely? Such is life. Such is truth.
I like to think of life as kind of like walking down a dark street. The streetlights, stars, and other seemingly insignificant lights that so effectively pierce through the sometimes-thick blanket of darkness represent you, my friends, my family. You are my light, and without you, I am blind.
This life is so filled with confusion, heartbreak, uncertainty, and strife. There are times when it becomes so overwhelming, that the merit of living becomes questionable. Things will suddenly seem completely hopeless. During these times though, I think, is when we forget a critical element of what makes us who we are. If anyone ever takes the time to ponder the origin of our own individual souls, I’m not sure it’s possible to come to any conclusion other than that we came from a place of brilliant light. By implication then, we ourselves, are light.
This world is a beautiful place largely because of the illumination that we as human beings give off. This is true, not just for ourselves, but for everyone around us. Yes, we are never truly alone. In addition though, I think it is all-important to never forget that during those times when we are surrounded by opaque, charcoal-black darkness, that you as an individual, possess far more than enough light to dispel any amount of darkness.
If a tiny prick of light is all it takes to see our way through, then surely the radiant beam of the human spirit can never be extinguished.
It seems that the very existence of reality, and even just life itself, is dependent upon there being opposition. Up, down; light, dark; good, evil; and so forth. It’s easy to assume that these opposing forces are very much equal. And there will be times when we will convince ourselves that darkness and evil are actually more abundant. This mindset becomes easy for us to adopt in our daily thoughts, especially amidst experiencing painful trials and hardships. But, if I may, I will submit that these oppositions are definitely not on equal grounds. More important, the power lies within each of us to tip the scale more towards light, since light is what we are.
When considering the properties of light and dark, in particular, it is easy to see that light is far more powerful than darkness. Just take a walk outside at night, and you will see. Isn’t it interesting that though you are surrounded by darkness, all it takes is a few insignificant lights to see your way through it completely? Such is life. Such is truth.
I like to think of life as kind of like walking down a dark street. The streetlights, stars, and other seemingly insignificant lights that so effectively pierce through the sometimes-thick blanket of darkness represent you, my friends, my family. You are my light, and without you, I am blind.
This life is so filled with confusion, heartbreak, uncertainty, and strife. There are times when it becomes so overwhelming, that the merit of living becomes questionable. Things will suddenly seem completely hopeless. During these times though, I think, is when we forget a critical element of what makes us who we are. If anyone ever takes the time to ponder the origin of our own individual souls, I’m not sure it’s possible to come to any conclusion other than that we came from a place of brilliant light. By implication then, we ourselves, are light.
This world is a beautiful place largely because of the illumination that we as human beings give off. This is true, not just for ourselves, but for everyone around us. Yes, we are never truly alone. In addition though, I think it is all-important to never forget that during those times when we are surrounded by opaque, charcoal-black darkness, that you as an individual, possess far more than enough light to dispel any amount of darkness.
If a tiny prick of light is all it takes to see our way through, then surely the radiant beam of the human spirit can never be extinguished.
To Lift One Another...
(Written February 22, 2009)
This life is pretty interesting, to say the least. Full of exciting opportunities, fascinating people, triumphs, heartbreaks, truths, lies, black and white, shades of gray, joy, pain...on and on we go, never really knowing what will happen tomorrow. This uncertainty creates fear in a lot of us, which is understandable. But I think, within each of us, lies the capacity to turn that fear upside down and transform it into an optimistic hope. How do we achieve this? Is it as simple as deciding that every today can and should be better than every yesterday? Or is that just too darn unrealistically optimistic? With all the trials and hardships we go through, is it ridiculous to think that that’s actually possible?
What if we were to decide that not knowing what will happen tomorrow gives us every reason to look forward to it, and EXPECT that it will be even better than today? Much more than that though, I believe one of the primary purposes of this life is to lift up one another; help each other; be there for each other. Perhaps that is the solution to turning fear into hope. As we lift others around us, the problems in our own lives suddenly seem less significant, and the solutions become clearer. As we devote less time to dwelling on ourselves, I believe it keeps us more open for true joy to enter into our lives.
One big frustration attached to this pursuit of living is that often times, people that we care about keep themselves closed to the point where they won’t allow us to help. I’ve done that many times myself, and unfortunately, I’ll probably continue to do it, but I’m trying to be better about that. It’s hard though. And why is it so hard? A common belief we seem to hold stubbornly strong to is that when people help, or give in anyway—even if it’s just a random gift because they were thinking of you—we tend to think they’re putting themselves out. We feel it’s a hardship for them. Or, much worse, we convince ourselves that we somehow just don’t deserve it; that we’re not good enough. Even worse still, we don’t believe we deserve to have these people in our lives. Even with doing this myself, I don’t understand how we can so effectively integrate these vicious lies into our collective philosophy. I do it all the time, and I see others do it every single day. It is so frustratingly common!
The simple truth is, we cannot go through this life by ourselves. As often as feelings of loneliness will enter into us, we must remember that we are never truly alone. By allowing people to help us with things we genuinely need help with, we are granting them the opportunity to experience and feel the kind of joy that simply cannot come in any other way. Service is always a two-way deal, and I believe that to be one of the most beautiful truths this life has to offer.
If we are truly, literally connected to one another as a human family, then invariably, every time we give or accept any kind of service (no matter how small or simple), we are strengthening that connection and lifting up the whole of humanity to become something even greater than we already are. And that is saying quite a bit, because we’re already pretty extraordinary human beings; all 6 billion+ of us!
To be open is to love, to achieve, to progress. When we close ourselves, we lose all of that.
This life is pretty interesting, to say the least. Full of exciting opportunities, fascinating people, triumphs, heartbreaks, truths, lies, black and white, shades of gray, joy, pain...on and on we go, never really knowing what will happen tomorrow. This uncertainty creates fear in a lot of us, which is understandable. But I think, within each of us, lies the capacity to turn that fear upside down and transform it into an optimistic hope. How do we achieve this? Is it as simple as deciding that every today can and should be better than every yesterday? Or is that just too darn unrealistically optimistic? With all the trials and hardships we go through, is it ridiculous to think that that’s actually possible?
What if we were to decide that not knowing what will happen tomorrow gives us every reason to look forward to it, and EXPECT that it will be even better than today? Much more than that though, I believe one of the primary purposes of this life is to lift up one another; help each other; be there for each other. Perhaps that is the solution to turning fear into hope. As we lift others around us, the problems in our own lives suddenly seem less significant, and the solutions become clearer. As we devote less time to dwelling on ourselves, I believe it keeps us more open for true joy to enter into our lives.
One big frustration attached to this pursuit of living is that often times, people that we care about keep themselves closed to the point where they won’t allow us to help. I’ve done that many times myself, and unfortunately, I’ll probably continue to do it, but I’m trying to be better about that. It’s hard though. And why is it so hard? A common belief we seem to hold stubbornly strong to is that when people help, or give in anyway—even if it’s just a random gift because they were thinking of you—we tend to think they’re putting themselves out. We feel it’s a hardship for them. Or, much worse, we convince ourselves that we somehow just don’t deserve it; that we’re not good enough. Even worse still, we don’t believe we deserve to have these people in our lives. Even with doing this myself, I don’t understand how we can so effectively integrate these vicious lies into our collective philosophy. I do it all the time, and I see others do it every single day. It is so frustratingly common!
The simple truth is, we cannot go through this life by ourselves. As often as feelings of loneliness will enter into us, we must remember that we are never truly alone. By allowing people to help us with things we genuinely need help with, we are granting them the opportunity to experience and feel the kind of joy that simply cannot come in any other way. Service is always a two-way deal, and I believe that to be one of the most beautiful truths this life has to offer.
If we are truly, literally connected to one another as a human family, then invariably, every time we give or accept any kind of service (no matter how small or simple), we are strengthening that connection and lifting up the whole of humanity to become something even greater than we already are. And that is saying quite a bit, because we’re already pretty extraordinary human beings; all 6 billion+ of us!
To be open is to love, to achieve, to progress. When we close ourselves, we lose all of that.
Is Hate Really the Opposite of Love?
(Written December 29, 2008)
A little over a year ago, I wrote a note on here. I think it was called, "Allowing Emotions to Communicate Truth." In the note, I offered the idea that there are no emotions that are actually negative. This includes hate, anger, sadness, etc.: emotions we often consider to be negative, with good reason. I haven't changed my mind about this, but I wanted to expand a little bit on the idea.
Most of the time, when we think of hate, we think of it as being directed toward a person or group of people. I will say that in these cases, it is ALWAYS a negative thing, and it is always very wrong. For us to hate and look down on any person for any reason is invariably hypocritical because none of us are perfect. But hate directed toward an injustice or an idea that goes against everything we know to be good and right, I think can be a very powerful and positive thing. However, it can only be positive if the hate is channeled through love. Does that make sense?
I think it's actually possible for hate to stem from love. As an example, I hate the idea of anyone that I care about being treated with cruelty. Cruelty in any fashion doesn't make any sense to me, and it makes me feel sick whenever I am unfortunate enough to witness it. But the hate I feel toward this cruelty comes from the love I feel for these people that I care about.
Hate can very easily turn into the most abrasive and destructive emotion, if misdirected, and allowed to take over. But it doesn't have to be that way. Hate is obviously an undesirable emotion to have. Whether we like it or not though, it will come to us on occasion. What if we were able to get to the point where we could master ourselves enough to where we can use this emotion (or passion) to change our lives, and then ultimately, the world for the better?
If we hate hunger, we can make steps to fight against world hunger. If we hate poverty, we can fight against that too. Child abuse, bigotry in every disgusting form, racism, sexism, homophobia, Internet filth, pornography of any kind, discrimination...all these and more dark streaks contaminating this beautiful world can and ought to be fought against. The ONLY effective way to fight against these things is through love.
If all emotions are indeed given to us by God, then I can't believe that any of them are inherently bad. Maybe there exists no opposites within all the emotions we are capable of feeling. Perhaps the opposite of emotion is simply to be emotionless. To be emotionless is essentially to be dead. Let's try to take advantage of the great opportunities our emotions can afford us before that happens.
A little over a year ago, I wrote a note on here. I think it was called, "Allowing Emotions to Communicate Truth." In the note, I offered the idea that there are no emotions that are actually negative. This includes hate, anger, sadness, etc.: emotions we often consider to be negative, with good reason. I haven't changed my mind about this, but I wanted to expand a little bit on the idea.
Most of the time, when we think of hate, we think of it as being directed toward a person or group of people. I will say that in these cases, it is ALWAYS a negative thing, and it is always very wrong. For us to hate and look down on any person for any reason is invariably hypocritical because none of us are perfect. But hate directed toward an injustice or an idea that goes against everything we know to be good and right, I think can be a very powerful and positive thing. However, it can only be positive if the hate is channeled through love. Does that make sense?
I think it's actually possible for hate to stem from love. As an example, I hate the idea of anyone that I care about being treated with cruelty. Cruelty in any fashion doesn't make any sense to me, and it makes me feel sick whenever I am unfortunate enough to witness it. But the hate I feel toward this cruelty comes from the love I feel for these people that I care about.
Hate can very easily turn into the most abrasive and destructive emotion, if misdirected, and allowed to take over. But it doesn't have to be that way. Hate is obviously an undesirable emotion to have. Whether we like it or not though, it will come to us on occasion. What if we were able to get to the point where we could master ourselves enough to where we can use this emotion (or passion) to change our lives, and then ultimately, the world for the better?
If we hate hunger, we can make steps to fight against world hunger. If we hate poverty, we can fight against that too. Child abuse, bigotry in every disgusting form, racism, sexism, homophobia, Internet filth, pornography of any kind, discrimination...all these and more dark streaks contaminating this beautiful world can and ought to be fought against. The ONLY effective way to fight against these things is through love.
If all emotions are indeed given to us by God, then I can't believe that any of them are inherently bad. Maybe there exists no opposites within all the emotions we are capable of feeling. Perhaps the opposite of emotion is simply to be emotionless. To be emotionless is essentially to be dead. Let's try to take advantage of the great opportunities our emotions can afford us before that happens.
There is No Such Thing as a Disabled Human Being
(Written December 21, 2008)
If you know me well enough, you know that my "disability" is something I very rarely talk about, if ever at all. The reason I almost always give people for this has nothing to do with being ashamed or uncomfortable with it, but has more to do with my feeling that it is irrelevant to what makes me who I am. It says nothing about who I really am as a human being with a soul, so why talk about it? What's the point? So, why the heck would I be writing a note such as this? To a very large extent, I still feel this way, but I've also come to realize that the reasons behind why I don't talk about it really run a lot deeper than I've ever cared to express. It's about far more than simply how I see myself. For whatever reason, I feel that it is important to share now with people who are important to me, my feelings about this, so here goes!
An absolute core part of my beliefs that I hold very strongly to is that every single person has a very specific purpose or set of purposes that they are put on this planet to fulfill. It's all very individualized, and not one solitary person is exempt from this. Each person has their own gifts and talents that they can tap into to make this world a better place. And with these gifts, it is understood that this person will also have weaknesses, frailties, and other imperfections. No one is exempt from this either. Looking at things in this light, we may already be able to see that we are all on equal grounds.
Let me take this a step further. Assuming that every person does in fact have a purpose, then by implication, that includes you, me, your family, friends, neighbors, enemies (if you choose to have any), strangers, and even those with severe mental and/or physical "disabilities." I'm sorry, but I will always place that word between quotation marks. No matter who you are, we all have things that will attempt to hold us back; whether they be "disabilities," habits, laziness, clumsiness, addictions, misunderstandings...the list goes on forever. But none of these things define us. And more important, they don't define, or dictate what we're capable of.
The human soul is too beautifully layered and complex to be able to pinpoint one exclusively defining characteristic, unless it is divinity. That is indeed the one characteristic we have in common: we are of divine origin. And with that comes divine, eternal, unlimited and varied potential. This can be said about every single person who ever was, and ever will be. Within the sphere of who and what we are, it is simply not possible for any one thing to stand in the way of our accomplishing whatever it is we were put here to do. And once we discover what that purpose is, and exercise the courage to boldly pursue and embrace it, we are unstoppable.
Humanity is potential. Humanity is beauty. Humanity is love.
The very idea of a disabled soul defies reason, and is laughably false! Therefore, there is most definitely no such thing as a disabled human being.
If you know me well enough, you know that my "disability" is something I very rarely talk about, if ever at all. The reason I almost always give people for this has nothing to do with being ashamed or uncomfortable with it, but has more to do with my feeling that it is irrelevant to what makes me who I am. It says nothing about who I really am as a human being with a soul, so why talk about it? What's the point? So, why the heck would I be writing a note such as this? To a very large extent, I still feel this way, but I've also come to realize that the reasons behind why I don't talk about it really run a lot deeper than I've ever cared to express. It's about far more than simply how I see myself. For whatever reason, I feel that it is important to share now with people who are important to me, my feelings about this, so here goes!
An absolute core part of my beliefs that I hold very strongly to is that every single person has a very specific purpose or set of purposes that they are put on this planet to fulfill. It's all very individualized, and not one solitary person is exempt from this. Each person has their own gifts and talents that they can tap into to make this world a better place. And with these gifts, it is understood that this person will also have weaknesses, frailties, and other imperfections. No one is exempt from this either. Looking at things in this light, we may already be able to see that we are all on equal grounds.
Let me take this a step further. Assuming that every person does in fact have a purpose, then by implication, that includes you, me, your family, friends, neighbors, enemies (if you choose to have any), strangers, and even those with severe mental and/or physical "disabilities." I'm sorry, but I will always place that word between quotation marks. No matter who you are, we all have things that will attempt to hold us back; whether they be "disabilities," habits, laziness, clumsiness, addictions, misunderstandings...the list goes on forever. But none of these things define us. And more important, they don't define, or dictate what we're capable of.
The human soul is too beautifully layered and complex to be able to pinpoint one exclusively defining characteristic, unless it is divinity. That is indeed the one characteristic we have in common: we are of divine origin. And with that comes divine, eternal, unlimited and varied potential. This can be said about every single person who ever was, and ever will be. Within the sphere of who and what we are, it is simply not possible for any one thing to stand in the way of our accomplishing whatever it is we were put here to do. And once we discover what that purpose is, and exercise the courage to boldly pursue and embrace it, we are unstoppable.
Humanity is potential. Humanity is beauty. Humanity is love.
The very idea of a disabled soul defies reason, and is laughably false! Therefore, there is most definitely no such thing as a disabled human being.
Reach For the Stars With the Intent to Touch Them
(Written November 24, 2008)
There are very few things in this life more heartbreaking than broken dreams and shattered ambition. It happens to pretty much all of us. We try so hard, and give so much of ourselves to achieve some high, righteous, often selfless ambition, only to be crushed in the end by the very thing we're reaching for. Almost invariably, this will encourage some rather dark feelings buried deep within ourselves to surface in a very ugly and visceral way. How easy is it then, to convince ourselves that this life is designed to torment us with dreams that are simply unreachable? In our severely wounded and vulnerable minds, this becomes true, in the same way as the literal implausibility of being able to touch the stars we see in the sky.
But as our minds begin to heal, we may come to see that this is nothing but a malicious lie. We may realize that there truly is no dream that is unreachable, and that the only obstacle that can possibly impede us on the journey is our own unwillingness to believe. We disable ourselves with our own false, often society-imposed self-doubt, and it needs to stop.
Perhaps our biggest problem is the way in which we view the idea of reaching for the stars. Too often, I think that we go forward with trying to reach for the stars by only reaching and nothing else. We go through the motions for a little while, but we never expect that we will actually be able to touch the stars. Isn't that awfully limiting? Really, what is the point of reaching for our ambitions if we don't expect that we'll ever be able to embrace them?
Is using stars as metaphorical representations of our dreams and ambitions too much? Is it just too high? I don't think so! In fact, I think it's a perfect metaphor. Whenever I think of what it takes to appreciate the beauty of the actual stars in the sky, I always think of it as comparable to looking in the eyes of a child, or someone you love. You can just see the immense potential in their eyes. And to even consider for a second, that their potential can somehow never be fully tapped into, or that their dreams can never be realized--it's just unthinkable. Try it next time you interact with someone like that, and you'll see what I mean. Besides, I'm not sure that we could ever dream too big, and I am thoroughly convinced that our dreams are given to us by a Higher Hand. And perhaps after all that we can do, that same Higher Hand will bring the stars down to us!
But one may ask, "What happens if I enter the path, and try to reach for these stars, and am never given the opportunity to touch them? What if something happens on the way?" Well, it's a long ways to get to the stars from the ground. Let us never forget that there are innumerable beautiful things in between...
There are very few things in this life more heartbreaking than broken dreams and shattered ambition. It happens to pretty much all of us. We try so hard, and give so much of ourselves to achieve some high, righteous, often selfless ambition, only to be crushed in the end by the very thing we're reaching for. Almost invariably, this will encourage some rather dark feelings buried deep within ourselves to surface in a very ugly and visceral way. How easy is it then, to convince ourselves that this life is designed to torment us with dreams that are simply unreachable? In our severely wounded and vulnerable minds, this becomes true, in the same way as the literal implausibility of being able to touch the stars we see in the sky.
But as our minds begin to heal, we may come to see that this is nothing but a malicious lie. We may realize that there truly is no dream that is unreachable, and that the only obstacle that can possibly impede us on the journey is our own unwillingness to believe. We disable ourselves with our own false, often society-imposed self-doubt, and it needs to stop.
Perhaps our biggest problem is the way in which we view the idea of reaching for the stars. Too often, I think that we go forward with trying to reach for the stars by only reaching and nothing else. We go through the motions for a little while, but we never expect that we will actually be able to touch the stars. Isn't that awfully limiting? Really, what is the point of reaching for our ambitions if we don't expect that we'll ever be able to embrace them?
Is using stars as metaphorical representations of our dreams and ambitions too much? Is it just too high? I don't think so! In fact, I think it's a perfect metaphor. Whenever I think of what it takes to appreciate the beauty of the actual stars in the sky, I always think of it as comparable to looking in the eyes of a child, or someone you love. You can just see the immense potential in their eyes. And to even consider for a second, that their potential can somehow never be fully tapped into, or that their dreams can never be realized--it's just unthinkable. Try it next time you interact with someone like that, and you'll see what I mean. Besides, I'm not sure that we could ever dream too big, and I am thoroughly convinced that our dreams are given to us by a Higher Hand. And perhaps after all that we can do, that same Higher Hand will bring the stars down to us!
But one may ask, "What happens if I enter the path, and try to reach for these stars, and am never given the opportunity to touch them? What if something happens on the way?" Well, it's a long ways to get to the stars from the ground. Let us never forget that there are innumerable beautiful things in between...
My Education Philosophy Statement
(Written October 27, 2008)
Many of you know that I have decided to pursue a career in Elementary Education, in addition to Film. Education is extremely important to me, especially when it comes to teaching young children. So, with that in mind, it's important to me to have opinions from a wide variety of different people as to how they think education should be approached. Below is a paper I wrote for my History and Philosophy of Education class that I'm currently taking. If you care to read it, and leave comments on what you think, please do. Any criticism is welcome. Thanks!
"Education Philosophy Statement
When I think of my educational background, and what had the biggest impact on me, my mind always goes back to my elementary school years. I have very clear, distinct memories of certain teachers from my 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grades especially. The reason I remember them so fondly is mostly because they made it very clear that they cared about me as a human being. They cared about how they could have a positive impact on my future. In my mind, they were into the profession of teaching for the right reasons. Specifically, my 2nd and 4th grade teachers were largely responsible for my pursuing my interest in writing. Through constructive feedback and support, they helped me to cultivate my talent that would ultimately impact almost every aspect of my life.
When I begin to teach elementary school professionally, I hope to be able to introduce my students to a wide variety of different subjects, and help them gain a general knowledge of each. I hope to accomplish this, not just through tests, worksheets, and textbooks, but also through intellectually engaging activities, field trips, and active class participation and discussion. Learning the basics of math, English, and science is important, but I feel they need to be taught in a pragmatic way. Children will learn better if they are interested in, and can see the point of, the material. Growing up, mathematics was always my worst subject. If it were taught to me in the way it’s taught in some other countries—getting me to think of it in an artistic way, as an example—I am positive I would have done better in the subject. Many children all over the country struggle with math, English, and/or science. I believe all of these subjects would benefit from their being taught practically, and with social implications infused therein. Children will be better able to wrap their minds around—and perhaps even care about, and be excited for—subjects that do sometimes require rote learning if they can see the purpose of it all. In my mind, it is also important for them to learn to have fun with it. Art of varying kinds should also be a core part of the curriculum, without being treated as secondary or less important than other subjects. Artistic and social activities are absolutely critical for every aspect of a child’s development.
I believe my role as teacher will be that of a role model and friend. It will be my responsibility to provide tools, which will enable my students to learn in the most positively effective way possible. To me, it is extremely important that the students and I learn together. If the students see that I’m learning with them, I believe it will give them motivation and excitement to move enthusiastically forward in their education. In my mind, there needs to be a very clear goal that whatever I help them learn will lead them to become positive contributors to society, and to the world. It is indeed my sacred responsibility, ultimately, to help them see and become their full selves. There would be no higher accomplishment than for me to help students see that their potential is truly limitless, and that they can do anything they set their minds to.
Learning activities will consist of things that will get their minds to think practically about the subjects. Classroom activities, such as hands-on experience and discussion will be important. I’ll also use visual aids, games, songs, etc., that will help stimulate their minds, and also help with memorization. Homework, readings, and tests will be given, but it will not simply be “busy work.” Within my current thinking, it will be important for homework to have some practical correlation with the next day’s classroom activities.
In my classroom, everyone will feel equal. That aspect is extremely important to me. I will never give praise that inspires competition among the students. There will be no such thing as a “teacher’s pet.” It will be important for me to answer questions, and never make students feel bad for asking. Good, respectful communication will be something that students will come to expect. In terms of grading, I will never simply stamp a letter grade on assignments. I will always use constructive comments, being sure to include things I expect from the assignment, things they did well at, and things they can improve on.
All throughout the scriptures, there are many examples of how missionaries taught the gospel. Invariably, the missionaries who taught with love were the ones that were the most successful. To me, it is critically important for teachers to truly love their students, almost as if they were their own children. I must ask myself, “Why do I want to teach children?” The answer must always be, “because I love them as being a part of the human family I belong to; because I truly care about their future, and how they can get the very most that this beautiful, exciting life has to offer; and because I have this intense desire for them to feel that their potential is truly, unequivocally limitless!”
Many of you know that I have decided to pursue a career in Elementary Education, in addition to Film. Education is extremely important to me, especially when it comes to teaching young children. So, with that in mind, it's important to me to have opinions from a wide variety of different people as to how they think education should be approached. Below is a paper I wrote for my History and Philosophy of Education class that I'm currently taking. If you care to read it, and leave comments on what you think, please do. Any criticism is welcome. Thanks!
"Education Philosophy Statement
When I think of my educational background, and what had the biggest impact on me, my mind always goes back to my elementary school years. I have very clear, distinct memories of certain teachers from my 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grades especially. The reason I remember them so fondly is mostly because they made it very clear that they cared about me as a human being. They cared about how they could have a positive impact on my future. In my mind, they were into the profession of teaching for the right reasons. Specifically, my 2nd and 4th grade teachers were largely responsible for my pursuing my interest in writing. Through constructive feedback and support, they helped me to cultivate my talent that would ultimately impact almost every aspect of my life.
When I begin to teach elementary school professionally, I hope to be able to introduce my students to a wide variety of different subjects, and help them gain a general knowledge of each. I hope to accomplish this, not just through tests, worksheets, and textbooks, but also through intellectually engaging activities, field trips, and active class participation and discussion. Learning the basics of math, English, and science is important, but I feel they need to be taught in a pragmatic way. Children will learn better if they are interested in, and can see the point of, the material. Growing up, mathematics was always my worst subject. If it were taught to me in the way it’s taught in some other countries—getting me to think of it in an artistic way, as an example—I am positive I would have done better in the subject. Many children all over the country struggle with math, English, and/or science. I believe all of these subjects would benefit from their being taught practically, and with social implications infused therein. Children will be better able to wrap their minds around—and perhaps even care about, and be excited for—subjects that do sometimes require rote learning if they can see the purpose of it all. In my mind, it is also important for them to learn to have fun with it. Art of varying kinds should also be a core part of the curriculum, without being treated as secondary or less important than other subjects. Artistic and social activities are absolutely critical for every aspect of a child’s development.
I believe my role as teacher will be that of a role model and friend. It will be my responsibility to provide tools, which will enable my students to learn in the most positively effective way possible. To me, it is extremely important that the students and I learn together. If the students see that I’m learning with them, I believe it will give them motivation and excitement to move enthusiastically forward in their education. In my mind, there needs to be a very clear goal that whatever I help them learn will lead them to become positive contributors to society, and to the world. It is indeed my sacred responsibility, ultimately, to help them see and become their full selves. There would be no higher accomplishment than for me to help students see that their potential is truly limitless, and that they can do anything they set their minds to.
Learning activities will consist of things that will get their minds to think practically about the subjects. Classroom activities, such as hands-on experience and discussion will be important. I’ll also use visual aids, games, songs, etc., that will help stimulate their minds, and also help with memorization. Homework, readings, and tests will be given, but it will not simply be “busy work.” Within my current thinking, it will be important for homework to have some practical correlation with the next day’s classroom activities.
In my classroom, everyone will feel equal. That aspect is extremely important to me. I will never give praise that inspires competition among the students. There will be no such thing as a “teacher’s pet.” It will be important for me to answer questions, and never make students feel bad for asking. Good, respectful communication will be something that students will come to expect. In terms of grading, I will never simply stamp a letter grade on assignments. I will always use constructive comments, being sure to include things I expect from the assignment, things they did well at, and things they can improve on.
All throughout the scriptures, there are many examples of how missionaries taught the gospel. Invariably, the missionaries who taught with love were the ones that were the most successful. To me, it is critically important for teachers to truly love their students, almost as if they were their own children. I must ask myself, “Why do I want to teach children?” The answer must always be, “because I love them as being a part of the human family I belong to; because I truly care about their future, and how they can get the very most that this beautiful, exciting life has to offer; and because I have this intense desire for them to feel that their potential is truly, unequivocally limitless!”
The Profound Power of Just Listening
(Written October 22, 2008)
Through the years of meeting and interacting with many people who I've come to care very deeply for, I've begun to realize that most of what I can do to show I care is inadequate. This is frustrating to me, as it has become important to me for people in my life to know how much they mean to me. I'm sure I'm not the only person to have ever encountered this frustration. I know that everyone has people in their lives that they wish really knew how important and special they are.
Simply saying so never seems like enough. There are a few reasons for this. The one I witness the most is that people often don't believe it when compliments like that are given. Unfortunately, that can stem from having experienced people giving them insincere compliments. So, aside from just saying so, and maybe even serving them, what is a sure way to let someone know that you care about them?
I've thought about this a lot, and one thing I thought of is the impact it has on people when you choose to just listen to them. I can think of no more profound and real way to show someone you care. Too often, when loved ones (friends included) come to us with problems, we're quick to offer suggestions or help. While I'm sure that the sincerity from those selfless choices is sometimes felt and appreciated, I would say that most of the time, it is better to just listen; let them get whatever it is off their chests, and maybe even cry with them if it comes to that.
Emotions are complicated things; more complicated than we often care to admit. And it occurs to me that a lot of the time, we may not even understand why we're feeling sad or frustrated. I've had that happen to me a few times, where I'll feel sadness, and at the same time, feel confusion as to the source of the sadness. Why the heck am I feeling sad? It can be extremely frustrating. For someone to tell a person experiencing this that they shouldn't be sad, or offer some solution would sometimes just make it worse. And it may even give off the impression (false, though it may be) that they don't care enough to at least try to spend the time to just hear the person out; let them vent. It could seem like they're just trying to find the quick, easy way out. Since when has it ever been quick and easy to overcome an undesired emotion? For someone to look you in the eye, listen, go through the emotion with you, and then ultimately overcome it together...I can't think of a more powerful token of friendship and/or love.
I don't know, I've just thought about this a lot I guess, because the list of people that I feel some sort of affection for just keeps growing. I'm very interested in finding a way to make that affection more obvious, rather than just letting it sit. But I also think that if everyone were to make a concerted effort to just listen to each other, then it can't be helped that understanding would increase, and there would eventually be less prejudices and misguided hatred in the world. Imagine that. All from just listening.
As a good friend of mine, Heather Larsen, once said, "We have two ears and just one mouth; so we should listen twice as much as we speak." Perhaps God designed us this way for this very purpose. We're supposed to be more like Him, right? When have you ever known Him to not be willing to listen to your prayers? Likewise, we should always be willing to listen to those that we care about.
Through the years of meeting and interacting with many people who I've come to care very deeply for, I've begun to realize that most of what I can do to show I care is inadequate. This is frustrating to me, as it has become important to me for people in my life to know how much they mean to me. I'm sure I'm not the only person to have ever encountered this frustration. I know that everyone has people in their lives that they wish really knew how important and special they are.
Simply saying so never seems like enough. There are a few reasons for this. The one I witness the most is that people often don't believe it when compliments like that are given. Unfortunately, that can stem from having experienced people giving them insincere compliments. So, aside from just saying so, and maybe even serving them, what is a sure way to let someone know that you care about them?
I've thought about this a lot, and one thing I thought of is the impact it has on people when you choose to just listen to them. I can think of no more profound and real way to show someone you care. Too often, when loved ones (friends included) come to us with problems, we're quick to offer suggestions or help. While I'm sure that the sincerity from those selfless choices is sometimes felt and appreciated, I would say that most of the time, it is better to just listen; let them get whatever it is off their chests, and maybe even cry with them if it comes to that.
Emotions are complicated things; more complicated than we often care to admit. And it occurs to me that a lot of the time, we may not even understand why we're feeling sad or frustrated. I've had that happen to me a few times, where I'll feel sadness, and at the same time, feel confusion as to the source of the sadness. Why the heck am I feeling sad? It can be extremely frustrating. For someone to tell a person experiencing this that they shouldn't be sad, or offer some solution would sometimes just make it worse. And it may even give off the impression (false, though it may be) that they don't care enough to at least try to spend the time to just hear the person out; let them vent. It could seem like they're just trying to find the quick, easy way out. Since when has it ever been quick and easy to overcome an undesired emotion? For someone to look you in the eye, listen, go through the emotion with you, and then ultimately overcome it together...I can't think of a more powerful token of friendship and/or love.
I don't know, I've just thought about this a lot I guess, because the list of people that I feel some sort of affection for just keeps growing. I'm very interested in finding a way to make that affection more obvious, rather than just letting it sit. But I also think that if everyone were to make a concerted effort to just listen to each other, then it can't be helped that understanding would increase, and there would eventually be less prejudices and misguided hatred in the world. Imagine that. All from just listening.
As a good friend of mine, Heather Larsen, once said, "We have two ears and just one mouth; so we should listen twice as much as we speak." Perhaps God designed us this way for this very purpose. We're supposed to be more like Him, right? When have you ever known Him to not be willing to listen to your prayers? Likewise, we should always be willing to listen to those that we care about.
Proposition 8 Divisions and Unnecessary Controversy
(Written October 14, 2008)
This'll be a hard note for me to write for a few reasons, but please hear me out because this is important to me.
The divisiveness, controversy, and hate that has sprung from this current nationwide debate over how marriage should be defined deeply saddens me. I believe that people on both sides of this argument do not hold to whatever position they hold to specifically to be hateful or exclusive, but unfortunately, the hate seems to naturally occur anyway. People get the wrong idea about motives from people, as to why they hold a certain opinion over another, and then the finger-pointing begins. People in support of Prop 8 are accused of being anti-gay, intolerant, non-inclusive, bigots, and haters. People opposed to Prop 8 are also accused of being haters, intolerant to "traditional marriage", evil, non-Christian, or just plain ignorant to how things "should" be. I think I have enough faith in humanity to believe that neither of these groups of accusations are generally accurate. People are not naturally hateful! We are better than this! At the very least, we ought to be! Forces will try to convince us otherwise, but we have the capacity to completely overcome hate, and turn it on its ugly head. I really hope that sometime soon, we, as a human family, will be able to tap into that capacity.
Personally, I can neither support or oppose Prop 8 because, frankly, I feel rather neutral about the whole thing. Same-sex marriage is not something I condone, but it's also not something that I feel personally threatened by. And it most definitely is not cause for me to inflict harm on, or feel hate towards those people that may not agree with me. Whatever happened to respecting other people's beliefs?! Whatever happened to unconditional love? Have we forgotten how to be accepting and tolerant? Personally, I do not believe that humanity as a whole has reached that dark place, but some of us are headed in that direction.
I believe the very existence of this debate (not being for or against the proposition) is creating undue contention and controversy, and is inspiring division of a nation that is already severely divided. Unity should be our goal. As this conflict moves forward, I believe that we should all try our best to show and express unconditional love to everyone, no matter what their differences of opinion are. In my opinion, we shouldn't feel threatened by differences in beliefs and cultures. I have a lot of respect for people who do hold strongly to their beliefs without imposing them on others. One ought not to feel obligated to embrace another's belief that they may not necessarily agree with, in order to embrace the unity that should exist between people of all different shapes, sizes, and philosophies. Afterall--since every single one of us is in fact different--our differences should be the very element that unites us in the first place.
This'll be a hard note for me to write for a few reasons, but please hear me out because this is important to me.
The divisiveness, controversy, and hate that has sprung from this current nationwide debate over how marriage should be defined deeply saddens me. I believe that people on both sides of this argument do not hold to whatever position they hold to specifically to be hateful or exclusive, but unfortunately, the hate seems to naturally occur anyway. People get the wrong idea about motives from people, as to why they hold a certain opinion over another, and then the finger-pointing begins. People in support of Prop 8 are accused of being anti-gay, intolerant, non-inclusive, bigots, and haters. People opposed to Prop 8 are also accused of being haters, intolerant to "traditional marriage", evil, non-Christian, or just plain ignorant to how things "should" be. I think I have enough faith in humanity to believe that neither of these groups of accusations are generally accurate. People are not naturally hateful! We are better than this! At the very least, we ought to be! Forces will try to convince us otherwise, but we have the capacity to completely overcome hate, and turn it on its ugly head. I really hope that sometime soon, we, as a human family, will be able to tap into that capacity.
Personally, I can neither support or oppose Prop 8 because, frankly, I feel rather neutral about the whole thing. Same-sex marriage is not something I condone, but it's also not something that I feel personally threatened by. And it most definitely is not cause for me to inflict harm on, or feel hate towards those people that may not agree with me. Whatever happened to respecting other people's beliefs?! Whatever happened to unconditional love? Have we forgotten how to be accepting and tolerant? Personally, I do not believe that humanity as a whole has reached that dark place, but some of us are headed in that direction.
I believe the very existence of this debate (not being for or against the proposition) is creating undue contention and controversy, and is inspiring division of a nation that is already severely divided. Unity should be our goal. As this conflict moves forward, I believe that we should all try our best to show and express unconditional love to everyone, no matter what their differences of opinion are. In my opinion, we shouldn't feel threatened by differences in beliefs and cultures. I have a lot of respect for people who do hold strongly to their beliefs without imposing them on others. One ought not to feel obligated to embrace another's belief that they may not necessarily agree with, in order to embrace the unity that should exist between people of all different shapes, sizes, and philosophies. Afterall--since every single one of us is in fact different--our differences should be the very element that unites us in the first place.
Our Dreams and Ambitions are Divine Gifts
(Written February 8, 2008)
I had a conversation with someone the other day who told me they wanted to be an actor and a musician. They also told me that it would be difficult to achieve those ambitions and be an active member of the church at the same time. For this reason, they will be pursuing a different career path. While I can see how that concern may be real, and perhaps even justified, I couldn't help but feel a little sad about how that conversation went. I can't imagine that it was intended that living the standards of the church would ever get in the way of our dreams coming true. In fact, if anything, living the standards should help! In my opinion--with all the obstacles out there--we, ourselves, are often the biggest ones. If we choose to allow our standards to act as obstacles, rather than stepping stones, that is our own fault.
I remember when I was still able to attend Institute of Religion, before I started working nights, our instructor told us that he strongly believes that our dreams and ambitions are given to us by God, and that we have these dreams for a reason. This philosophy has since become a critical part of my core beliefs.
There's more going on here than the concern that achieving our ambitions may require us to compromise our morals. It's very easy to get to a place where we believe we are simply not good enough to ever live the life we want. I have been there many times, as I believe most of us have. There's also the tendency to work towards a goal, run into obstacles that are seemingly impossible to overcome, and then we convince ourselves that it's too hard to go on and we finally give up. What we seem to be forgetting though, is that our innermost righteous desires were indeed given to us by a Higher Hand, and that, by implication, there must be a way to accomplish them. There just has to be!
There is yet another challenge that most of us will go through. Unfortunately, there are people out there who seem to derive a sick kind of joy out of tearing us down. They will encourage the feeling--that may already be there--that we're not good enough, and that we should give up. There is a feeling that going after our dreams is a waste of time. I've actually had some people tell me that I shouldn't try for things as hard as I do, because I'm just going to end up disappointing myself. That is completely false! Disappointments may come, yes. But I'd much rather engage in the pursuit of happiness and be disappointed, than just submit myself to this false idea that life is just made up of miserable could-have-beens.
All my life, there have been many times when it seemed as though my ambitions were going to fall apart. And just as I was about to give up, the very next day, they would come to fruition. This actually began at the very beginning of my life, although it wasn't technically my ambition, just because I was too young to understand what was going on. Medically speaking, I really shouldn't be alive right now. When I was born, during labor, all of my limbs broke, and there was a great risk that more bones would break. My bones, at the time, were so brittle that they had to carry me on pillows for fear that they would break me had they used their hands. The situation was so bad that the doctors had actually told my parents that I probably wouldn't live past the first two weeks of my life. Well, obviously, they were wrong. At the time, it seemed pretty hopeless, but my dad decided to give me a Priesthood blessing. In it, he said that I would live a full life. Sometimes, I like to imagine that as a premortal spirit, right before I came to this world, I had ambitions of living a full, healthy life. And here I am 27 years later, doing just that.
If the purpose of why we're here is to experience joy--and I believe that's true--then doesn't it make sense that our ambitions and dreams are actually supernal gifts, designed to steer us towards that blissful end result? Every single day, there may be obstacles that will stand in our way, but in my mind, it seems completely pointless to give up on account of today. What a waste it would be to go through the rest of this life dreaming of a life that could be, instead of living that dream! The truth is, I have no idea what's going to happen tomorrow, and neither do you. That should give us comfort and hope rather than fear and despair.
I had a conversation with someone the other day who told me they wanted to be an actor and a musician. They also told me that it would be difficult to achieve those ambitions and be an active member of the church at the same time. For this reason, they will be pursuing a different career path. While I can see how that concern may be real, and perhaps even justified, I couldn't help but feel a little sad about how that conversation went. I can't imagine that it was intended that living the standards of the church would ever get in the way of our dreams coming true. In fact, if anything, living the standards should help! In my opinion--with all the obstacles out there--we, ourselves, are often the biggest ones. If we choose to allow our standards to act as obstacles, rather than stepping stones, that is our own fault.
I remember when I was still able to attend Institute of Religion, before I started working nights, our instructor told us that he strongly believes that our dreams and ambitions are given to us by God, and that we have these dreams for a reason. This philosophy has since become a critical part of my core beliefs.
There's more going on here than the concern that achieving our ambitions may require us to compromise our morals. It's very easy to get to a place where we believe we are simply not good enough to ever live the life we want. I have been there many times, as I believe most of us have. There's also the tendency to work towards a goal, run into obstacles that are seemingly impossible to overcome, and then we convince ourselves that it's too hard to go on and we finally give up. What we seem to be forgetting though, is that our innermost righteous desires were indeed given to us by a Higher Hand, and that, by implication, there must be a way to accomplish them. There just has to be!
There is yet another challenge that most of us will go through. Unfortunately, there are people out there who seem to derive a sick kind of joy out of tearing us down. They will encourage the feeling--that may already be there--that we're not good enough, and that we should give up. There is a feeling that going after our dreams is a waste of time. I've actually had some people tell me that I shouldn't try for things as hard as I do, because I'm just going to end up disappointing myself. That is completely false! Disappointments may come, yes. But I'd much rather engage in the pursuit of happiness and be disappointed, than just submit myself to this false idea that life is just made up of miserable could-have-beens.
All my life, there have been many times when it seemed as though my ambitions were going to fall apart. And just as I was about to give up, the very next day, they would come to fruition. This actually began at the very beginning of my life, although it wasn't technically my ambition, just because I was too young to understand what was going on. Medically speaking, I really shouldn't be alive right now. When I was born, during labor, all of my limbs broke, and there was a great risk that more bones would break. My bones, at the time, were so brittle that they had to carry me on pillows for fear that they would break me had they used their hands. The situation was so bad that the doctors had actually told my parents that I probably wouldn't live past the first two weeks of my life. Well, obviously, they were wrong. At the time, it seemed pretty hopeless, but my dad decided to give me a Priesthood blessing. In it, he said that I would live a full life. Sometimes, I like to imagine that as a premortal spirit, right before I came to this world, I had ambitions of living a full, healthy life. And here I am 27 years later, doing just that.
If the purpose of why we're here is to experience joy--and I believe that's true--then doesn't it make sense that our ambitions and dreams are actually supernal gifts, designed to steer us towards that blissful end result? Every single day, there may be obstacles that will stand in our way, but in my mind, it seems completely pointless to give up on account of today. What a waste it would be to go through the rest of this life dreaming of a life that could be, instead of living that dream! The truth is, I have no idea what's going to happen tomorrow, and neither do you. That should give us comfort and hope rather than fear and despair.
Life Changes...
(Written June 6, 2007)
A lot of people are naturally afraid of change. Unfortunately, I sometimes allow myself to fall into that category. I think it's a shame though, because, change is one way that we can learn and grow. In fact, I will submit that it is actually impossible to grow as a human being without change.
A few of you know that I have recently decided to move to Utah this summer to work, and then to go to school. Before I reached this decision though, I went through some pretty intense depression for the first time in my life. Looking back at it, objectively, I realize that I allowed myself to fear the possibility of change. That fear brought me down to a dark place within myself that I had never been to before. It brought out strong feelings of inadequacy and hopelessness. I am extremely thankful to be out of that place now, and hope never to go back. I will not attempt to describe the details of these feelings, or how I escaped them, except to say that I do not think I could have done it alone.
I feel that I need to take this opportunity to thank all of you, my wonderful friends, for being there for me exactly when I needed you to be. One very good friend helped me to snap out of it by telling me I was being impatient. It may not seem like it, but that's exactly what I needed to hear. I had placed my own life on a timeline that has been presumptuously created by our own ill-informed society, which tells us that we should have accomplished a certain number of things by a predestined time. When it seemed to me that my life failed to meet those requirements, it brought me down. The reality is that this false timeline only exists within the confines of a delusional society. When it was brought to my attention that I was being impatient, it gave me something that I could address and work on. It also helped me realize that the things I want in life are worth fighting for. Any aspiration worth aspiring to requires patience. How much more satisfying will it be to reach the end of the road after working so hard?
You, my friends, I consider to be supernal gifts. You have acted as beacons to help me get back to experiencing happiness and hope. I thank you for that!
A lot of people are naturally afraid of change. Unfortunately, I sometimes allow myself to fall into that category. I think it's a shame though, because, change is one way that we can learn and grow. In fact, I will submit that it is actually impossible to grow as a human being without change.
A few of you know that I have recently decided to move to Utah this summer to work, and then to go to school. Before I reached this decision though, I went through some pretty intense depression for the first time in my life. Looking back at it, objectively, I realize that I allowed myself to fear the possibility of change. That fear brought me down to a dark place within myself that I had never been to before. It brought out strong feelings of inadequacy and hopelessness. I am extremely thankful to be out of that place now, and hope never to go back. I will not attempt to describe the details of these feelings, or how I escaped them, except to say that I do not think I could have done it alone.
I feel that I need to take this opportunity to thank all of you, my wonderful friends, for being there for me exactly when I needed you to be. One very good friend helped me to snap out of it by telling me I was being impatient. It may not seem like it, but that's exactly what I needed to hear. I had placed my own life on a timeline that has been presumptuously created by our own ill-informed society, which tells us that we should have accomplished a certain number of things by a predestined time. When it seemed to me that my life failed to meet those requirements, it brought me down. The reality is that this false timeline only exists within the confines of a delusional society. When it was brought to my attention that I was being impatient, it gave me something that I could address and work on. It also helped me realize that the things I want in life are worth fighting for. Any aspiration worth aspiring to requires patience. How much more satisfying will it be to reach the end of the road after working so hard?
You, my friends, I consider to be supernal gifts. You have acted as beacons to help me get back to experiencing happiness and hope. I thank you for that!
A Child's Vision of What Love Truly Is
(Written May 22, 2007)
When I try and figure out what love really is, and/or what it should be, my mind almost always goes back to the thought that little children naturally understand this concept as well as anyone ever could; often better even. Where did this thought come from though? How could that be true? Surely the minds of children have not evolved beyond adult capacity as to be able to comprehend the concept of love (or any other concept, for that matter) better than we do. Plus, children are often very selfish. Isn't that kind of bordering on the opposite of love? What I think I'm beginning to understand though, is that love really is not an adult concept at all. It's more a universal concept than any other I'm aware of. It's something we're all born with. Love is an inseparable part of our souls. Everyone has the capacity to recognize and express it.
In my opinion, societal definitions often stand in the way of our understanding the "pure" definition of love. We are taught to love selfishly. The more we get from someone, the more we love them. That philosophy completely ignores the principle of loving someone just for being them. We ought not to be required to do any more than simply exist as human beings to deserve someone's love.
In the past 3 to 5 months or so, I feel like I've come to more of an understanding of what love is better than I ever had before. There are a few reasons that I can personally identify for that, but one thing that kind of bookended it was the opportunity I had to spend a lot of time with my sister's and my cousin's 8-month-old children over the past week and a half. Children that young understand the concept of being loved just for existing, because that is the exact kind of attention they get from their parents, and just about everyone else around them. They didn't do anything to deserve that, other than being born. And that is enough. Once these children get a little older, they will naturally apply these lessons they learned from their parents in their everyday interactions with their peers. After that though, they will begin to forget, or rather, simply be influenced by other elements that will supercede the natural ways in which they express love. It has always amazed me to watch young children, and the loving way that they interact with each other. I remember one time, when I was a Primary teacher in church, a kid fell down with his chair, and immediately, a little girl responded by helping him back up. No one told her to do that. She just did it naturally. There are countless other examples of children just doing things like that. As adults, I really think there's a lot that we can learn from the loving behavior of kids.
Next to children, I think parents are ones that understand the concept of love the most. I'm not a parent yet, so I can't possibly comprehend the kind of love that parents feel for each other, and for their kids. But having that--being married and having a family--is the one thing in life that I would give up all of my personal ambitions for.
In the end, I think that love is just as simple as the little things that children learn everyday. And as adults, there's no reason why we shouldn't always continue learning the same. To love is to give, to lift up, to sustain, to accept...
When I try and figure out what love really is, and/or what it should be, my mind almost always goes back to the thought that little children naturally understand this concept as well as anyone ever could; often better even. Where did this thought come from though? How could that be true? Surely the minds of children have not evolved beyond adult capacity as to be able to comprehend the concept of love (or any other concept, for that matter) better than we do. Plus, children are often very selfish. Isn't that kind of bordering on the opposite of love? What I think I'm beginning to understand though, is that love really is not an adult concept at all. It's more a universal concept than any other I'm aware of. It's something we're all born with. Love is an inseparable part of our souls. Everyone has the capacity to recognize and express it.
In my opinion, societal definitions often stand in the way of our understanding the "pure" definition of love. We are taught to love selfishly. The more we get from someone, the more we love them. That philosophy completely ignores the principle of loving someone just for being them. We ought not to be required to do any more than simply exist as human beings to deserve someone's love.
In the past 3 to 5 months or so, I feel like I've come to more of an understanding of what love is better than I ever had before. There are a few reasons that I can personally identify for that, but one thing that kind of bookended it was the opportunity I had to spend a lot of time with my sister's and my cousin's 8-month-old children over the past week and a half. Children that young understand the concept of being loved just for existing, because that is the exact kind of attention they get from their parents, and just about everyone else around them. They didn't do anything to deserve that, other than being born. And that is enough. Once these children get a little older, they will naturally apply these lessons they learned from their parents in their everyday interactions with their peers. After that though, they will begin to forget, or rather, simply be influenced by other elements that will supercede the natural ways in which they express love. It has always amazed me to watch young children, and the loving way that they interact with each other. I remember one time, when I was a Primary teacher in church, a kid fell down with his chair, and immediately, a little girl responded by helping him back up. No one told her to do that. She just did it naturally. There are countless other examples of children just doing things like that. As adults, I really think there's a lot that we can learn from the loving behavior of kids.
Next to children, I think parents are ones that understand the concept of love the most. I'm not a parent yet, so I can't possibly comprehend the kind of love that parents feel for each other, and for their kids. But having that--being married and having a family--is the one thing in life that I would give up all of my personal ambitions for.
In the end, I think that love is just as simple as the little things that children learn everyday. And as adults, there's no reason why we shouldn't always continue learning the same. To love is to give, to lift up, to sustain, to accept...
Too Close to Love?
(Written April 12, 2007)
How is it that so many of us have come to the conclusion that we should follow this unwritten rule that friends should never date? Does it make sense that when we reach a certain type of closeness with someone that it should eliminate any potential of furthering that relationship? Personally, I do not share this philosophy. But this is what I've heard from other people as to why they do:
The most common thing I hear is that they're afraid of losing this person as a friend. They've already established themselves as good friends, and they fear that if they get into a romantic relationship, things might get awkward and eventually destroy the friendship. I do understand this, but I also think that it's definitely a risk worth taking, as I firmly believe that the most destructive risk in life is not taking one. It is especially a risk worth taking if there are feelings there. If there aren't any feelings beyond friendship, then obviously, they shouldn't date. But I think it's very unfortunate when two people have feelings for each other, and they don't pursue anything solely on the basis that they're already friends.
To me, friendship seems like an excellent foundation from which to build a good, healthy romantic relationship. I guess I may feel this way partly because I have this ideal in my mind and in my heart that whoever I marry will be my best friend. And I see no reason why I shouldn't have this expectation. Afterall--whether we realize it or not--friendship is a type of love. Why should I want to be with someone that I'm anxious and nervous around (which seems to often be our first choice), when I could be with someone that I can be completely comfortable and myself around? And friendship is a good way to establish that type of comfort.
I know I may be in the minority on this one, because I've talked with tons of people that will never, under any circumstance, date their friends. I guess I just would like to know why that is. It seems to me that we put ourselves through an awful lot of anxiety and pressure, quite needlessly, because we're such loyal followers of this strange rule.
How is it that so many of us have come to the conclusion that we should follow this unwritten rule that friends should never date? Does it make sense that when we reach a certain type of closeness with someone that it should eliminate any potential of furthering that relationship? Personally, I do not share this philosophy. But this is what I've heard from other people as to why they do:
The most common thing I hear is that they're afraid of losing this person as a friend. They've already established themselves as good friends, and they fear that if they get into a romantic relationship, things might get awkward and eventually destroy the friendship. I do understand this, but I also think that it's definitely a risk worth taking, as I firmly believe that the most destructive risk in life is not taking one. It is especially a risk worth taking if there are feelings there. If there aren't any feelings beyond friendship, then obviously, they shouldn't date. But I think it's very unfortunate when two people have feelings for each other, and they don't pursue anything solely on the basis that they're already friends.
To me, friendship seems like an excellent foundation from which to build a good, healthy romantic relationship. I guess I may feel this way partly because I have this ideal in my mind and in my heart that whoever I marry will be my best friend. And I see no reason why I shouldn't have this expectation. Afterall--whether we realize it or not--friendship is a type of love. Why should I want to be with someone that I'm anxious and nervous around (which seems to often be our first choice), when I could be with someone that I can be completely comfortable and myself around? And friendship is a good way to establish that type of comfort.
I know I may be in the minority on this one, because I've talked with tons of people that will never, under any circumstance, date their friends. I guess I just would like to know why that is. It seems to me that we put ourselves through an awful lot of anxiety and pressure, quite needlessly, because we're such loyal followers of this strange rule.
You're beautiful. Do you believe me?
(Written April 9, 2007)
Perhaps this shouldn't bother me as much as it does, but the truth is, I can't stand it when I tell a girl that she's beautiful, and she just rolls her eyes at me. As if she doesn't believe me, or I'm lying or something. I understand that she may not consider herself to be beautiful, which is fine, I guess, but I think the least she could do is believe that I think she's beautiful. I also understand that there are guys out there that are far too liberal and casual with this compliment. The more they say it, the more the sincerity seems to wear thin, and the less it seems like a compliment at all. I see it all the time, and it's always bothered me when I see guys do that. But with this in mind, does the phrase, "I love you" become less meaningful the more we use it? Most people would probably say "no." Maybe I'm wrong about that. So, what's the difference? What do you think?
"You're beautiful," "You're pretty," "You look very nice today," and other such phrases are not compliments that I ever use lightly. I will never say anything like that unless I really mean it.
Please don't think that I'm bitter about this or anything, because I'm not. This actually has not happened to me recently, but it has before, and I see it happen with other people almost on a weekly basis. Giving insincere compliments and not accepting sincere ones is a societal flaw that's been on my mind a lot lately, that's all. Maybe the girls can help me out with this. Am I totally off the mark on this one? Are there reasons that I haven't mentioned why girls seem to not believe this particular compliment sometimes? How do you differentiate between the sincere and the insincere?
Perhaps this shouldn't bother me as much as it does, but the truth is, I can't stand it when I tell a girl that she's beautiful, and she just rolls her eyes at me. As if she doesn't believe me, or I'm lying or something. I understand that she may not consider herself to be beautiful, which is fine, I guess, but I think the least she could do is believe that I think she's beautiful. I also understand that there are guys out there that are far too liberal and casual with this compliment. The more they say it, the more the sincerity seems to wear thin, and the less it seems like a compliment at all. I see it all the time, and it's always bothered me when I see guys do that. But with this in mind, does the phrase, "I love you" become less meaningful the more we use it? Most people would probably say "no." Maybe I'm wrong about that. So, what's the difference? What do you think?
"You're beautiful," "You're pretty," "You look very nice today," and other such phrases are not compliments that I ever use lightly. I will never say anything like that unless I really mean it.
Please don't think that I'm bitter about this or anything, because I'm not. This actually has not happened to me recently, but it has before, and I see it happen with other people almost on a weekly basis. Giving insincere compliments and not accepting sincere ones is a societal flaw that's been on my mind a lot lately, that's all. Maybe the girls can help me out with this. Am I totally off the mark on this one? Are there reasons that I haven't mentioned why girls seem to not believe this particular compliment sometimes? How do you differentiate between the sincere and the insincere?
Life is an Exciting, Blessed Adventure
(Written March 19, 2007)
Lately, I have gained a very deep appreciation for all the people in my life that I care about immensely, and how they add so positively to the adventure that life truly is. It is always so exciting to meet new people, and to create new, lasting bonds. It must be even more exciting when you meet the person you decide to marry, and then begins that very special, eternal bond. It occurs to me, though, that there is a lot more to this adventure than the positive human interactions that we have.
Life is made up of many elements and opportunities that are just waiting to be utilized. It is absolutely thrilling to think of all the experiences that are available for us to have, and the people we will touch and be touched by. Right along with these are the hard times that I think we sometimes try to ignore, and pretend don't exist, for fear of tainting the good. But by doing that, we lose sight of why we go through them in the first place.
We have all been handed different situations and circumstances that would typically be considered difficult to deal with. In my mind, these circumstances are an intrinsic part of the adventure that gives us the opportunity to adapt, learn, grow, and inevitably experience new things. The fact that we all have these trials unites us in a way that a lot of people probably don't realize. In a very real way, it makes us stronger as a human family. Instead of allowing these trials to bring us down, I think we should all remember that we're in this together, and that we have an in-born support system of about six billion! These circumstances, whether they be physical frailties, sickness, depression, financial troubles, etc., are not what define us. We have our personalities; we have our souls--that which defines us. As long as that's true--as long as we have that--then every single day is worth seeing through to the end. Every day can and should be an exciting adventure.
Just imagine...what's in store for us when the sun rises next?
Lately, I have gained a very deep appreciation for all the people in my life that I care about immensely, and how they add so positively to the adventure that life truly is. It is always so exciting to meet new people, and to create new, lasting bonds. It must be even more exciting when you meet the person you decide to marry, and then begins that very special, eternal bond. It occurs to me, though, that there is a lot more to this adventure than the positive human interactions that we have.
Life is made up of many elements and opportunities that are just waiting to be utilized. It is absolutely thrilling to think of all the experiences that are available for us to have, and the people we will touch and be touched by. Right along with these are the hard times that I think we sometimes try to ignore, and pretend don't exist, for fear of tainting the good. But by doing that, we lose sight of why we go through them in the first place.
We have all been handed different situations and circumstances that would typically be considered difficult to deal with. In my mind, these circumstances are an intrinsic part of the adventure that gives us the opportunity to adapt, learn, grow, and inevitably experience new things. The fact that we all have these trials unites us in a way that a lot of people probably don't realize. In a very real way, it makes us stronger as a human family. Instead of allowing these trials to bring us down, I think we should all remember that we're in this together, and that we have an in-born support system of about six billion! These circumstances, whether they be physical frailties, sickness, depression, financial troubles, etc., are not what define us. We have our personalities; we have our souls--that which defines us. As long as that's true--as long as we have that--then every single day is worth seeing through to the end. Every day can and should be an exciting adventure.
Just imagine...what's in store for us when the sun rises next?
Allowing Emotions to Communicate Truth
(Written March 1, 2007)
For whatever reason, emotions often seem to be the most difficult things to communicate; both to others and especially to ourselves. This is not true for everyone, however, because I've known people who seem to have no problem whatsoever with communicating exactly how they feel. In a lot of ways, I really admire that. But for the rest of us, it's a bit more difficult. That's interesting because, to me, it seems that our emotions are at the very core of who and what we are. With that in mind, it should be fairly easy to express them, right? Well, apparently not.
Some emotions are easier to communicate than others, like happiness, for example. It's easy to say that we're happy--at least for the moment--by smiling or laughing. Sadness seems to be a little harder, but still quite simple. Of course, there are many layers to happiness and sadness; I don't think it's ever black and white. It's with these layers together with things like anger, frustration, fear, confusion, and love, that we start running into difficulty.
More than communicating to others, it is difficult for us to accept the emotions that we're experiencing inside. Sometimes when we feel happy, we make the fundamentally wrong decision of telling ourselves the lie that we don't deserve to be happy. We essentially deny ourselves the privilege and blessing of experiencing happiness. It seems to me that we should try our best to accept and acknowledge each and every emotion that we experience; including the so-called negative ones. I actually don't think that there's such a thing as a negative emotion. We feel things like hate, anger, sadness, etc. for a reason. I believe it would be a healthy thing to accept these feelings, if nothing else, to try and make steps to overcome them. We can not combat something that we don't believe is there. Beyond that--almost without exception--emotions are always indicative of something that is actually happening. Knowing that, I believe, will make it easier for us to at least begin to overcome some emotional trials that we all go through.
Love, I think, is probably one of the most difficult emotions to accept and act on. Why is it so hard for us to fall in love? Is it as simple as fear of rejection, or is there more to it than that? I really don't know. But for many people, falling in love is a little bit like going down a one-way road: it's never returned. I can see how that would be a deterrent that would keep us from allowing ourselves to fall in love, just to be hurt again. But I also think that severely limits us. I think one of life's greatest tragedies is when we don't allow ourselves to fall in love simply because of self-denial.
In the end, I believe that our emotions are gifts from God that act as lights to guide us through this life, and to lead us to truth. To deny them is to deny wisdom.
For whatever reason, emotions often seem to be the most difficult things to communicate; both to others and especially to ourselves. This is not true for everyone, however, because I've known people who seem to have no problem whatsoever with communicating exactly how they feel. In a lot of ways, I really admire that. But for the rest of us, it's a bit more difficult. That's interesting because, to me, it seems that our emotions are at the very core of who and what we are. With that in mind, it should be fairly easy to express them, right? Well, apparently not.
Some emotions are easier to communicate than others, like happiness, for example. It's easy to say that we're happy--at least for the moment--by smiling or laughing. Sadness seems to be a little harder, but still quite simple. Of course, there are many layers to happiness and sadness; I don't think it's ever black and white. It's with these layers together with things like anger, frustration, fear, confusion, and love, that we start running into difficulty.
More than communicating to others, it is difficult for us to accept the emotions that we're experiencing inside. Sometimes when we feel happy, we make the fundamentally wrong decision of telling ourselves the lie that we don't deserve to be happy. We essentially deny ourselves the privilege and blessing of experiencing happiness. It seems to me that we should try our best to accept and acknowledge each and every emotion that we experience; including the so-called negative ones. I actually don't think that there's such a thing as a negative emotion. We feel things like hate, anger, sadness, etc. for a reason. I believe it would be a healthy thing to accept these feelings, if nothing else, to try and make steps to overcome them. We can not combat something that we don't believe is there. Beyond that--almost without exception--emotions are always indicative of something that is actually happening. Knowing that, I believe, will make it easier for us to at least begin to overcome some emotional trials that we all go through.
Love, I think, is probably one of the most difficult emotions to accept and act on. Why is it so hard for us to fall in love? Is it as simple as fear of rejection, or is there more to it than that? I really don't know. But for many people, falling in love is a little bit like going down a one-way road: it's never returned. I can see how that would be a deterrent that would keep us from allowing ourselves to fall in love, just to be hurt again. But I also think that severely limits us. I think one of life's greatest tragedies is when we don't allow ourselves to fall in love simply because of self-denial.
In the end, I believe that our emotions are gifts from God that act as lights to guide us through this life, and to lead us to truth. To deny them is to deny wisdom.
Feelings of Inadequacy...
(Written February 24, 2007)
Something I've been thinking about lately is why we often feel inadequate, especially amidst positive influences. There are times when people try to bring us down; they tell us we can't accomplish things we know we can; that we're not good enough; that we should stop trying; and other similar things. In those situations it makes sense that we would sometimes feel inadequate, as we often start believing things the more people tell us. If people treat you like you're stupid, chances are, you'll eventually start believing that you actually are. It's unfortunate and cruel, but it happens. But why do we let this happen?
More to the point of this note, why do we allow ourselves to feel inadequate when we are surrounded by people who do nothing but lift us up? Is it because we somehow don't believe it when people give us sincere compliments and support? Why do we assume that friends and family lie to us for the sake of making us feel better? As if they don't actually believe that we're capable of accomplishing great things. It doesn't make sense to me. It seems that we are more ready to believe the person who's tearing us down than the person who wants the best for us. I think that's sad. I think that mentality keeps us from reaching our full potential. So, how do we beat that mentality?
I really don't have the answers to these questions, which is the reason I'm posting this: I'd like to know what you guys think. I do have some thoughts though:
In my opinion, one of the biggest things that keeps us from accepting and believing sincere support is a weird sense of pride. It seems that we're being humble by not immediately agreeing with compliments that are given. We have a kind of, "I don't want to seem prideful, so I'm not going to accept that compliment" attitude. And then we turn around and give someone else a compliment expecting that they will accept and appreciate it. I think that we are severely conflicted inside, to the point where we don't know how to act when it seems that someone is acknowledging that we're actually doing something good. We often feel weighed down by responsibilities and tasks, which makes us feel overwhelmed, which then leads to feelings of inadequacy. My thoughts on feeling inadequate are that we never should, even though we all do--myself included. I guess that's just a result of having to deal with opposition in all things. But just by the simple fact that I'm in this world is proof to me that I myself am not inadequate. I've been given a chance by Someone to make something out of my life; and every other single person on the face of this planet has been given that exact same opportunity! No matter what people tell us, no matter our diverse circumstances, everyone has the same potential, united by our differences!
Something I've been thinking about lately is why we often feel inadequate, especially amidst positive influences. There are times when people try to bring us down; they tell us we can't accomplish things we know we can; that we're not good enough; that we should stop trying; and other similar things. In those situations it makes sense that we would sometimes feel inadequate, as we often start believing things the more people tell us. If people treat you like you're stupid, chances are, you'll eventually start believing that you actually are. It's unfortunate and cruel, but it happens. But why do we let this happen?
More to the point of this note, why do we allow ourselves to feel inadequate when we are surrounded by people who do nothing but lift us up? Is it because we somehow don't believe it when people give us sincere compliments and support? Why do we assume that friends and family lie to us for the sake of making us feel better? As if they don't actually believe that we're capable of accomplishing great things. It doesn't make sense to me. It seems that we are more ready to believe the person who's tearing us down than the person who wants the best for us. I think that's sad. I think that mentality keeps us from reaching our full potential. So, how do we beat that mentality?
I really don't have the answers to these questions, which is the reason I'm posting this: I'd like to know what you guys think. I do have some thoughts though:
In my opinion, one of the biggest things that keeps us from accepting and believing sincere support is a weird sense of pride. It seems that we're being humble by not immediately agreeing with compliments that are given. We have a kind of, "I don't want to seem prideful, so I'm not going to accept that compliment" attitude. And then we turn around and give someone else a compliment expecting that they will accept and appreciate it. I think that we are severely conflicted inside, to the point where we don't know how to act when it seems that someone is acknowledging that we're actually doing something good. We often feel weighed down by responsibilities and tasks, which makes us feel overwhelmed, which then leads to feelings of inadequacy. My thoughts on feeling inadequate are that we never should, even though we all do--myself included. I guess that's just a result of having to deal with opposition in all things. But just by the simple fact that I'm in this world is proof to me that I myself am not inadequate. I've been given a chance by Someone to make something out of my life; and every other single person on the face of this planet has been given that exact same opportunity! No matter what people tell us, no matter our diverse circumstances, everyone has the same potential, united by our differences!
My Own Top 20 Favorite Movies of All Time!!!!
I never thought I would do this, but I have finally come up with a definitive list of my all-time favorite movies. I put them in descending order, with the last one being my very favorite. I really put WAY too much thought into this! :) Anyway...enjoy!
20. The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra
I wasn’t expecting much from this movie when my friend introduced it to me. I certainly wasn’t expecting to put it on my top 20 list, but here it is. This film was made in 2004, filmed in black and white, and makes fun of sci-fi and horror movies from the 40’s and 50’s. And it’s absolutely hilarious, without resorting to crudeness or vulgarity. This is one of the most quotable movies ever made, with some of the best one-liners I’ve ever heard. One of my favorite lines: “In my time, I’ve seen bears do things even bears wouldn’t do.”
19. The Goonies
This movie is on the list, almost solely for nostalgia. This is one of the more intelligent kids movies, in that the kids in it act like real kids would. And they go on adventures that real kids would only dream of, and sometimes attempt themselves. The characters in this are hilarious, and just a joy to watch. Whenever I’m feeling down, if I pop in this movie, it always makes me feel better. The only issue some people may have with this is that there’s quite a bit of language in it for being a PG-rated movie. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone under 11.
18. Night at the Museum 2
When I went into this movie, I was just expecting another run-of-the-mill inferior sequel. I was very wrong. This movie is better than the first in every way. I’ve never laughed so hard at a movie in my entire life. I seriously thought that one of my major organs might just fail on me, I was laughing so hard. It accomplishes this without a single use of foul language or the least amount of vulgarity. Considering that this was made just this year, that’s pretty impressive. Beyond that though, what makes this a great film, is its underlying message of how important it is to find joy in your own life.
17. The Karate Kid
This is probably the best “underdog” movie ever made. Nowadays, it’s fairly typical, in that the main character gets bullied in the beginning, wins in the end, and even gets the girl. But what sets this one apart is the very well-developed, and often touching, relationship between a teenage Daniel and the elderly Mr. Miyagi. Pat Morita (Miyagi) was actually nominated for an Academy award for his role. This has some of the best character dynamics I’ve ever seen in a movie. This is coupled with a genuinely exciting and moving storyline.
16. Superman: The Movie
This movie literally has it all. Truly epic in every sense of the word, the film is filled with adventure, action, romance, comedy, sci-fi, drama; you name it, it’s there. Made in 1976, this was simply the greatest comic book movie ever made for more than 30 years. Superman is effectively portrayed as a man burdened with having such extraordinary powers. It chronicles his evolving into finding joy out of his apparent calling. This is one of the greatest stories ever put to film.
15. My Dinner With Andre
This was released during the same year as Raiders of the Lost Ark, which is widely regarded as being one of the best action movies ever made. My Dinner With Andre is far from an action movie, but it’s just as gripping. The entire film takes place in a restaurant, and we watch a conversation between two men over dinner. That’s it. But this isn’t just any conversation. It’s one of the most interesting and philosophically profound conversations you’ll ever have the privilege of eavesdropping. Some of the things they talk about create some crazy, interesting images that you’ll only see in your own mind. The film respects the audience’s intelligence enough to allow us to still use our own imaginations. It’s an interesting and unusual method to use in Film, and that’s why it’s one of the best.
14. The Majestic
This is one of those films that I would consider to be just a celebration of life itself, and of the freedoms we enjoy. Jim Carrey is unexpectedly brilliant in this film, playing a lost and confused, but generally decent, man. It’s by far his most serious role, and also his best. But he’s not the one shining beacon in the film. The writing, acting, and direction are all top-notch. And in my opinion, this has two of the best monologues that have ever been spoken in any film.
13. K-PAX
This is such a unique film! Many people unfortunately believe that good science fiction and good human drama cannot be fused together. These people seem to forget what the original purpose of science fiction was in the first place. Back “in the day,” early sci-fi stories were used as vehicles to discuss and illustrate the human condition, current events, a wide range of issues, etc. Now, science fiction seems to often be used as a vehicle to showcase special effects and explosions. K-PAX chooses to go the more refined route of classic storytelling, and tells a deeply personal, human, touching and relevant story. I won’t reveal anything about that here though. You’ll just have to see what I mean, for yourself.
12. Mission: Impossible 3
This is simply my favorite action movie. It’s very intense from the first two seconds of the movie, and doesn’t let up until the very end. Unlike most action movies though, this one also has a lot of heart. The character development and interactions are very good, and the story is really the main focus point, despite all the spectacular action sequences. I never tire of watching this movie.
11. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
This is widely considered as being the worst in the series, but it is my personal favorite. Indiana Jones was an important part of my childhood. I love all of them almost equally, including Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, the newest one. The Temple of Doom has an edge over the rest because of three general things: action, humor, and character interaction. It is an absolutely relentless action movie that simply never lets up. Beyond that, the characters get themselves into countless hilarious situations, and watching them get out of them is just a joy. This also has the best soundtrack of all of the Indy movies, and also the funniest one-liners.
10. August Rush
This is really a beautiful film that touches on a lot of important ideas. The most important one being that we’re all connected. A boy in this film finds one way to bridge that connection through music. I think there’s all but a total of three minutes in the film that doesn’t have music playing in the background. It’s basically a musical without actually being a traditional musical. Aurally and visually stunning, this is a film that everyone should see.
9. The Slipper and the Rose: A Cinderella Story
I’ve always loved musicals. You will never see any musical better than this one. Not only is it my favorite musical, but it’s also far and above my favorite Cinderella movie. The cinematography in it is gorgeous. Technically speaking, it’s essentially a flawless film. But what truly makes it great are the characters and the music. The film is filled to the brim with fun, witty, loveable and eccentric characters, and unbelievably catchy and fun songs. Tragically, there are many people who have never even heard of this movie. Do yourself a favor, and find yourself a copy of this as soon as you can!
8. TRON
The special effects in this film may, from one perspective, be seen as primitive. But seen from a different perspective, its artistic merit is absolutely timeless. It has no peer or equal. In some ways, it was a pioneering effort, but in other, more important ways, they set the bar that still hasn’t been reached after all these years. I don’t think they realized what they created when they made this film back in the early 80’s. Somehow, they were able to create a world that simply cannot exist in reality. And yet, whenever I watch it, I get lost in it, as if I were actually there. I’ve never seen another film that has been able to do that for me, while forgetting about the mechanics of how it might have been made. Amazingly, with all of this, both the acting and the story are just fantastic. This may be the greatest purely escapist film ever made.
7. Signs
A family drama in the guise of an alien invasion thriller, this is one of the most genuinely touching films I’ve ever seen. Yes, it is a thriller, and I suppose some people will get some mild scares out of it, but I think it’s just good, clean fun. There’s no blood and gore in it, and if you do find yourself being scared, you’ll also probably laugh out loud right afterward. There are some very funny parts in this, which lessens the intensity of some of the scarier parts. Beyond all of this though, you will really get to love and care about the characters. There are very few movies in which I have felt so attached to the characters. Seeing this family struggle and grow closer together—and closer to God—really gets you to feel for them. This film also suggests the idea that it may actually be immoral to give up on accomplishing your dreams. That, to me, is the heart of the film, and the reason behind why you should see it.
6. The Dark Knight
This is the film that finally dethroned “Superman: The Movie” as the greatest comic book movie ever made. But this film transcends the comic book genre, and goes for much more, making it one of the best films of any kind. Something that really impressed me is how thematically dark this film is, while at the same time, the constraint they used in the actual content they showed. The film is intense for sure, and is not meant for children, but not because it’s simply inappropriate. It’s disturbing at times, but there is absolutely no gratuitous violence, language, or sexuality. It pulls no punches, emotionally and viscerally. But it does this, simply by telling the story that needs to be told, without the use of vulgarity, lewdness, or any of the other sensationalized drivel that so many other mainstream films indulge in. I respect this film hugely, because of that. The story, by the way, is truly the film’s greatest strength. While maintaining its dark theme and plenty of spectacular action scenes, it also contains some very interesting and relevant social commentary.
5. Frequency
I love it when I’m wrong about a movie. For some reason, I expected to hate this movie, but now it’s on my top 5 favorites. Here is another sci-fi tale that does it right, by making the human relationships and storyline the main focus points. On a very basic level, it’s a sci-fi/suspense/thriller. The parts that affected me the most though were the scenes between the son and his dad. The chemistry between these two characters is just amazing. I’ve never seen anything quite like it in a movie before. Some of these scenes with the two of them are truly, powerfully moving. As the movie progresses, a mystery begins to unfold, things start to get intense, and it slowly transitions into a hugely entertaining white-knuckled thriller. This movie really has a lot of depth and layers, and I would recommend it to anyone.
4. The Village
This may be the most widely misunderstood film ever made. A lot of people hated this film, I think, because what they got was ferociously different from what they were expecting. Unfortunately, this was marketed as a horror movie. A horror movie this is most definitely not. At its heart, it’s a beautiful love story between the two most purely innocent people you may ever see portrayed on film. Now, don’t get me wrong. The film definitely has its intense moments. In fact, this may be the most emotionally intense film I’ve ever seen. If you have a tendency to cry during movies, you can expect the waterworks to come. The film has a deeply potent message at its core though, and that’s what makes it so great. The idea that love can conquer all; that we should run toward happiness, even amidst pain and anguish; that, even though sadness is a part of life, hopelessness is but a temporary thing; that the world itself moves and kneels before love, because of love’s overwhelming influence and power…these, and more, are all themes that the film touches on. It’s simply one of the most beautiful films ever made.
3. God’s Army 2: States of Grace
There is a lot of controversy attached to this film, especially among Mormons, to which faith I belong. The controversy is there because, during the film, one of the missionaries makes a very serious mistake. This mistake is not shown, but implied. Now, I respect why some people might be bothered by this, and may even be made to feel uncomfortable. But for me, it was an emotionally potent and necessary part of the story. The movie, in no way, makes light of the mistake, or illustrates it as a good idea. In fact, it very effectively shows the tragedy of it. But, more importantly, it also shows Heavenly Father’s love for, and His willingness to forgive His children. It’s not an instant thing; it’s a process, and this film powerfully illustrates that. To be very honest, this is the most powerful film testimony I have ever seen of the validity and reality of repentance and the saving power of Jesus Christ. Beyond the religious overtones, it’s also just a very well-made film with four very interesting characters, who each in their own way, begin to discover how it is that they can apply the Atonement in their own lives. I have never been so profoundly moved by any other film. It’s a tragic film, to be sure. But please, if you can, set aside any pre-notions, and give it a chance. You may find that it will open your eyes, lift your spirits, and add to your conviction that there is more to this life than what we see with our eyes; and that there is Someone watching over us with a loving eye.
2. Powder
I’ve never seen another movie with a more important story to tell. One thing that makes it so great too, is that it’s applicable to just about anyone in any situation, no matter what their beliefs are. I’ve always believed that we, as human beings, are literally connected to each other. More than that, every single person is inherently beautiful. Powder agrees with me, as this is the film’s biggest theme. I don’t want to say anymore, other than a warning: this is a very strong PG-13 rated movie. It hangs on the very edge of that rating, actually. As such, I feel that I should warn those that might be sensitive to some things. It does NOT contain any harsh nudity or sexuality, but it does have strong language, and some scenes that people may find disturbing. Unlike so many sensational Hollywood movies though, there is a definite purpose behind the content. It’s not there simply to be there. Underneath some of the darkness, there is a truly beautiful story that is being told.
1. Unbreakable
This has been my favorite movie since the year 2001, when it was first released. There are many reasons I could give as to why I love this film so much. From the character interactions and development, to the cinematography, to the camera angles, to the storyline, to the palpable suspense and intensity, to the sense of mystery and intrigue, to the gentle sense of humor, to the sweet love story; there’s really a lot to love about it. The thing I admire the most about it is what it’s trying to say about humanity, what we’re capable of, and who and what we really are. It asks the fun-to-think-about question: Are there heroes among us—the kind of heroes that comic books talk about? And then it dares to address that question with a possible answer. Perhaps there are people out there that do have abilities that have been seriously exaggerated by comic books: abilities like instinct, humor, love, gentleness, charity, kindness, etc. I know there are plenty of people in my life, who possess at least a couple of these “abilities.” The film also tries to convince us that we’re all pretty extraordinary human beings on the inside. Combining our drive and limitless potential with our divine purpose—once discovered—will propel us into an unstoppable motion toward finally touching those stars that we’ve spent so much time and effort reaching. During this process, we will also find happiness. The human spirit is truly unbreakable.
20. The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra
I wasn’t expecting much from this movie when my friend introduced it to me. I certainly wasn’t expecting to put it on my top 20 list, but here it is. This film was made in 2004, filmed in black and white, and makes fun of sci-fi and horror movies from the 40’s and 50’s. And it’s absolutely hilarious, without resorting to crudeness or vulgarity. This is one of the most quotable movies ever made, with some of the best one-liners I’ve ever heard. One of my favorite lines: “In my time, I’ve seen bears do things even bears wouldn’t do.”
19. The Goonies
This movie is on the list, almost solely for nostalgia. This is one of the more intelligent kids movies, in that the kids in it act like real kids would. And they go on adventures that real kids would only dream of, and sometimes attempt themselves. The characters in this are hilarious, and just a joy to watch. Whenever I’m feeling down, if I pop in this movie, it always makes me feel better. The only issue some people may have with this is that there’s quite a bit of language in it for being a PG-rated movie. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone under 11.
18. Night at the Museum 2
When I went into this movie, I was just expecting another run-of-the-mill inferior sequel. I was very wrong. This movie is better than the first in every way. I’ve never laughed so hard at a movie in my entire life. I seriously thought that one of my major organs might just fail on me, I was laughing so hard. It accomplishes this without a single use of foul language or the least amount of vulgarity. Considering that this was made just this year, that’s pretty impressive. Beyond that though, what makes this a great film, is its underlying message of how important it is to find joy in your own life.
17. The Karate Kid
This is probably the best “underdog” movie ever made. Nowadays, it’s fairly typical, in that the main character gets bullied in the beginning, wins in the end, and even gets the girl. But what sets this one apart is the very well-developed, and often touching, relationship between a teenage Daniel and the elderly Mr. Miyagi. Pat Morita (Miyagi) was actually nominated for an Academy award for his role. This has some of the best character dynamics I’ve ever seen in a movie. This is coupled with a genuinely exciting and moving storyline.
16. Superman: The Movie
This movie literally has it all. Truly epic in every sense of the word, the film is filled with adventure, action, romance, comedy, sci-fi, drama; you name it, it’s there. Made in 1976, this was simply the greatest comic book movie ever made for more than 30 years. Superman is effectively portrayed as a man burdened with having such extraordinary powers. It chronicles his evolving into finding joy out of his apparent calling. This is one of the greatest stories ever put to film.
15. My Dinner With Andre
This was released during the same year as Raiders of the Lost Ark, which is widely regarded as being one of the best action movies ever made. My Dinner With Andre is far from an action movie, but it’s just as gripping. The entire film takes place in a restaurant, and we watch a conversation between two men over dinner. That’s it. But this isn’t just any conversation. It’s one of the most interesting and philosophically profound conversations you’ll ever have the privilege of eavesdropping. Some of the things they talk about create some crazy, interesting images that you’ll only see in your own mind. The film respects the audience’s intelligence enough to allow us to still use our own imaginations. It’s an interesting and unusual method to use in Film, and that’s why it’s one of the best.
14. The Majestic
This is one of those films that I would consider to be just a celebration of life itself, and of the freedoms we enjoy. Jim Carrey is unexpectedly brilliant in this film, playing a lost and confused, but generally decent, man. It’s by far his most serious role, and also his best. But he’s not the one shining beacon in the film. The writing, acting, and direction are all top-notch. And in my opinion, this has two of the best monologues that have ever been spoken in any film.
13. K-PAX
This is such a unique film! Many people unfortunately believe that good science fiction and good human drama cannot be fused together. These people seem to forget what the original purpose of science fiction was in the first place. Back “in the day,” early sci-fi stories were used as vehicles to discuss and illustrate the human condition, current events, a wide range of issues, etc. Now, science fiction seems to often be used as a vehicle to showcase special effects and explosions. K-PAX chooses to go the more refined route of classic storytelling, and tells a deeply personal, human, touching and relevant story. I won’t reveal anything about that here though. You’ll just have to see what I mean, for yourself.
12. Mission: Impossible 3
This is simply my favorite action movie. It’s very intense from the first two seconds of the movie, and doesn’t let up until the very end. Unlike most action movies though, this one also has a lot of heart. The character development and interactions are very good, and the story is really the main focus point, despite all the spectacular action sequences. I never tire of watching this movie.
11. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
This is widely considered as being the worst in the series, but it is my personal favorite. Indiana Jones was an important part of my childhood. I love all of them almost equally, including Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, the newest one. The Temple of Doom has an edge over the rest because of three general things: action, humor, and character interaction. It is an absolutely relentless action movie that simply never lets up. Beyond that, the characters get themselves into countless hilarious situations, and watching them get out of them is just a joy. This also has the best soundtrack of all of the Indy movies, and also the funniest one-liners.
10. August Rush
This is really a beautiful film that touches on a lot of important ideas. The most important one being that we’re all connected. A boy in this film finds one way to bridge that connection through music. I think there’s all but a total of three minutes in the film that doesn’t have music playing in the background. It’s basically a musical without actually being a traditional musical. Aurally and visually stunning, this is a film that everyone should see.
9. The Slipper and the Rose: A Cinderella Story
I’ve always loved musicals. You will never see any musical better than this one. Not only is it my favorite musical, but it’s also far and above my favorite Cinderella movie. The cinematography in it is gorgeous. Technically speaking, it’s essentially a flawless film. But what truly makes it great are the characters and the music. The film is filled to the brim with fun, witty, loveable and eccentric characters, and unbelievably catchy and fun songs. Tragically, there are many people who have never even heard of this movie. Do yourself a favor, and find yourself a copy of this as soon as you can!
8. TRON
The special effects in this film may, from one perspective, be seen as primitive. But seen from a different perspective, its artistic merit is absolutely timeless. It has no peer or equal. In some ways, it was a pioneering effort, but in other, more important ways, they set the bar that still hasn’t been reached after all these years. I don’t think they realized what they created when they made this film back in the early 80’s. Somehow, they were able to create a world that simply cannot exist in reality. And yet, whenever I watch it, I get lost in it, as if I were actually there. I’ve never seen another film that has been able to do that for me, while forgetting about the mechanics of how it might have been made. Amazingly, with all of this, both the acting and the story are just fantastic. This may be the greatest purely escapist film ever made.
7. Signs
A family drama in the guise of an alien invasion thriller, this is one of the most genuinely touching films I’ve ever seen. Yes, it is a thriller, and I suppose some people will get some mild scares out of it, but I think it’s just good, clean fun. There’s no blood and gore in it, and if you do find yourself being scared, you’ll also probably laugh out loud right afterward. There are some very funny parts in this, which lessens the intensity of some of the scarier parts. Beyond all of this though, you will really get to love and care about the characters. There are very few movies in which I have felt so attached to the characters. Seeing this family struggle and grow closer together—and closer to God—really gets you to feel for them. This film also suggests the idea that it may actually be immoral to give up on accomplishing your dreams. That, to me, is the heart of the film, and the reason behind why you should see it.
6. The Dark Knight
This is the film that finally dethroned “Superman: The Movie” as the greatest comic book movie ever made. But this film transcends the comic book genre, and goes for much more, making it one of the best films of any kind. Something that really impressed me is how thematically dark this film is, while at the same time, the constraint they used in the actual content they showed. The film is intense for sure, and is not meant for children, but not because it’s simply inappropriate. It’s disturbing at times, but there is absolutely no gratuitous violence, language, or sexuality. It pulls no punches, emotionally and viscerally. But it does this, simply by telling the story that needs to be told, without the use of vulgarity, lewdness, or any of the other sensationalized drivel that so many other mainstream films indulge in. I respect this film hugely, because of that. The story, by the way, is truly the film’s greatest strength. While maintaining its dark theme and plenty of spectacular action scenes, it also contains some very interesting and relevant social commentary.
5. Frequency
I love it when I’m wrong about a movie. For some reason, I expected to hate this movie, but now it’s on my top 5 favorites. Here is another sci-fi tale that does it right, by making the human relationships and storyline the main focus points. On a very basic level, it’s a sci-fi/suspense/thriller. The parts that affected me the most though were the scenes between the son and his dad. The chemistry between these two characters is just amazing. I’ve never seen anything quite like it in a movie before. Some of these scenes with the two of them are truly, powerfully moving. As the movie progresses, a mystery begins to unfold, things start to get intense, and it slowly transitions into a hugely entertaining white-knuckled thriller. This movie really has a lot of depth and layers, and I would recommend it to anyone.
4. The Village
This may be the most widely misunderstood film ever made. A lot of people hated this film, I think, because what they got was ferociously different from what they were expecting. Unfortunately, this was marketed as a horror movie. A horror movie this is most definitely not. At its heart, it’s a beautiful love story between the two most purely innocent people you may ever see portrayed on film. Now, don’t get me wrong. The film definitely has its intense moments. In fact, this may be the most emotionally intense film I’ve ever seen. If you have a tendency to cry during movies, you can expect the waterworks to come. The film has a deeply potent message at its core though, and that’s what makes it so great. The idea that love can conquer all; that we should run toward happiness, even amidst pain and anguish; that, even though sadness is a part of life, hopelessness is but a temporary thing; that the world itself moves and kneels before love, because of love’s overwhelming influence and power…these, and more, are all themes that the film touches on. It’s simply one of the most beautiful films ever made.
3. God’s Army 2: States of Grace
There is a lot of controversy attached to this film, especially among Mormons, to which faith I belong. The controversy is there because, during the film, one of the missionaries makes a very serious mistake. This mistake is not shown, but implied. Now, I respect why some people might be bothered by this, and may even be made to feel uncomfortable. But for me, it was an emotionally potent and necessary part of the story. The movie, in no way, makes light of the mistake, or illustrates it as a good idea. In fact, it very effectively shows the tragedy of it. But, more importantly, it also shows Heavenly Father’s love for, and His willingness to forgive His children. It’s not an instant thing; it’s a process, and this film powerfully illustrates that. To be very honest, this is the most powerful film testimony I have ever seen of the validity and reality of repentance and the saving power of Jesus Christ. Beyond the religious overtones, it’s also just a very well-made film with four very interesting characters, who each in their own way, begin to discover how it is that they can apply the Atonement in their own lives. I have never been so profoundly moved by any other film. It’s a tragic film, to be sure. But please, if you can, set aside any pre-notions, and give it a chance. You may find that it will open your eyes, lift your spirits, and add to your conviction that there is more to this life than what we see with our eyes; and that there is Someone watching over us with a loving eye.
2. Powder
I’ve never seen another movie with a more important story to tell. One thing that makes it so great too, is that it’s applicable to just about anyone in any situation, no matter what their beliefs are. I’ve always believed that we, as human beings, are literally connected to each other. More than that, every single person is inherently beautiful. Powder agrees with me, as this is the film’s biggest theme. I don’t want to say anymore, other than a warning: this is a very strong PG-13 rated movie. It hangs on the very edge of that rating, actually. As such, I feel that I should warn those that might be sensitive to some things. It does NOT contain any harsh nudity or sexuality, but it does have strong language, and some scenes that people may find disturbing. Unlike so many sensational Hollywood movies though, there is a definite purpose behind the content. It’s not there simply to be there. Underneath some of the darkness, there is a truly beautiful story that is being told.
1. Unbreakable
This has been my favorite movie since the year 2001, when it was first released. There are many reasons I could give as to why I love this film so much. From the character interactions and development, to the cinematography, to the camera angles, to the storyline, to the palpable suspense and intensity, to the sense of mystery and intrigue, to the gentle sense of humor, to the sweet love story; there’s really a lot to love about it. The thing I admire the most about it is what it’s trying to say about humanity, what we’re capable of, and who and what we really are. It asks the fun-to-think-about question: Are there heroes among us—the kind of heroes that comic books talk about? And then it dares to address that question with a possible answer. Perhaps there are people out there that do have abilities that have been seriously exaggerated by comic books: abilities like instinct, humor, love, gentleness, charity, kindness, etc. I know there are plenty of people in my life, who possess at least a couple of these “abilities.” The film also tries to convince us that we’re all pretty extraordinary human beings on the inside. Combining our drive and limitless potential with our divine purpose—once discovered—will propel us into an unstoppable motion toward finally touching those stars that we’ve spent so much time and effort reaching. During this process, we will also find happiness. The human spirit is truly unbreakable.
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