Movies Made Me Do It #atozchallenge

Movies made me try a mojito cocktail drink once, in Manayunk. Unfortunately, it made me sick, but I still have Michael Bay’s cop action flick “Bad Boys II” starring Will Smith, Martin Lawrence and Gabrielle Union to thank for that.

At least now, I know that mojitos are not for me.

Movies also made me want to visit New Orleans, although, I still haven’t gone and was skeptical about it following Hurricane Katrina. The drama “Eve’s Bayou” starring Lynn Whitfield and crime thriller “Double Jeopardy” starring Ashley Judd and Tommy Lee Jones are the culprits for my interest in that city. I guess you could say that these experiences and desires are cases of life imitating art.

For some time, however, I’ve been wondering about the opposite effect of what happens when art imitates life. What does that look like? Does it manifest in a depressing dramatic piece that makes you want to slit your wrists? Is it an action-adventure flick where the hero wins in the end and everybody goes home happy? Or, does it embody that of a light slapstick comedy where characters don’t take life too seriously? Maybe it shows itself in the form of a horror or thriller film that keeps you on the edge of your seats and no matter how much you want to look away, something about it keeps you willing to be there for the ride. So, why aren’t some of us as excited about our lives as we are movies?

If art imitates life at times, be it either fantasy or reality, we’re the ones inspiring these very stories. Yet, we are less enthusiastic about going about our day-to-day activities than those of fictional characters in imaginary worlds. For those who find this observation hard to believe, I ask of you just one simple question – If YOU could step outside of yourself for a minute and then watched the movie trailer or preview of your life, would you want to go see the full feature? If the answer is yes, then kudos to you for living a fulfilled and exciting life – feel free to share your tips, tricks and/or secrets on how the rest of us can follow suit. If the answer is no, or even if it’s that you’d rather wait for it to come out on home video or cable, then it’s time to do some serious auditing of why that is and then what’s it going to take for you to change that.

Many people can’t wait until opening weekend to see the latest release that’s had the most buzz or is featuring their favorite actors. We camp out for hours on sidewalks, sometimes in unsavory weather conditions, to be first in line for the good seats at midnight showings of “Twilight: New Moon.” We order advance tickets for “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1” because we’d be damned if we show up to the theater and it’s all sold-out. We opt for IMAX 3D because standard definition no longer cuts it when “Iron Man,” “The Dark Knight” and their friends are saving the world with super powers and fancy gadgets.

We even plan ladies nights out for “Sex and the City 2” and dress to the nines, like it’s the friggin’ high school prom – despite the fact that no matter how big of a fan you are of Carrie and her gang, it wasn’t even that good. When those two hours have passed, the end-credits on these movies begin to scroll and the theater lights to up, we feel entertained, satisfied – maybe even a little complete. Then, we go on back to our own lives -- where the thrills are few and far in between, the laughter is nowhere to be found, the camaraderie among friends and strangers alike is long gone and the freedom we felt to take our days by the horns and explore all that awaits us to the fullest of our abilities, just dissipates into thin air.

Of course, I’ll be quick to make it clear that there is nothing wrong with watching movies. I want everyone to watch as many movies (including mine) as they can in whatever amount of time is given to them.

When we start to use film as our constant escape from a life that doesn’t measure up to our expectations or quest for happiness or hopes and dreams or whatever it is that we’re seeking, then there is something wrong with that picture. You don’t need Tyler Perry or Madea to find religion, if that’s what you want in your path. You don’t have to watch “Waiting for Superman” or “Won’t Back Down” before getting involved with a local education system that you’re not happy with. You don’t have to replay “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” or “The Hangover” in your head to live vicariously through their vacations and pastimes.

Consider how sad it is that many people wait until a release date to have fun – as if it’s the only time that they think they can or deserve to enjoy their time; when there is no guarantee that they will even be here tomorrow. The thrills of life do not reside solely in two-hour blocks of Movie Theater showtimes. If we want to be amused, inspired or mesmerized by an experience, we must go out and create it for ourselves at every opportunity that we receive to do so. It would be awesome if one day, many of us lived the kind of lives that someone would want to make a movie about. That would be some kind of life – one that film producers and/or directors reflect on during television interviews and then tell reporters that YOU made them do it!

On another note, the theme for this week’s Monday Movie Meme is loosely based on today’s topic: Going Places. Share on your blog or in the comments section, movies that made YOU want to do something that you never did before. I’ve already listed some of my selections in the above A to Z Challenge post. Now, it’s YOUR turn!

What movies made YOU want to do something you never did before?

If YOU saw a movie trailer or preview of your life, would you buy a ticket to see the full length feature?

Keep your Mind on People Living… #atozchallenge

*A to Z Challenge Alert: I’m playing catch-up today for Letter L, so my post for Letter M – including the Monday Movie Meme -- will be published later in the evening on April 15th.

“I’ve seen things that are so wrong. Now, how can I go back to school and keep my mind on things that are just in books – that aren’t people living?” asks Edie Doyle in the 1950s crime drama “On the Waterfront” starring Marlon Brando. She refused her father’s attempts to send her back to study teaching with nuns, after her brother Joey was murdered by their local corruption-laden dockers union.

Edie’s determination to find out who is guilty and bring justice to Joey’s murder overshadowed her need to flee town during one of the worst possible times in this young woman’s life. Edie’s father only wanted what’s best for her, as he worked very hard to keep her safe, which is understandable, given the unsettling reality that locals in their town had to deal with on a daily basis. Still, she saw the bigger picture -- convincing a priest and dockworker to help her get to the bottom of the crimes being committed on the waterfront. Watching this movie has me thinking about how many of us are often so wrapped up in our own world that we forget to consider the impact that even one person can have on improving the living conditions of other men, women and children.

We might not be able to change the whole world and all of the problems that lay within it, as individuals, but there are still things that can be done to change small portions of the world – one problem, and person, at a time. This does not only include charitable work, volunteering and helping those in need – it also includes making sure that the way you live your live stands for something bigger than yourself. Remember that when you’re going about your routine…

• While you’re in peace and comfort, someone is in distress. Show kindness by doing good –or at least refraining from hostility as often as possible, for you don’t know what the next man or woman is going through.
• When you’re not voting, laws are being changed either in your favor or against it. Put your bid in so that you can be counted.
• While you’re rising in the morning, somebody is dying. Make the best of your days and pay respects and/or condolences to those (or their families) who don’t have any left.
• When you’re eating, somebody is starving. Recycle as much as you can, or at least make as little waste as you can.
• While you’re safe and sound, someone is in danger. If you witness or hear something that isn’t right, speak up or alert those who are in a position to speak up, for there is always an opportunity to save lives.
• When you’re looking the other way, keeping your head in the clouds or down in the sand, the world is becoming a less-than-ideal place to live or raise children. Violence is prevailing, Hatred is being taught, Ignorance is being championed and accepted, Health and Safety risks are being ignored.

We cannot continue to be oblivious to the things that are happening around us, especially if they are things that have a negative impact on the future of our communities.

A while ago, I joined thousands of people around the globe in a community service project called ItStartsWithUs, operated by a man named Josh who encourages individuals to make a positive impact and a difference in the lives of the people around them. Each week, he sends everyone a task that can be completed in an estimated 15 minutes.

Although I haven’t completed all of the tasks, I did complete most of the Love Bomb missions from a spinoff community project – one that only takes about five minutes to complete. This is to say that if I can spend 5-15 minutes per week to visit blogs of people who are facing terminal illnesses, suffering from depression and/or grieving from deceased children, then anyone can spend a few minutes each week signing a petition or making a phone call or sending a greeting card or helping an elderly person with his or her groceries or helping a disabled person cross the street, etc. – especially given the fact that it doesn’t require that much time.

Plus, even Edie Doyle went on a sabbatical to fight crime and inspire a local prizefighter to change the nature of his work environment – not just for themselves, but for all of the dockworkers who depends on the waterfront jobs to survive.

There comes a time when we have to stop learning about what has already happened in the world by reading history books, watching television, browsing the internet and yes -- dare I say it -- even watching movies. We must get out and do something about ourselves and the people around us who are LIVING!

When has a policy or tradition of a town or group of people concerned YOU enough to take action in one way or another?

Of all the people who inspire YOU most, are the majority of these folks living or dead?

Karma Reloaded - Or, what Sally Field and Leonardo DiCaprio Said #atozchallenge

Does what go around really come back around? I pondered this very question in one of my playlist themed posts during the 2012 Blogging from A to Z Challenge. Now, here we are a year later and I still haven’t found any definitive answers to the question. For every example that supports the existence of karma, there is another case that challenges its validity. 

The main characters in the dramatic film “Forrest Gump” starring Tom Hanks and Sally Field would have us believing life is like a box of chocolates – you never know what you’re gonna get. A charming and homeless artist named Jack Dawson even noted that you don’t know what hand you’re gonna get dealt next with each passing day, in the romantic drama “Titanic” starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet and Billy Zane. As true as their views are regarding the unpredictable nature of life itself, things can get pretty exciting or quite scary when karma comes into play – that is, for those who believe karma exists.

Being surprised and not knowing what’s ahead is not so daunting if we’re expecting good things to come. On the flip side, however, it is a worrisome experience if we think that all hell is going to break loose based on past behavior and/or actions. Unfortunately, that’s not even the worse part – the bad news is there seems to be a thin line between good and bad karma.

Whether you believe in karma or not – creating a world that is worth living in is the very best way to try to swing the odds of tomorrow’s hand of cards or box of chocolates in your favor.

The power lies in how much good deeds and energy you put out into the world versus any bad seeds that your conduct adds to the world. It doesn’t have to be a complicated as deciding if you want to try to cure cancer or not. It’s as simple as figuring out what kind of world you want to live in and also getting clear on the kind of environment you don’t want to live in and then base your actions on those principles. I don’t want to live in a filthy and polluted environment, so my personal no-littering policy is usually in full effect no matter where I am.

I’ll hold on to an empty sandwich wrapper for several blocks until I find a trash can. I also don’t want to live in a violent world nor in an environment filled with conflict, so I make a habit of refraining from going around slapping people on the street or yelling at drivers on the road. So what about YOU? Do you hate gossip? Then, are you gossiping about people? Have you dreamed of living in a world where people were more compassionate and less judgmental? Then, are you exhibiting these very behaviors yourself? Simply put, consider what are you putting out in the world every time you think about what you’re getting back from it.

Do YOU believe in Karma?

In what ways have YOU tried to create the kind of world that you want to live in?