The Growing Artist

Oscar Nominations 2009 - My Picks

admin — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:26:47 +0000

photo by darin barry on flickr

First off, let me say that I am extremely disappointed in the Academy’s decision to omit Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet from the best actor and actress nominations this year. There are no words to describe my feelings about this outcome. Leo and Kate gave the best performances of the year in Revolutionary Road. For them to not even get nominated in the least, that is a huge blow to our industry of actors.

Moving on. I’ve seen every film that is nominated this year except for the categories that I haven’t selected any picks. Here are my picks (in bold) for who should win the Oscar in each category (based on what/who was nominated this morning).. Thoughts?

BEST PICTURE

The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button

Frost/Nixon

Milk

The Reader

Slumdog Millionaire

BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Richard Jenkins - The Visitor

Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon

Sean Penn - Milk

Brad Pitt - The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button

Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler

BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married

Angelina Jolie - Changeling

Melissa Leo - Frozen River

Meryl Streep - Doubt

Kate Winslet - The Reader

BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Josh Brolin - Milk

Robert Downey Jr - Tropic Thunder

Philip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt

Heath Ledger -The Dark Knight

Michael Shannon - Revolutionary Road

BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Amy Adams - Doubt

Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Viola Davis - Doubt

Taraji P Henson - The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button

Marisa Tomei - The Wrestler

BEST DIRECTOR

David Fincher - The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button

Ron Howard - Frost/Nixon

Gus Van Sant - Milk

Stephen Daldry - The Reader

Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire

BEST FOREIGN FILM

The Baader Meinhof Complex (Germany)

The Class (France)

Departures (Japan)

Revanche (Austria)

Waltz With Bashir (Israel)

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

Eric Roth and Robin Swicord - The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button;

John Patrick Shanley - Doubt

Peter Morgan - Frost/Nixon

David Hare - The Reader

Simon Beaufoy - Slumdog Millionaire

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Courtney Hunt - Frozen River

Mike Leigh - Happy-Go-Lucky

Martin McDonagh - In Bruges

Dustin Lance Black - Milk

Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon and Pete Docter - WALL-E

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM

Bolt

Kung Fu Panda

WALL-E

BEST ART DIRECTION

Changeling

The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button

The Dark Knight

The Duchess

Revolutionary Road

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Changeling

The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button

The Dark Knight

The Reader

Slumdog Millionaire

BEST SOUND MIXING

The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button

The Dark Knight

Slumdog Millionaire

WALL-E

Wanted

BEST SOUND EDITING

The Dark Knight

Iron Man

Slumdog Millionaire

WALL-E

Wanted

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button - Alexandre Desplat

Defiance - James Newton Howard

Milk - Danny Elfman

Slumdog Millionaire - AR Rahman

WALL-E - Thomas Newman

BEST ORIGINAL SONG

Down To Earth from WALL-E - Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman

Jai Ho from Slumdog Millionaire - AR Rahman and Gulzar

O Saya from Slumdog Millionaire - AR Rahman and Maya Arulpragasam

BEST COSTUME

Australia

The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button

The Duchess

Milk

Revolutionary Road.

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)

Encounters At The End Of The World

The Garden

Man on Wire

Trouble the Water

BEST DOCUMENTARY (SHORT SUBJECT):

The Conscience of Nhem En

The Final Inch

Smile Pinki

The Witness - From The Balcony Of Room 306

BEST FILM EDITING

The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button

The Dark Knight

Frost/Nixon

Milk

Slumdog Millionaire

BEST MAKE-UP

The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button

The Dark Knight

Hellboy II: The Golden Army

BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM

La Maison en Petits Cubes

Lavatory - Lovestory

Oktapodi

Presto

This Way Up

BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM

Auf Der Strecke (On the Line)

Manon On The Asphalt

New Boy

The Pig

Spielzeugland (Toyland)

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button

The Dark Knight

Iron Man

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We Inspire Outwardly By First Looking Inward

admin — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 20:49:25 +0000

photo by care SMC on flickr

Throughout my religious upbringing (please note that I no longer subscribe to any particular religion), I was raised to be humble and serve other people. Yes, I do think this is important. “Put God first, others second, and yourself last.” After awhile, I had strong feelings of guilt whenever I did something for myself. I was also told that art is self-serving and does no real service to others (like being a missionary or a Mother Teresa). I’ve recently come to the realization that I have been carrying this guilt around with me subconsciously and it is deeply affecting my work and way of life. Guilt is an emotion that can overpower you when you least expect it. I sometimes feel guilty if I buy something new for myself, thinking about how there are “so many homeless people living in Los Angeles that are asking for change everyday and all I can think about is myself”. I still have mixed feelings about the “me vs. others” sort of mind-battle.

This past year of 2008, I realized that it is possible, if not crucially necessary, to serve others and have self-respect (keyword here) in the process. At the time growing up, I didn’t think as putting yourself first self-respect. I looked at it as being selfish and conceited. It’s important that in order for us to serve others we must first take care of ourselves. So basically, the whole “put yourself last” is really only going to toss you out on the front porch as a doormat for people to walk all over again and again.

So what does this have to do with inspiration you ask? As artists, we must first make sure that we are well-balanced and have all of our needs met so that we can then turn our attention to other people. Some artists I’ve talked to feel guilty about buying new paintbrushes or outfit (or what-have-you) or even spending money on a meditation or yoga class. I’m not specifically talking about having to be physically spending on ourselves. If we are lacking in some areas (spiritually, emotionally, etc) we may need to take a moment and bring ourselves back to a balanced position. There is no need to feel guilty. Sometimes you will simply have to give someone a compassionate, yet firm “no” until you are back up on your feet. When you are ready to rock and roll again, use that positive energy and be of service to others. As far as “putting God first” is concerned, that is up to you and whatever belief you subscribe to. I personally do believe in a higher power and would like to think that putting myself first IS putting God first and vice versa (God being a spiritual connection with our ultimate creator in my view).

As artists, we want to live to inspire others, am I correct? Or do we do art as a self-serving personal thing in our basements for no one to see or hear of? This may be a potentially controversial topic but I would most certainly think that most artists want to inspire others and be inspired by other artists. Am I wrong? Please correct me if I am. So in order to inspire others we must first “go back to one” like they say on movie sets. After all, we are what we see in the mirror everyday.

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Winning The War of Art

admin — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 19:39:10 +0000

photo by jon a ross on flickr

I’ve been reading and re-reading a book over the past week called “The War of Art” by Steven Pressfield that was recommended by Leo Babauta over at the amazing “Zen Habits” blog (which I highly recommend). If you can get your hands on this book, it is simply a brilliant read for any artist that is defeated by, as the author refers to it, resistance. Resistance is many things according to Pressfield. It is invisible, internal, insidious, implacable, impersonal, infallible, universal, it never sleeps, it plays for keeps, is fueled by fear, only opposes in one direction, is most powerful at the finish line, recruits allies, manifests procrastination, among many other things. If you’re anything like me, you dream up good ideas and have a hard time executing them. There has been an awakening within me while reading this book. One that resistance itself has been trying to blind me from.

As the author perfectly lays it out, resistance is “a repelling force. It’s negative. Its aim is to shove us away, distract us, prevent us from doing our work.” Yes, resistance is very closely tied in with procrastination, but on the other hand, resistance can often be indirect, whereas procrastination is something you can be completely aware of. Do you feel constant resistance to do meaningful, passion-driven work? To sit down and pound out a 90-page screenplay? To get that film from script to screen? What’s holding you back? Resistance . In some form or other. It takes many forms. Like me, you may have never even noticed what was holding you back. “I tend to procrastinate,” you might casually comment from time-to-time. There is often more to this. I highly recommend this quick-read.

Do you get a tight feeling in your chest or stomach whenever you think of going to that audition that you booked? That is fear, one of the many characteristics of resistance. Are you living out a soap opera day-to-day that could be the next reality show hit? That is self-dramatization, another ally of resistance. Why do we keep ourselves from doing what we were born to do? How do we conquer resistance? We face fear in the eye. We cut out the bullshit. If you want to succeed and are sick of being a dreamer rather than a do-er, sit down and force yourself to churn out that novel, screenplay, painting, etc etc. It may be a terrible work of art in your mind. So that’s when you start the NEXT novel (or what have you). Get the ball rolling. You have to start someplace. Stop resisting. There is a war going on. You vs. resistance. Are you winning or are you dying in battle?

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Critics Choice Awards Picks

admin — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 22:16:26 +0000

The Critics Choice Awards are being held this Thursday, January 8th, 2009. Since this is the first year I’ve pretty much seen everything, I’ve selected my personal favorites that I think have a high chance of winning in each category.

I selected two or more in some categories because they truly both/all deserve the award.

Note: My selections are in bold.

BEST PICTURE

Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Doubt
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire
Wall-E
The Wrestler

BEST ACTOR

Clint Eastwood - Gran Torino
Richard Jenkins - The Visitor
Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn - Milk
Brad Pitt - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler

BEST ACTRESS

Kate Beckinsale - Nothing But the Truth*
Cate Blanchett - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie - Changeling
Melissa Leo - Frozen River
Meryl Streep - Doubt

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Josh Brolin - Milk
Robert Downey, Jr. - Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt
Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
James Franco - Milk

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis - Doubt
Vera Farmiga - Nothing But the Truth*
Taraji P. Henson - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Marisa Tomei - The Wrestler
Kate Winslet - The Reader

BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Doubt
Milk
Rachel Getting Married

BEST DIRECTOR

Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire
David Fincher - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard - Frost/Nixon
Christopher Nolan - The Dark Knight
Gus Van Sant - Milk

BEST WRITER (Original or Adapted Screenplay)

Simon Beaufoy - Slumdog Millionaire
Dustin Lance Black - Milk
Peter Morgan - Frost/Nixon
Eric Roth - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
John Patrick Shanley - Doubt

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

Bolt*
Kung Fu Panda
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa*
Wall-E
Waltz With Bashir

BEST YOUNG ACTOR/ACTRESS (Under 21)

Dakota Fanning - The Secret Life of Bees*
David Kross - The Reader
Dev Patel - Slumdog Millionaire
Brandon Walters - Australia

BEST ACTION MOVIE

The Dark Knight
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Iron Man
Quantum of Solace
Wanted

BEST COMEDY MOVIE

Burn After Reading
Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Role Models
Tropic Thunder
Vicky Cristina Barcelona

BEST PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

John Adams*
Recount*
Coco Chanel*

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

A Christmas Tale*
Gomorrah*
I’ve Loved You So Long*
Let the Right One In
Mongol*
Waltz With Bashir

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

I.O.U.S.A.*
Man On Wire
Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired*
Standard Operating Procedure*
Young At Heart

BEST SONG

“Another Way to Die” (performed by Jack White and Alicia Keys, written by Jack White) - Quantum of Solace
“Down to Earth” (performed by Peter Gabriel, written by Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman) - Wall-E
“I Thought I Lost You” (performed Miley Cyrus and John Travolta, written by Miley Cyrus and Jeffrey Steele) - Bolt*
“Jaiho” (performed by Sukhwinder Singh, written by A.R. Rahman and Gulzar) - Slumdog Millionaire
“The Wrestler” (performed by Bruce Springsteen, written by Bruce Springsteen) - The Wrestler

BEST COMPOSER

Alexandre Desplat - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Clint Eastwood - Changeling
Danny Elfman - Milk
Hans Zimmer/James Newton Howard - The Dark Knight
A.R. Rahman - Slumdog Millionaire

*This denotes a film I haven’t seen.

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If You’re Happy And You Know It Clap Your Hands.. Otherwise Read This

admin — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 19:44:56 +0000

photo by nick hobgood on flickr

I had a pretty emotional New Years I will admit. I often get sentimental about the past and it tends to get in the way of moving forward with the year ahead. It’s basically the whole “out with the old and in with the new” that tends to overwhelm me in moments of heightened emotion. Change is something that I’ve always had a struggle with until the last year or so. 2008 was my biggest year of change. I’m reconnecting spiritually and educating myself on the financial aspect of life, among other major areas. This is definitely a part of growing up (or growing in general). It used to scare me but now I’m more and more excited to pursue the changes rather than hide or run for the hills.

Being so focused on the past can take a toll on our happiness in the present. Yes, even being sentimental. It’s important that we are “in the moment” of what is now, currently, rather than being so concentrated in the past or even the future. We find our happiness in what IS, not the “could be’s” or “should have been’s”. Focusing on moments of happiness in the past may bring out a smile or a happy feeling, but if you are going to invest your happiness in something, focus it on the “now”. What do you have to be grateful for? Who is in your life that you appreciate and love? Focus on these things. They will go miles further in the happiness department than focusing on what could have been or what should be.

Of course, there are moments when we realize that the situations we are in are no longer furthering our happiness or personal growth. Maybe you’re stuck in a marriage that has run its course. Maybe you’re going for a college degree that isn’t exciting you career-wise. Maybe you’ve pushed aside your passion and are concentrating on other “more comfortable, less scary” tasks at hand. When we aren’t happy we feel stuck. Instead of feeling bad about this, realize that this is an opportunity for you to assess where you are and what steps you could take PRESENTLY to set yourself “in motion” towards your passion and goals.
You will find your happiness in what you are doing if it is what inspires you and what you are grateful for. Look for those things in your life this year. I wish you all the happiness in the world.

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20 MUST-SEE FILMS OF 2008

admin — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 20:30:01 +0000

For the first year ever, I have seen almost every film on every top 10 list that has been released this year. I’ve seen just about every film that is currently nominated for a Critics Choice Award and a Golden Globe Award. Being a filmmaker and a person that has a strong love for movies, I would like to share my passion with you and provide you with a list of 20 of my favorite films that were released this past year. There are still a handful of foreign films and independent films that I haven’t seen yet so I don’t think it’s fair to say that these are THE best because I still haven’t seen everything (although I’ve seen more than the average film-goer). These are definitely 20 of the best this year in my opinion.

(in alphabetical order)
(click on the links to go to their IMDB pages for more information)

Chop Shop

The Dark Knight

Doubt

The Duchess

Frozen River

Gran Torino

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Iron Man

Let The Right One In

Last Chance Harvey

Man On Wire

Milk

Revolutionary Road

Slumdog Millionaire

Valkyrie

The Visitor

The Wackness

WALL-E

Wendy and Lucy

The Wrestler

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Your Life - Brand New Season Starts January 1st

admin — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 19:49:31 +0000

photo by ichaz on flickr

I can’t remember for the life of me where I heard this brilliant metaphor for setting up New Year’s Resolutions but it goes something a little like this: Don’t let the New Year turn into a re-run of the previous year… Let it be a brand new season! I think that is brilliant. I, sadly, cannot take credit for this one! But I thought I would share it with you anyway. To elaborate a bit on this concept (and have some fun with it) I think we can look at the people in your life as supporting characters in the tv show that is your life. You are the main character and always will be. Yes, there will be people in your life that remain on the show for years to come. But what about the ones that are bringing down the shows ratings? (Remember, we are having fun with this!) Are you going to allow them to keep guest starring on your show? I mean, you are the creator of your own show.. You have the say who remains and who doesn’t. Are there people in your life dragging you down? Keeping you from where you want to be? Do these characters keep showing up now and again? Or are you “casting” new people in your life? Ones that will bring up the ratings?

Change is good. In fact, it is great! It makes us move forward and improve in life. Without change, we feel stuck and remain stagnant. Who wants to feel that way? I certainly do not! In fact, back to the TV show analogy, I wouldn’t want to watch a show that remains the same. I like the ones that have the ups and downs, the fresh faces, the new locations, etc etc. I don’t care to see the ones that are the same. I mean, which TV shows can you say are exactly the same from season 1 to season 5 (except maybe the “Golden Girls”, which, I do love anyhow!) Even then, these shows have different events happening. Life is very similar to television and vice versa. Situations occur in an episodic format in both life and television. Even if we feel stuck life keeps moving forward. Are you going to mindlessly allow circumstances to happen to you or are you going to show up ready for them when they occur, being ready to accept the changes? If you are new to change or are scared of change (yes, it can be scary!), I encourage you to check out first30days.com and check out their FREE “Change Nation” podcasts. You basically get the opportunity to listen to experts and professionals that have gone through major changes in their lives and become inspired to move through changes more effortlessly and optimistically.

Think of the New Year as a fresh slate. A blank canvas. As with art, think of previous paintings or drawings you have done and visualize how you could do something fresh and different on this new blanks canvas. Don’t do the same thing over and over. Same with your resolutions. Make resolutions that will be fresh and new and move you forward. Have fun with it. This is a time when most people feel inspired to move into the New Year with a fresh start. The possibilities seem endless. And, really, they are.

When setting up resolutions and goals for yourself, look at maybe the top three or four goals you have in mind for the new year. Instead of trying to do all four at once, try and focus on one at a time and then move onto the next. The reason most people give up on their goals come February or March is because they lacked focus. Most people think that you have to tackle all of your goals at once. This approach usually isn’t very effective. You have a whole 365 fresh new 24 hour days to work with! Why not spread out your goals? When you tackle one, move onto the next one! It has been proven that if you focus on a goal each day for 30 days (see first30days.com for more details) you are more likely to form a habit out of it and do it more effortlessly.

What are your goals for the New Year? I personally have so many. I would like to learn a new language (preferably French), work out more, master the guitar, make my feature screenplay a feature film, travel more, eat healthier and less junk food, become more organized, meet more positive people, and so many more. I have yet to select which one to tackle first but I am going to work on that this week. I’m the type of person that wants to do everything at once. I can tell you from experience that I’ve never tackled any of my resolutions by trying to do all of them at once. You have to focus on one thing at a time. I wanted to quit smoking very badly two years ago and had tried almost every “quit smoking” method in the book. One day I just told myself I would just focus on not having another cigarette for 30 days or until the cravings diminished. After about a month, the cravings did go away! I had succeeded! I never had another cigarette and I feel much better about change and feel empowered to conquer anything now! When I was trying to accomplish a million different goals at once I often derailed from my goal and had a cigarette. Focus is really the key to effective change.

One other way you can look at the New Year is: If you knew you were going to die on January 1st, 2010, and you only had one year left, what are the next “action steps” you could take to try and reach your goal of _______?” How would you have contributed value to the world during your time here on earth? I think that’s the most important question we need to ask ourselves. Use this as your motivation and reasoning behind why you are making your goals in the first place. I want to inspire others and be a living example. I’m SURE you want to do the same. I want to leave a legacy. Make this New Year a brand new season. Don’t allow it to go into syndication.

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You Can Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

admin — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 20:06:40 +0000

photo by manitou2121 on flickr

If you’re feeling down in the dumps or are having a blue Christmastime, you’re in for some good news.. You actually, believe it or not, have the power within you to have yourself a merry little Christmas. Stop allowing negativity to ruin your mood this holiday season. I have talked to quite a few people who have such a negative outlook on the holidays. Why does it have to be negative? Remember, it’s your choice to feel how you feel. You can choose to have a happy day or a depressing one. You are in control of your thoughts. Stop allowing your emotions to take over. You are a person of strength.

There are certain Christmas songs that, for me, spawn sad memories or try to conjure up negative energy. But guess what? I have the choice to change that radio station. I have the choice to listen to it if I want and try and make new positive memories out of them. You have the choice. This is my first Christmas that will be spent away from my immediate family who lives in Ohio. I have been living in California for almost 5 years and have always gone home. Now, I could choose to feel lonely or allow my emotions to mindlessly take over me and consume me. But I choose not to. I am going to make this a great Christmas regardless of a flight home or not. This is my opportunity to spend time with friends here that I’ve never had the chance to on Christmas because I was always gone back home. Yes, I do miss my family but I know that they’re always there for me and I for them, with just a simple phone call. There is simply no reason for me to feel alone this Christmas. Or you either.

So go ahead, put on that Christmas radio station. Watch “It’s A Wonderful Life” for the zillionth time. Sing your heart out to the tune of “chestnuts roasting on an openfire”. In fact, go ahead and roast some chestnuts. Or whatever kind of nuts you like. If you don’t like nuts, then eat some ham. Enjoy the holidays and make the most of them with the people you have in your life, for you never know how many more Christmases you will have with them.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!
-The Growing Artist

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The Small Things Make A Big Difference

admin — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 19:59:25 +0000

photo by ladybugbkt on flickr

We go on living our lives not really knowing the affect our actions have on the world. Yes, even the small ones. For instance, you may never know the impact that a simple hello or a smile might have on a stranger you pass on the sidewalk. You might have saved a life from dying in a fatal car accident simply by allowing them to pass in front of you. Of course, there is really no way for us to know the outcomes of these small actions but it is important to know that they make a big difference.

How many times has your outlook on a certain day turned from pessimistic to positive with a simple smile from a stranger? Or someone holding a door open for you? These people may never know the outcome of how these small actions may have positively affected your day. Let’s look at the flip side. How many times have you had someone shoot you a dirty look and you immediately felt wronged or annoyed? Or shutting a door in your face? These people may even unintentionally be doing these things simply because they are rushing around. Your small actions can absolutely make a big difference, whether positive or negative.

With all of this holiday rushing around, people seem to leave their manners at the door. Remember “Tickle-Me Elmo”? Remember that poor Walmart employee that got trampled to death on Black Friday? People seem to have made rushing around and leaving their manners at the door (or shall I say commonsense in general) an annual tradition. Just imagine the positive affect these people could have if they opened the door for each other. Small actions, again, make a big difference.

Make the decision today to make a big difference through a small action. Returning a phone call. Giving change to a homeless person or to the Salvation Army. Opening a door for someone with their hands full. A simple smile or “hello”. You might just turn someones day around in the most positive way. Humans in general sometimes tend to forget that they are just that: human beings. Be a human being today. It doesn’t take much. Remember, these are small actions.

Even with holiday shopping this year. Show people that you care about them by getting them a small gift. A Christmas card. Something that tells them that you remembered them and make them feel special. People won’t forget that. Think of the last time you opened your mailbox and received an encouraging card or letter in the mail. How did that make you feel? I personally prefer to send out letters because now and days it is so easy to effortlessly send out an email to someone. Make the extra small effort and place a stamp on an envelope that contains a handwritten letter or homemade card. How could that not positively affect a person’s day? This week before Christmas is the perfect opportunity for you to let people know you care, even on a budget.

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The Dreaded “E” Word

admin — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 20:08:45 +0000

photo by Bethany L King on flickr

There’s a word that I hear way too often (especially over the past year) and is often referred to in a negative way. This word isn’t anything Christmas related like “elves” or “eggnog”. This “E” word is “economy”. Everyone around the world is somehow being affected by the economy. Whether it’s with their businesses, losing their jobs, financial, etc, etc, the economy seems to be the doom and gloom of our lives in 2008. But you know what? It doesn’t have to be the doom and gloom of YOUR life.

I’ll let you in on a little secret. Any average person might look at my bank account and think that I’m living in poverty. Now, I could sit here and blame the economy over and over again until the cows come home but is that really going to solve my situation? No! Not a chance!! So why should I allow the economy (oh no! it’s that dreaded “E” word again!) to be a factor in whether or not I am happy or feeling rich? First off, for anyone that looks at their bank accounts and falls over in agony, please know that happiness is not determined by how much money you have. It took me a long time to realize that. I’m glad I realized it early on in my life though. I used to have panic attacks every time money was brought up in any situation. I realized that I was allowing my bank account to measure my happiness. If I was overdraft, I was in my apartment with the doors locked up and my phone shut off. If I had money in my savings (which was extremely rare) I would feel confident and want to go out and would feel better about myself. Although savings is important, we should have that positive feeling whether or not we have money in the bank.

So back to the dreaded “E” word. How many times a day do you hear it in the news, the radio, from coworkers, people on the bus, people on the subway, people at the Subway restaurant, etc etc? People are complaining and are so fixated on it that it’s no wonder there’s so much negative energy all around. I’ve heard people recently talking about when the government is going to do anything and Obama this and Obama that. If you want to see change in the world, YOU HAVE TO FIRST CHANGE YOURSELF. Like Ghandi said, and I LOVE this quote, he said “Be the change you want to see in the world”. It’s so true. Everyone is so quick to point the finger and push the blame. The fact is, yes, the economy isn’t the greatest right now. So you have one of two options: dwell on it or get on with your life. If you choose to dwell on it and complain, how is that helping? If you choose to get on with your life and take responsibility for your own actions and decisions, the economy won’t be a factor in your happiness. And yes, it is pretty much that simple!

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