I missed a challenge yesterday so I guess I already gave myself a break.
Relax today and put your feet up. You deserve it!
Outer Mountain Writing |
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From time to time, it's necessary to take a break from everything in your busy life. I missed a challenge yesterday so I guess I already gave myself a break. Relax today and put your feet up. You deserve it!
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So I have a challenge today and a bit of a confession. Challenge first. Your challenge today (or this weekend, or within the next month) is to go and see some live theater ('re' if you're in England). It doesn't have to be $200 tickets to a Broadway show or even your local professional theater house. Find a local high school or college doing a spring play or musical and check them out at a much cheaper price. You may be surprised at the quality you can find in some of these productions and just might catch a glimpse of tomorrow's big star. And you'll be supporting the local arts programs too! And now the confession. Anyone who knows me probably knows that I claim to abhor musicals that are made into movies. This stems from a genuine disbelief that any of the gang members in West Side Story or street racers in Grease would spontaneously break into song and dance in the middle of their everyday lives. I can appreciate the music in these films, but the dancing is stretching reality a bit too far for my liking. Too be fair, I love The Wizard of Oz and all of the old Disney movies which at their hearts are simply animated musicals. But these are set in fantasy lands that aren't real to begin with so I have an easier time meeting the filmmakers halfway. So what's my confession? I recently had the chance to see the latest film version of Les Misérables starring Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway and I have to say that I was completely blown away. I went into the experience with somewhat of an open mind, but did not expect to be so totally impressed by the film, the musical performances (by Hathaway and Samantha Barks as Éponine in particular), and the telling of the story. I loved seeing the stage production when it came to town several years ago and was impressed by how much depth they could give in a live show, but this film gave me a much bigger appreciation for this story. I can't say that I'm completely sold on all movie musicals from this day forward, but at least one has captured my attention and respect. Bravissimo!! Photo Credit: Israel Papillon via sxc. hu There is an old saying that "secrets don't make friends." I'm not sure if this is true, but today's challenge is to pick a secret that you have and tell the world about it. OK, maybe not the entire world, but at least one other person. It doesn't have to be earth shattering. You don't need to tell the world that you have six toes on your left foot or that you are deathly afraid of Strawberry Shortcake. But pick something that's been on your mind and let it go. You never know what you might find out about someone else in return. Are you bored with Top 40 radio? Or even bored with whatever your "normal" radio station is? Good news, there is a ton of other music out there and it's free for you to check out at any time. Your challenge today is to find some new music, completely different from what you normally listen to. Try and find 5-10 new songs that you've never heard before. Something rock, jazz, classical...just something different. Pandora, Spotify, iTunes, all are great resources for finding new tunes. Or just go ask your friends face to face. Photo Credit: Andrew C. via sxc.hu This should be an easy one but might be harder once you actually sit down to do it. Do something kid-like today. Go out and play in the snow, build a tower out of blocks, or just build a fort out of your couch cushions and some blankets (my personal favorite). Whatever it is, be a kid and let your imagination run wild! I haven't usually commented on things on my reading list here on the blog, but this was good enough to make an exception. Below is a link to a video from YouTube which is the origination of the book by Randy Pausch called The Last Lecture. The book is phenomenal and will surely bring you to tears, especially if you have children of your own. This video is inspiring especially when you consider that this is a man months away from his own death and fully aware of that. Please pass this along and share with your friends and family and those who you feel would benefit from being inspired. Think about your childhood dreams. Photo Credit: matteo canessa via sxc.hu If you successfully completed yesterday's challenge, you might be feeling a little sore depending on how well you stretched beforehand. Today is your chance to relax and refocus yourself after a hard workout. Try a little yoga to stretch your mind an body. Try your on demand TV channels or YouTube. Namaste. |
AuthorMy blog is here to give updates on my writing projects and occasionally post new poems or story excerpts. Archives
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