Favorite Quotes and Film

social media

The funny thing about betrayal is it never comes from your enemies.
~ an unnamed friend

This quote was a recent discovery on a friend's profile just the other day. It speaks to me for a few reasons. First, it rings true. When I think about the concept of betrayal, my enemy cannot betray me; only someone in whom I have placed my trust has the potential to betray me. The other reason it speaks to me is that I know this individual has been treated poorly at times by ostensibly the closest of friends. This is not simply my friend's personal experience, but it is a warning to be heeded.

wisdom

I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble. The world is moved along not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes but also by the aggregate of the tiny pushes of each honest worker.
~ Helen Keller

This quote by Helen Keller is one I discovered while just an at-home mom, homeschooling my five children. Oft times, I felt my only usefulness was to prepare the next meal or to clean the next mess. I found in this quote the wisdom that respects the execution of so-called lesser tasks, and regards them as important, because they are foundational and frequently pass unnoticed. I learned to appreciate the small things accomplished in a larger family. And now, my grown children live in a way that shows they appreciate the years we spent "in the trenches" of family life, making memories together.

literature

‎...what you see and hear depends a good deal on where you are standing: it also depends on what sort of person you are.
~ The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis

This quote by author C.S. Lewis, reflects my experiences, listening to various individuals as they relate a given event. There is an adage that says if you ask 6 people to say what they saw at an accident, you will hear 6 different versions of what happened: The practical aspect of this implies that no one person can see all that another person sees, simply because they don't occupy the same spot. This should cause each of us to listen with discernment to another person, and to consider that person's actual vantage point. Further, we are not all alike: Some individuals are attentive to detail. Some are more gestalt, or big-picture. Still others view everythng from a place of self-importance, i.e., "how does this affect me?" It should serve as a reminder that there are times to listen with greater empathy, and there are other times to simply "consider the source."

favorite film

That Thing You Do! is one of my all-time favorite films because it is a 20th Century fairy-tale:
A little group of nobodies receives national attention as a "One-Hit Wonder." There are highs and lows along the way that reveal which characters suffer and grow, and which remain as they were at the beginning of the story. There is catchy music, broken hearts, and quippy lines, suitable for this generation's penchant for quoting movie and television scenes. From the credible world-building to the exuberant characters, it has everything that a film needs to stand the test of time!