A few things, certainly since it's been forever since my last post (apologies).
1. Inception. If you haven't heard of this movie or have been debating as to whether you should pay your $7+ to go see it in theaters (+ the ~$13 for theater food unless you bring your own, like me), I offer a simple solution: YES. Unequivocally, yes. It's an intelligent, entertaining movie filled with action, quick-witted humor and great emotions. If you see it while it's still playing in a theater, I bet you'll want to see it again. Okay, maybe that's just me, but I bet you'll want to see it again at the very least once it's out on DVD.
Note: Kevin found this great review -- which furthers the idea that even as an viewer of the film, you are participating in the very idea upon which the film is centered. Love it!
2. Define & Focus. I was introduced to the intelligent insights of Seth Godin by a good friend and co-worker, Kevin Lawver (a highly intelligent, rare human being). Although I often find Seth's blog posts to be intelligent and useful (should I choose to implement his wisdom and actively do so), I find his post from this past Saturday to be particularly poignant and share-worthy: http://bit.ly/aDMSUm.
3. Snail Mail. Write your friends and loved ones as often as you can, even if that's only once a year. Author Margaret Shepherd describes much better than I can the great value in the handwritten note and why we should make a conscious effort to write the people that we care about, so I'm going to let her tell you: The handwritten note has so many virtues that you ought to reach for pen and paper first, before you pick up the phone or move the mouse. In contrast to a phone call, a handwritten note doesn't arrive demanding to be read when you've just sat down to dinner; it courteously lets you know who sent it even before you open it; you won't be annoyed by the sounds coming from the pens of compulsive note-writers at the next table in your favorite restaurant. You'll never get a busy signal from a mailbox; you won't have to play "note tag" to get read; and your readers won't use "note waiting" to put you on hold while they open a note that arrives while they're opening yours. And in contrast to e-mail, a handwritten note looks beautiful and feels personal; you won't get an electronic virus from opening a handwritten note nor find a list of last week's lamebrained jokes. You can still write a note by candlelight when your electricity fails, and mail your note while your server is down...the handwritten note has an intrinsic value beyond its rarity. It's not just an antiquarian curiosity, it's an extremely useful tool. It upgrades a wide variety of messages, transforming "Oops" into "Please accept my apology," and "Got the money" into "Thank you for your generosity." Ink on paper is still the classiest way to express the thoughts that really matter, on the occasions that really count. And sometimes it's the only way; your words will carry sympathy and gratitude with a special kind of sincerity when your reader sees them on paper in your writing. I would continue with Margaret's chapter entitled Good Reasons to Stop Making Excuses because it's the single jolt that changed my behavior, but it's of great length. You should know though that it's because of this chapter -- the top 10 excuses that people throw out to the world as to why they don't write anymore and Margaret's clever solutions -- that I resumed my writing (and mail the letters that I write -- this is a tough one for me for some reason) to friends and family as I make the time. I now actually write on all of the beautiful stationary that I feel compelled to purchase, which is very often, especially whenever there's a sale.
*Note: I am not implying that if you know me and you're reading this post that you should write me. Nope. Uh uh. Simply get writing! Write your mom, your dad, your sibling, or a friend with whom you've been out of touch. Someone. Anyone! If you do happen to write me, then I'm blessed for receiving your letter, but this post is not at all intended to be self-serving, so please don't treat it as such. Thanks.
