Movies

I went to see a movie today in a local walk-in theatre.  It is located in the southwest part of the United States.  Arriving on time for the screening, I settled in for my afternoon enjoyment.  At the appointed time the movie screen started to show the well known spot “First Look.”  This gives the movie patron a quick look at the upcoming attractions.

The quick review lasted for about three minutes – quickly followed by an array of every conceivable commercial selling every conceivable product available to mankind – auto insurance, footwear, milk, cars, legal services, home improvement options, clothes and tools for ease of kitchen preparation.

The collection of barrages was again followed by another “brief” review of upcoming movie attractions at the local theatres – including a spot to advertise candy and soda at the front canteen in this theatre.  The patrons were encouraged to enjoy their experience and buy, buy, buy.

After thirty (30), yes thirty minutes of advertisements, the movie finally began.  This was briefly interrupted with an announcement to remind the movie patrons to turn off their cell phones and avoid recording the movie.

By this time, I almost forgot why I was in the theatre.  Why did I come to this place?  Was it to pay to have someone show me commercials.  Have we come this far?  We are now paying to see commercials in a public theatre?

Needless, to say I have figured this out.  Sometimes I am a fast learner.  When I go to my next movie I will look at the scheduled start time, then add thirty (30) minutes to that time and that will be the correct time to enter the theatre and actually see the movie.

Well,  what do you think?  If we all took this approach maybe we could actually see a movie instead of paying to see commercials…

 

APPRECIATION

Being grateful for even small acts of kindness may seem to be an insignificant gesture.  Saying, “thank-you” or “hello” to another person for a little show of kindness or respect may initially appear to be worth very little.  Especially in a world that functions on money and greed.

When a person is the recipient of this small act in their busy day it often gives that person a moment of pause.  It may be: a smile, a hand shake, a kind gesture, holding open a heavy door, allowing that person to enter through the doorway first, paying “in advance” for that person’s cup of coffee or offering to help them complete a project in the office that will help them to get home earlier.  These actions take only a few moments but may well change the other person’s life.

The receiver of the kind gesture may be in the middle of a bad day.  They may have just experienced an encounter with a very rude supervisor, they may have learned that their medical condition has changed for the worse, maybe their pet just passed away…

You have no way of knowing what that person is experiencing.  They may be on the verge of learning something that will devastate their life.   So, when you extend yourself, even for a few moments, to help your fellow man, it will probably enrich their life or help them to face a very challenging situation.

We as humans have multiple opportunities to interact with other’s on a daily basis.  When you are faced with this situation, make the issue a positive one and say “hello” to your fellow man.  It may well change their life and they may then be able to handle their challenging situations. They in-turn may pass on their appreciation to others in their life.

Summer Months

Lines of Listening blog

These past few months have brought changes into my life but also opportunities.  These opportunities have presented situations for me to examine how I deal with change.  Flexibility is something that is always required by all of us if we are to move easily among the other humans who inhabit our lives.  This quality, I thought, was in my lexicon of abilities.

     This idea is and has been tested daily, even hourly, during these summer months.   Arriving at the decision to sell my home in the southern states and move across the country to “sin city” within a short amount of time has required assistance from not only cherished family members but qualified professionals.  Working out details and arranging appointments to accomplish all of the tasks involves not only flexibility but the willingness to be flexible.

     That is what I have examined – my choice to be flexible.  Discovering that a person must…

View original post 91 more words

Summer Months

These past few months have brought changes into my life but also opportunities.  These opportunities have presented situations for me to examine how I deal with change.  Flexibility is something that is always required by all of us if we are to move easily among the other humans who inhabit our lives.  This quality, I thought, was in my lexicon of abilities.

     This idea is and has been tested daily, even hourly, during these summer months.   Arriving at the decision to sell my home in the southern states and move across the country to “sin city” within a short amount of time has required assistance from not only cherished family members but qualified professionals.  Working out details and arranging appointments to accomplish all of the tasks involves not only flexibility but the willingness to be flexible.

     That is what I have examined – my choice to be flexible.  Discovering that a person must first decide to be flexible makes the second part of actually being open to change much more possible.  I’m not saying that all of the challenges involved in moving across the United States and re-establishing one’s life have been easy, but it is easier if a person meets the difficulty involved with the central core of change and flexibility.

     These summer months have certainly been hot enough without adding the extra frustration of inflexibility to the boiling pot. So, enjoy the last lazy days of summer in a flexible state of mind!