#52 - Watch an old black & white movie I haven't seen before

I knew when I added this item to my list there was only one that would fit the bill - the movie largely hailed as the greatest film of all time: Citizen Kane.

I have enjoyed watching old movies since I was a teenager, which is when I first heard about Citizen Kane. For some reason, I put off watching this movie for 30 years; however, I am very glad to have finally watched it. In fact, I'd say I got more out of the film now (at this point in my life) than I probably would have years ago. It's almost like watching It's a Wonderful Life or A Christmas Carol and feeling relief afterwards knowing you still have time to change the trajectory of your life.

For me, Citizen Kane was a hard movie to get into at first - perhaps because the pieces didn't seem to fit together. Give it time though. You'll be hooked before you know it, and I bet you'll end with a "wow" as the final scene of the movie plays out too!

If Citizen Kane is a movie that intrigues you, I encourage you to watch it through for yourself and not just read the reviews with spoiler alerts or view the final scene of the movie on Google or YouTube and think, "Okay, so what's the big deal?"

I believe each person who watches this movie can relate to the life of Charles Foster Kane, and maybe that's what draws you in and makes this film so great and relatable. Along that same line, what's your "rosebud"? Have you dealt with it or is it still affecting you?

I'd sum up the movie this way: "And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?" - Mark 8:36

On perseverance...

I have an addendum to my year in review. In the last couple of weeks I have been inspired by not one, but two amazing examples of perseverance.

The first comes in the form of an orphan girl from Africa - someone who was despised, rejected and unwanted. At the age of three, this little girl found a magazine with a picture of a ballerina on it and somehow that picture gave her hope that life could be good. Against all odds this girl was adopted and grew up in America with a supportive family who helped her achieve her dream of becoming a ballet dancer.

To learn more about Michaela DePrince's story, I encourage you to watch a documentary entitled First Position which follows the stories of four young dancers vying for coveted scholarships in the ballet world. You can also read Michaela's new book Taking Flight which was co-written with her adoptive mom Elaine DePrince. (Click on the video clip below to view a trailer for the book.)

The second example of perseverance comes from the life of a 13-year-old girl named Bethany Hamilton who also beat incredible odds after a shark attack left her with one arm. Itching to get back to the water after her attack, she didn't let anything stop her from her dream of becoming a pro surfer. (Bethany's story is chronicled in the movie Soul Surfer.)

Now over ten years later, not only has Bethany achieved her dream, she has inspired young and old worldwide to follow their passions and not give up on their dreams. I had heard of Bethany's story, but not until I saw her and her new husband compete on The Amazing Race did I really begin to learn more about her story. Bethany has allowed God to use her story to bless and encourage countless others. She is a true inspiration!

If you are needing encouragement to keep going in your journey or if you simply would like to be inspired, I highly recommend the stories of both of these young women!

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Here are a couple of quotes from Michaela...

"If you have a passion for something, go for it! Never let anybody tell you that you can't do something." -- Michaela DePrince

"Never be afraid to be a poppy in a field of daffodils because that is the only way you can make it." -- Michaela DePrince

And I also have to share Bethany's favourite Bible verse. Considering Bethany's life, the promise of this verse is absolutely amazing!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

Looking back on my year of joy...

It's been quite a year, 2013 has - full of fun, new things and plenty of joy!

Here are some of the lessons learned, things that challenged me, and joyful experiences this year brought:

January 1, 2013 - I began the day by watching the 124th Rose Parade from Pasadena, California. This year's theme was, "Oh, the Places You'll Go!" based on the Dr. Seuss book. What a great theme for the parade and for my year! I went to several places: Cuba, southern Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Montana/Wyoming/Idaho, and all over Europe!

Another plus to today was the temperature - right around zero and sunny. My friend Melinda and I went for our first cross-country ski of the season, and it was quite enjoyable! Finally, in the evening I watched a special presentation of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra that takes place each year at the Golden Hall in Vienna, Austria. I visited this beautiful concert venue during my first trip to Europe and it was such a treat to be part of the audience once again!

March 2013 - The movie playing on my flight to Cuba was called Chasing Mavericks. I had never heard of it before, and less than enthusiastically began watching it only to be sucked into a drama about an average boy who had a very big dream: to surf mavericks - the largest waves in the world. This boy continued to dream, grow, and train to relentlessly pursue his goal. He wouldn't settle, wouldn't be dissuaded by anyone, and kept his eye on the prize - eventually achieving his goal and conquering many more. I was quite amazed by this rather unassuming movie about surfing, cried tears of joy and sadness, and continue to be challenged to dream big!

September/October 2013 - I traveled to Italy for my dream 40th birthday trip, and it truly was a dream come true! While in Italy I heard over and over again, "Live!", "Live Life!", "Enjoy Life!", "Carpe Diem! (Seize the Day!)" It's so simple really, but we don't do it. We get bogged down in the shoulda, coulda, woulda's and only every seem to mire in the mundane. Well, no more. I'm going to live life and enjoy life!

December 2013 - In the days leading up to Christmas, I watched another movie that really made an impact on me: Secondhand Lions. In this movie we meet two older men who didn't want to stop living, but had nothing to live for anymore. Nothing, until a great-nephew who needed them showed up at their door. The men began to live again, if only in the stories of their adventure they told to young Walt. And, wouldn't you know, Walt had an affect on them too - they had lived their lives to the full in their youth, and Walt challenged them to keep living (after all, their lives weren't over yet!). The last two lines of the movie are very special:

Sheik's Grandson to Adult Walter: "They really lived?"

Adult Walter to Sheik's Grandson: "They REALLY lived!"

Wow! What a challenge to drink deeply of life, live life to the full, and live life out loud. John 10:10 has been my favourite verse for the last decade. In the Amplified Version it says, "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)." That's my goal! That's what I want!

Item #37 - Attend an Outdoor Movie Event

A few years ago, something previously unheard of started taking place in Regina - outdoor movie events. It was something I had only previously seen in the movies, and although I had a desire to go and watch a movie on a big screen outdoors, I never went... until last night.

My friend Debra and I went to see Despicable Me being shown outdoors in downtown Regina. It was such a fun movie and we had many opportunities to chuckle and laugh out loud. The hero of the story was an unsuccessful villain named Gru (pronounced 'grew'), and he learned that relationships are more important than achievements through the help of three orphan girls that just happened to need someone to love them too.

Here are some fun lines from Despicable Me:

• Gru: It's like my heart is a tooth, and it's got a cavity that can only be filled with children. 
• Edith: When we got adopted by a bald guy, I thought this would be more like Annie.
• Gru: [reading the book he wrote] One big unicorn, strong and free, thought he was happy as he could be. Then three little kittens came around and turned his whole life upside down. They made him laugh, they made him cry. He never should have said goodbye. And now he knows he can never part from those three little kittens that changed his heart.

Actually, the movie reminds me of The Grinch Who Stole Christmas and how the Grinch's heart grew three sizes that day... And I highly recommend both!