I get a lot of inspiration from movies. A few nights ago Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium was on. I love the magic toy store and Dustin Hoffman’s relentlessly positive outlook. The first time I watched it I was struck by a quote and it has become a favorite, “Your life is an occasion. Rise to it.” To me, this says to stop saving things and experiences for a special circumstance or particular moment. Use the good china, wear the special lingerie, take the plastic covers off the lamp shades. Your life, this life, right now is an occasion and is to be celebrated as the special thing it is.
Two other quotes caught my attention this time. “37 seconds, well used, is a lifetime”. After setting all of the clocks in the store to chime at the same time Molly says,”Now we wait” Mr Magorium’s response is “No. We breathe. We pulse. We regenerate. Our hearts beat. Our minds create. Our souls ingest. 37 seconds, well used, is a lifetime.”
And “That’s pretending.” I can’t remember the context of “That’s pretending.” Guess I’ll have to watch the movie again.
In spite of blanking of where it comes from in the movie “That’s pretending” is one I’ve been thinking on more as regards my workshops, retreats, Adventure Club, etc. As adults we do all kinds of things that are really pretending, yet we give them more “adult” names. Brainstorming ideas is making up stuff, which is a kind of pretending. Role playing is pretending. Rehearsing speeches – pretending. Visualization – pretending. Fake it ’til you make it – totally pretending.
What would happen if we acknowledged that what we are doing is pretending? Might it make some of those activities easier, more accessible, less fraught with anxiety? More fun, better energy, and therefore more effective?
There are a couple of other movies that I’ll write about soon. Movies about reclaiming the dreams of childhood, or the spirit of childhood dreams – full of joy and adventure, pretending until we make it so.
What movies inspire you, and why? Please share in the comments.