It was a dark and stormy night. . . .

Happy Friday, everyone!  For today’s Friday Fun, I am going to set the scene for you, and then you will write the opening paragraph of a story (no more than 3 sentences).  Here’s your setting:

A tailor is walking home from work one night in the rain through narrow, twisting cobblestone streets.  Just then, the moon sneaks out of the clouds to shine a light on a small, wet lump of something at the base of a street lamp.  The tailor’s pace quickens.  He reaches the lump and puts his hand out to it. . . . .

Ready? Write!

Freedom!

Happy Independence Day, everyone!  Today I’ve been thinking about freedoms.  We are very fortunate here in that we are free to vote, free to express ourselves, and free to think.

For this blog, of course, the freedom to think is most important.  From there, we are free to learn, to fail, to learn again, and to grow.  I very much hope that everyone exercises those freedoms every day, especially the freedom to fail.  Mistakes and imperfections are difficult for most of us.  But adaptation and learning cannot occur without failure.

So while you are enjoying your barbeques, pool parties, and fireworks, please take a moment and be grateful for your freedom to fail.  I think you will find a glorious new opportunities for wisdom there.

Cine-Philosophy

If you’ve ever spoken with me for any length of time, you know that I am fond of quoting movies and television shows.  Actually, I’m fascinated by pop culture in all its forms.  I love to explore the messages and analyze the subtexts.  Sometimes they reveal a darker side of human nature I’d rather not acknowledge.  But more often than not, at the very least they make me think and wonder.

Some quotes really stick with you, as they embody a mood or lesson you want to remember.  You can use them to motivate yourself or challenge yourself to do better.  Here are three of my favorites:

From A League of Their Own:  “Start using your head!  That the lump that’s three feet above your ass!”

From The Matrix:  ” I’m trying to free your mind, Neo.  But I can only show you the door.  You’re the one that has to walk through it.”

From Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone:  “So, you have discovered the delights of the Mirror of Erised.  Can you think what the Mirror shows us all?  Let me explain.  The happiest man on earth would be able to use the Mirror of Erised like a normal mirror; that is, he would look into it and see himself exactly as he it.”

What are some of your favorite quotes?  Share here!