James' date for me this month was going to the BANFF Film Festival in downtown Idaho Falls. The theatre was beautiful!!!! Now I must see a play there! Old 20-30's style architecture and drapping curtains. It was amazing. And, the films were quite INCREDIBLE! At the BANFF film festival the shorts are focused on sports and outdoors type genre. There are some pretty talented, brave and courageous people in this world. We got to watch quite a few short films, all were notable and inspiring. Two of my favorites:
1. "Tashi and the Monk." This story was so expiring, humbling and touching. A man who was born unwanted and thrown amongst some leaves was saved by his grandparents. He was a problem child and fought a lot. Later he became a student of the Dalai Lama and a monk. He returned to his homeland and started a school for angry, troubled, and are "lost." In this school he helps them feel as a family, learning to help one another and become happier and stronger. The youngest child there was a little girl named Tashi and she was a trouble maker. It told his story while following her transformation. There are so many children in this world who need love. And people like this Monk bring a little piece of love back into life and this world. We all need to realize how blessed and lucky we are to live in America, most of us in very nice living conditions and health. It caused me to reflect on how much I have and how spoiled I felt. When we complain do we realize there are children out there who have little to nothing, temporally, but are happy beyond comprehension to have a roof over the head, a pair of clothes and people that love them? Love, not things, is the true source of real happiness! That is what we need to spend our time, focus, money and efforts on in this life; spreading and giving love.
2. "Out on a Limb." This young man had one of his legs amputated at age 9. He taught himself how to ski, and ski REALLY well. Watching him fly and jump through the snow with ease was breathtaking. He goes back country skiing with no lift and so has to climb a mountain covered in snow with one leg! The determination and strength of this man was inspiring. My favorite quote from his film was, "Dissability is a myth." Acknowledging that all of us have differences and challenges presented to us in life and that they are not to weaken us or cast us aside...we are to learn from them, to become stronger and to live full lives. I loved that outlook!!!
Each film inspired me to be a stringer and better person. To give my life more meaning and purpose. To be outdoors more and to explore new places. To be charitable and loving to others. To care about this beautiful earth we live on....thanks Mister James for taking me to such an incredible evening of film. Love ya!
