If it works for a child...

My daughter who is 8 years of age came to me this morning to ask if she could go to see a friend. I told her that she could if she had cleaned her bedroom to my standards. I asked if she'd made her bed, as I knew she needed to put a clean sheet on the bed. She stood there and moaned and groaned that she needed help because she couldn't put the sheet on.

Because I am the I Can woman and I am pushing the I Can philosophy, I turned to her and was completely firm with her. I told her there is no such word as can't, only won't, and that she could do it if she put her mind to it. Well, we argued for a few moments and I repeated my message saying, "You can do this. Have a go and if you really get stuck, I'll come and help, but you have to try first."

Well, she disappeared back into her room and I waited for her to resurface to tell me that she was unable to do it. The funny thing was she didn't resurface so after 15 minutes I thought I'd go see how she was doing. When I went in she'd finished putting the sheet on and I was able to praise her for having achieved the task.

The life lesson for all here is that you can, if you want to. If you focus on the possible instead of the impossible, everything changes. You can realise your dreams, achieve your goals, conquer new skills, if you give yourself permission to try and be prepared to fail.

To find out more about the I CAN Philosophy, watch my introductory video presentation.

The Movie - Australia

I was very fortunate last night to go and see the movie "Australia". I say fortunate, because I rarely get out to the movies due to my child caring responsibilities and I so appreciated the opportunity to enjoy a good 3 hour epic movie that kept me the whole way through.

What did I love about this movie?

1. It's sincere message about the way the Aboriginal people were treated and the re-telling of their story with compassion and respect.
2. The historical content which taught me some Australian history that I was blissfully ignorant of in relation to the Darwin invasion by the Japanese and which made me all the more grateful for the contribution that the Diggers made to keeping our nation safe.
3. The beauty I saw in the blossoming Lady Ashley as true love captured her heart, first through Nulla, then through the Drover. Although some may say the whole thing was overacted, I loved the styling of the movie and I believe they delivered exactly what the Director was trying to achieve. If you think it's overacted, go see Gone with the Wind again!!!
4. The juxtapositioning of "English" culture alongside the "Australian Outback" culture. The richness of the black humour in the movie captured my imagination, ie dead Kangaroos bleeding down the windscreen seconds after Lady Ashley says how delightful the Kangaroos are hopping along beside them.
5. The magnificent scenery in the movie. I will never forget the scene where the little Aboriginal boy stops a mob of stampeding cattle from going over the cliff face. That was pure magic.
6. The tragedy that was the white Australia policy and the scene where "Daisy" died in the water tank. I wept, because being a mother of four children I could relate to how you would do anything to save your child from being taken away from you.
7. The love story - after all, it was an epic love story and I think "Lady Ashley" and the "Drover" sizzled. No wonder they are calling Hugh Jackman the sexiest man alive. Although not my type at all, he definitely had something going for him in this movie. I think it was the contrast of pale skin and tanned, of the fine boned and porcelain thin and the bronzed, muscled hunkiness that really got to me. Certainly, Nicole Kidman played a gutzy role with aplumb.

Overall, I give it the big thumbs up for storytelling, for integrity of plot, for mastery of cinematography and for artistry. Well done!

A Definite Tear Jerker - Paul Potts, Humble Man with a Voice Like an Angel!

I was sent the link for this video. It truly is amazing and worthy of your time and attention. Paul Potts is phenomenal and an inspiration to many!

Click here to see part two of Paul's wonderful journey.

Click here to read another article about why people have "Gone potty over Paul Potty".

Validation - A Great Short Film!

I just loved this short story. Well worth a watch, as it has such a great message and leaves you with a huge smile on your face!

I'd love to hear your comments about it.

And when you've finished watching it, you may want to watch the sequel, Rent-A-Person.

The Other Boleyn Girl - An Indictment on the English King!

I just finished watching the movie, "The other Boleyn Girl", which painted a very dark picture of King Henry VIII and also on Anne Boleyn

There is an old saying, "Be careful what you wish for." Obviously, Anne lost her head over Henry, literally.

Now which was it? Providence, her self-centredness, God's judgment or a momentary lapse of sanity by the whole English court that cost her life?

I guess the only good part about the movie was that in the end all those that had caused offense were punished. You can't just dispose of a queen for the fun of it without losing out.

For those that don't know the story, King Henry VIII of England's wife, Queen Catherine of Spain, couldn't bear him a male heir. So he grew tired of her and took mistresses. One of these was Mary, sister of Anne Boleyn, who eventually bore him several children.

Meanwhile, Anne beguiled the King and convinced him to get rid of the Queen and marry her. This caused a riff between England and the Catholic church and eventually, he disposed of Anne, accusing her of incest with her brother, making way for Jane Seymour to marry the King.

Anne Boleyn, along with her brother George, were beheaded. Prior to her death, Anne begot Henry a girl child, Elizabeth, who eventually took the throne for 45 years and was a very strong leader in English history.

More information about the film may be found here.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/mpd/permalink/m3DHN9KBLD1O6H