I went to the cinema last night with my mate Stuart as part of our regular cinema club that has been going monthly for some years now, you know the one, one of us chooses and the other doesn't know what film they are going to see.
It takes some effort from both of us to keep this going what with the pressure of life and being pulled in various directions but, by god, it's worth it....every time.
Last night we saw A Monster Calls (my choice...a triumph, obviously).
If this has not been on your radar watch the trailer here.
If you see it it will be one of the most moving films you are ever likely to see with one of the best leading performances despite the fact that the lead actor is a young boy.
When I explained the story to Alison on my return her response was predictable for her.."why would you go and see something like that".
It's a fair question.
I think both Stuart and I felt like we had been put through the emotional mincer by the end begging the question why didn't we see Alvin and the Chipmunks - road chip.
The answer, for me at least is because great art (and great movies are absolutely great art) mimics life and inspires.
Rarely does that happen from a Hollywood tale which is all singing and dancing and 4th of July.
Entertainment is one thing but inspiration is another, it is though possible to be entertained and inspired at the same time.
Whether you find it from a movie or a play or a ballet or a sporting event or a story from a friend, find it we must.
Inspiration is hope, re-packaged and delivered direct to your heart to make it swell and make you see farther and stand taller.
I found it at frank turner
I find it in my Children
I found it at the Paralympics in 2012
I absolutely see it and feel it from my wife's work and what she does there
It comes from stories that my patients tell me, I see it in dentists that I meet and work with.
Without hope what else is there and hope comes from inspiration.
Why then inspiration from one of the saddest and most heart breaking films I have ever seen?
Because it reminds me how lucky I am, it shows me that it is my duty, my responsibility to hope for more, for bigger, for greater and for better.
A better me and a better everything around me.
That has to be worth hoping for and if sad movies help to inspire that hope then I will keep on going and watching.
You or I don't have to wait for inspiration to hit us on the back of the head, we can seek it out and find it and feel it and pass it on.
Blog Post Number: 1186