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Showing posts from December, 2013

No More New Year's Resolutions

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The New Year is fast approaching. Resolutions are made every year for absolute idealistic goals. They are great in theory. But it is not realistically the right way to start the new year. My NYR (New Year's Resolutions) have been quite normal in the past. Stop buying so many clothes. Learn to cook. Be in this place or with these people. Who are we kidding? Goals are fine. Achievement is fine. But let's be realistic. You never know what tomorrow will hold. I actually recently did not fill in one of those resolution things. It is better to go with the flow. I am never the same person at the end of a year. And there is nothing wrong with that. It doesn't mean abandoning everything current. It means having new approaches that I wouldn't have known earlier. Did I fulfil the goals I had at this time last year? Not at all. Nothing is static. Everything is evolving. The goals of today are more relevant than the ones made a year ago. Why judge yourself by arbitrary ben

Philomena

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  Philomena is a must-see for so many reasons. This film makes strong social statements about the subject of current public enquiries. So-called 'illegitimate' children were taken from mothers in the baby-boomer generation, often against their will. This is what happened to the real-life lead character. Philomena addresses a broader problem too. It questions the works-based dependence on rules. Judi Dench portrays a simple yet complicated woman who realises the contradictions of the world. The most startling twist is right at the end - she forgives.  My favourite quote is when Philomena tries to figure out which choice would have been more ethical. She was convinced that becoming pregnant was a so-called sin. But she kept it a secret, which is basically lying, so she considered that to be a sin too. This lovely lady had hidden the story of a stolen human being for 50 years. She literally repaid the church through years of work. Her community shunned her for giving lif

Lessons learned from Jemima Kirke

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Jemima Kirke   plays the free spirited Jessa on HBO's Girls. She co stars with the equally feminist   Lena Dunham . Their lives are real inspirations for twenty-somethings everywhere. Jemima Kirke inspires me because she follows fate wherever it leads her. Jemima considers herself more of an artist than an actor. Acting was not her major at college. It was not her life goal from an early age. But her close friend Lena thought she was perfect to co-star in a pilot. It unexpectedly grew into an international icon. Jemima could have focused just on her previously chosen artistic career. She told   Salon , " But I wouldn’t take it back, no. Who knows where I’d be otherwise?" Would an alternative choice be more beneficial? There is no way to be certain.   Jemima is not putting all eggs in one basket. Some people are really passionate about something, but couldn't revolve around it. She told   Vulture , " When you have something that you’re that passionate

Breaking News: Susan Boyle diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome

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Have you ever started talking to someone, or to a whole audience, and got a mental blank? Have you ever wondered, "What should I talk about?" Do you ever care so much about the people around you, but feel unsure about what to say? Welcome to the world of Asperger's. A beloved celebrity has just now identified with this grey spectrum.   Susan Boyle recently revealed she has Asperger's Syndrome. Her voice surprised the world when she dreamed a dream. She was clearly a bit different. But she was putting herself out there anyway. Susan contributed to the music world against all odds.   Love or hate her music, Susan stands for something. You don't have to be pretty or rich to contribute to the world. Now, Susan is teaching the world another vital lesson. You never know what is going on in someone's head. We sometimes don't know if someone is on the Autism Spectrum or not.  Susan is living proof that AS is not a hinderance. Susan didn't give up on

What Christmas Means to Me

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     We are just a few weeks away from Christmas. Trees are in the shops. Lights are outside houses. The shops are getting crowded. Hang on. There is more to it than trees and shopping. Christmas is not about the wrath and brimstone that some people think it is. It's all about love.   There has been too much talk lately about what people should and shouldn't be. Of course we should be kind to each other. Most agree that stealing, greed, or dishonesty are not beneficial. Be moral by all means.   But I feel deeply concerned by the rule books written by modern-day pharisees. They say it's not about works. And yet there is an ideal standard for us to live up to.   Jesus died for regular human beings like you and me. He didn't tell us to conform to a perfect image before being saved. He sacrificed himself to show his love.  I probably wouldn't fit into the category of 'conservative.' I just don't feel the need for a white picket fence in a

Disabilities are more Mainstream than Minority

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  It turns out disabilities are a lot more common than people realise. The Australian Bureau of Statistics explained this trend during the International Day of People with a Disability. The UN sets aside this day on 3rd December every year.   The ABS revealed that 18.5% of survey respondents in 2012 reported a disability. That's close enough to a fifth of respondents. Assuming this represents a nationwide trend, we have a significant number of disabled people. And why not?  The word "Disability" is such a broad relative term. Some people would include conditions such as eating disorders, anxiety, ADD, and Asperger's. An easily distracted attention span is real. Physical panic attacks are just as real for anyone with anxiety. And the different wiring in an Aspie brain is just as real. Temple Grandin explains that one. These are only disabilities because they make people do things differently. But it doesn't mean these people function in a 'wrong

International Day of People with Disability

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Tuesday 3rd December is the International Day of People with Disability.  We all know people come in all different shapes and sizes. If you have been following my blog, you will know that some disabilities are on spectrums. They range from high-functioning to low-functioning.  Disabilities have such an impact. But they are often just a different aspect of people. A disability is a characteristic, like having blue eyes or brown hair. So many people with disabilities live full enriched lives regardless.  They still need support and understanding. Check out the UN'sTwitter , Facebook , or web site to learn more about this day.