The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

      Today, we bought the movie The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. We had a sort of family movie night. Though I had watched it at school (as suggested by a close friend of mine who is awesome and brilliant), it was an utter joy re-watching it with the family.

      The movie is about a man who steers clear of any and all super duper risks. A man who really plays it safe. He tries to make risks, meaning he daydreams about it, but he never can get himself to really do it. It's an adaptation on the classic short story (you can read it here). In this particular adaptation, Ben Stiller plays a quiet negative (of films of pictures) developer at LIFE Magazine. Being brought into an online version, LIFE is, in the movie, letting go of a lot of employees and developing the final issue of LIFE Magazine. There is a photographer who lets only Walter Mitty (Ben Stiller) handle his photos because he feels he knows and understand LIFE best and gets his photos where he wants them. The photographer travels the world consistently and never settles. He stays pretty primitive (except for his camera) and really focuses on the necessities and true marrows of life.

      All this said, the photographer sends his film of photos to Walter, asking that he produce #25 of the set on the final issue for he believes it is the quintessence of LIFE Magazine. One problem. He can't find it. Therefore, in order to continue his loyalty to this amazing, one of a kind photographer, Walter is forced to turn his daydreaming into reality so that he might track down the photographer and get #25 from him. So, he must travel. He must go the Greenland, escape and erupting volcano, bike through Iceland, climb the Himalayas, and, eventually, understand the marrow of life.

      I've told you far too much already. Point is, first, you must go buy this film now and watch it. The movie reminds us that we can't sit around waiting for life to happen to us. We take chances, we go into the unknown, we fight for what we need and want out of life. And, you know, some things just aren't as big of issues as we make them out to be. But the beauty of life is always to be celebrated. No matter what. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is filled to the brim of adventure and beauty and marrow of life. Every time I've seen it, it has reminded me that sitting around for the next thing to happen to me is lame and boring and pointless. It's up to me. No pressure, really. It's just if I want my life to be full, I have to fill it up. And it's beautiful. Sure, it's nothing we don't hear all of the time, but it's worth remembering and being reminded.

Woo!
Mary Taylor

A little guy my mom babysits who is totally loving life and reminds me to :)

The Awesome Thursday

      To be totally honest, up until around 3:30, this day looked like a super lazy, pointless one. I had barely touched my messy room and didn't even dress until 1:00. Normally I'd be like "aw, we all need one of those days," but this was like an ongoing thing for me lately. Not to mention I still hadn't worked out (or even began to) at all over the summer. 

      Then, at 3:30-ish, I had this urge to stop putting it off until tomorrow. I had this reaction to stop feeling awful when I see people being healthy and working out. I decided to actually do what I set out to do when I got those health apps and started this blog. I worked out! I got on the exercise bike that has been mocking me all summer and I rode that sucker! I rode that sucker like there was no tomorrow! Then, you know what happened next? Feeling like the super human I was becoming, I worked out to a new app on my phone! I did planks, push-ups, squats, wall sits, I mean I was going all the way to town and then some! 

      All that done in about 22 minutes.

      Okay, so, it took all summer and an unplanned, spontaneous workout mode Mary to do it, but I think I might have jumped back on this bandwagon!

"But Mary, it's only been one day. What happens when you don't want to do it tomorrow?" 

      Well, I got my broski. We're going to motivate each other. Duh.

"But, Mary. What happens when that doesn't work because you've been saying that all summer." 

      I don't really know. I think I can do this, though! I hate feeling lazy and not healthy and cool. So, maybe remind myself of that? I don't know. All I know is I've got this huge support system, both at home and online, and if I flub up, they got my back. For some strange reason, I feel like I got this. Fingers crossed, prayers said, and steps forward!

Woo!

Mary Taylor

Gonna be my new background. 

Remembering Our Humanity

      I'm a big advocate for news. I love news. I love discussing news. I love questioning news. News brings other perspectives (some unbiased, some not so unbiased) to social issues and gives us our foundation of how we see the world. News allows us to have opinions and embraces those changes in how everyone hears information. It's actually a lot cooler than you'd think.

      I think news is given to us for a reason. Yes, I think it is our obligation to share our opinions about some stories. It's our obligation to raise up with our neighbors in need and offer any helping hand we have. Of course, we need to respect other peoples' opinion. As in no, that person is not an idiot for believing that particular thing which you think the exact opposite of. It's actually really tricky. The whole respecting people's opinions and stuff. I think that's something everyone (for all time everyone) is struggling with. I mean, coming from my perspective, like how can people expect this society to grow and continue to develop if we don't take progressive actions. But that's my opinion and I get that people have differing opinions about 50,000 different things in that sentence.

      All this being said, I'm about to share my opinion (again). It's a pretty hot issue right now and I understand that it may make some of you angry. Maybe some of you will write comments. Maybe some of you will stop reading this blog or really try, but can't seem to possibly understand my logic. Some may get defensive. Some may write me messages, think about sending them, and then not (or do). No matter what your initial actions are, know that this is not intended to offend or hurt anyone. I am more than willing to discuss more if you have comments or questions. In fact, I would love to hear your opinions about this topic.

But, Mary, we don't even know what the topic is yet!

Oh, right.





Gun control.

      Now, see, you got all up in arms and you haven't even heard what I have to say!

      Oh wait. that was me. Ha. Anywho! Moving on!

      Yesterday, I was watching the news, and I counted 5 (at least, because I'd started watching the news late) consecutive stories dealing with shootings. Whether it be a store clerk, a gang-related issue, or school shootings. It just leads me to start thinking: what can be done about this?

      Too often, I have watched the news and have been totally closed off to the stories. They're not happening directly to me, so why should I be affected? Of course, that's not my actual thought process. My thought process normally amounts to about "oh, man. What an awful shame!" and then I turn it to GSN to watch Steve Harvey on Family Feud. Or I convince myself not to get upset because it happens far too often for me to get upset about it every time.

     But that's just it. Why am I continuing to allow it to happen as often as it does without at least giving my opinion about it. A while ago, I shared a story with you guys about how I had posted something about the Benzine poisoning going on in factories where they make our cell phones. I said that I, obviously, couldn't do anything about it, so I just virtually shared it to spread the word. Then a friend re-shared it saying "what can we do about this?" Actually asking for action. You guys remember this story now? If not, feel free to read it here! Well, I shared this story with my acting class at the end of the year and my professor said something so profound (and, just for some background info, all of my theater professors are huge activists and awesome) that actually left me more dumbfounded than I think he intended. He laughed at my story and, in an "I'm-agreeing-with-you-that's-not-totally-activist-like-but-someday" tone, he said "sharing a story to get the word out does not a political activist make." So, though I don't have this end goal of being a political activist, I needed to share my opinion about this. Not to change yours, but to maybe shed a light on this situation that maybe you're not considering. Because I need to get this out there in case someone is reading this and has a breakthrough as to how to handle all of this violence going on recently.

      In this society where death is on television so often that the thought of death has been totally numbed and diluted to nothing more than cool tricks on TV or a new Blockbuster comedy, it's hard to really listen to the gravity of what the news is giving us every night. I feel like I see more stories about shootings and guns than I do anything else. And that's including the Kardashians on E! News! Like I said, I know that we can't dwell on every single story the news gives us, or we'll be so miserable and awful, we won't know what to do. But I think we can still raise questions and explore our possibilities.

      Indiana recently passed a law stating that it is legal to have a concealed gun in your car on a school campus. I personally think this is the opposite of progressive steps forward in finding a solution to this issue, but that's just me. However, and maybe what keeps me believing that is this article stating that since the Sandy Hook tragedy, there has been a school shooting approximately every 7.3 days. That is almost once every week. Once every week, a place America stamps as a second home to our children is compromised. Once every week, a place America took so much pride in safety and the best quality education is penetrated. Once every week, a place holding America's next generation of leaders is under attack. Once. Every. Week. Makes me wonder how many weeks until it reaches Ball State, where I attend? How many weeks until it reaches my friends' schools? In fact, it already has reached one of my friends' schools. Purdue University had a gunman on their campus this past year. So, really, I don't have to go very far until this starts hitting home for me. Yes, people do kill people. But it's hard to stick to that frame of mind (a frame of mind that I actually shared until recently) when once every week, another school shooting is announced. Another store clerk is shot. Another gang violence story airs. I get that a lot of people think carrying a gun is securing their family and everything, but given the stats recently, makes me think maybe guns do kill people.

      Is the answer gun control? No clue. We haven't tried it yet. But, I have to ask, holding all issues about how many votes the political parties will get, holding all issues about a beautiful document written (almost) 238 years ago, aren't we willing to try anything, anything if that means the safety and security of our fellow Americans? The safety of our children, our friends, our families. You can only say "it'll never happen here" so many times until it does. There may still be a black market for guns. And, yeah, when we hear "no, it's illegal," it only makes us want to do it more. But isn't taking the chance better than sitting here doing nothing at all? Isn't taking that chance worth it if it means, at least, bringing down the number of school shootings per month down to 3 instead of 4? To spare some news time for those frilly stories we hate (but actually love) instead of hearing a 30 minute special report about the most recent gunfire rampage? I'd like to think so.

      I'd like to think we'd be willing to try something soon. Because these kinds of posters are becoming less and less propaganda for which side you're voting, and more facts listed to try to have someone just listen.


                         



 

Bad Days and Good Days

      I'm an optimistic human in general. I love life and constantly try to see the good stuff happening. Obviously, I know I'm not alone. There are tons like me. There are also people who aren't quick to see the good, and that's cool too. That said, I never really have "bad days." At least, I don't think of them like that. Not anymore, at least. 

      I used to think my day totally depended on how smoothly my morning went. If something slipped up, like I forgot to clean something and would have to do it that morning, which would screw with my not-schedule, then my day was going to be bad. Or if my morning went super smoothly, like if my mom calls and we talk about the awesome episode of RuPaul's Drag race from the other night. Then my day is gonna be awesome. 

      Then, a lot more recent than I'd like to admit, I realized the world isn't really that black and white. I realized that, actually, my day that's going totally against me has really cool aspects. Like the awesome conversation I had with my bestie right before we all got yelled at in class. Or when my day is going awesomely, but then I realize I forget my assignment and gets a zero for it. I mean, there are good things and bad things in each day.

      As much as I hate to say it, there are some bad things, relatively, for that day. But, as I said, and the thing that keeps this optimist alive, there are great things in everyday too. A friend of mine reminded me that it's actually okay to feel bad about the bad things. Yes, relatively, we should feel so blessed to have what we have, and we are (or we should totally be). But, you know, sometimes it's hard to not feel bad about some bad stuff in your life. My friend reminded me: let yourself feel bad about the bad stuff. But then don't forget to feel great about the small things. I mean, personally, I think there are more awesome things in life than awful things. But, I lead my own life and I get that people find it hard to see the small things. 

      I'm writing this because, well, because it's true. But also because something happened at the end of the night. Wasn't necessarily the greatest way to end the night. So, right after it happened, I let it dictate my next move and I grabbed a soda. Something I have been successfully avoiding for three days. Sure, doesn't seem like a big deal, but when starting a new, everything seems bigger. I let the small thing at the end if my night turn a whole, perfectly productive and good day, bad. And sometimes, that's totally okay to do. I just don't know that tonight was a case to let it get me totally down so much to give up on the new lifestyle I'm in the middle of starting. 

      We don't have to feel dictated by how one moment goes. In every tragedy in my life, there has been twenty more beautiful, amazing things. Even if something goes totally wrong and you go to be in a bad mood, remember the beauty of life and that tomorrow is a new day and that you have the chance to really take the day! Isn't that awesome! Woo!

Mary Taylor 

Changing: An Unexpected Journey

      Staying the same isn't as easy as it looks. It's filled, actually, with tons of times when I almost changed. When someone said that thing that provoked a "hmm..." from me. When I tried to put what that person said into perspective. When I preach to other people about doing the right thing, like what that person told me. When I realized how much, maybe, I hadn't changed. Starting and restarting. So much goes into staying the same. It makes me wonder, if there is so much going into staying the same, how much more work would it be to actually change?

      Of course, we all know that, really, we all change all of the time. Constantly we're changing. Biologically, we're changing. Emotionally, we're changing. Even physically, we're changing. Now, you could be like me right now and be wondering how you're changing physically if you don't even remember the last time you worked out and don't even ask if I've gotten all of my fruits and veggies in for the day. But we are changing physically.

      But what about making a big change? Like really going for it? Like actually starting a different lifestyle of healthy eating and active nature. Like going for it for the long haul? Sure, setting goals, but then reaching those goals and setting new goals.

      For 21 years, I've been overweight. My whole life. I remember buying my first pair of jeans in the third grade (because my mom always bought me elastic waist because that's what she wears. Anywho) and having to shop in the juniors because the regular girl sizes didn't fit. I remember doing PE in elementary school and being buddies with a fellow constantly-trying-to-lose-weight classmate who, in the 5th grade, when I told her I weighed 180lbs, she was awe-struck. I remember always feeling like I was born fat, skinny people are born skinny, and that's how the world works. I remember coming up with excuses for myself. Well, this is how I'm known. I can't lose weight, because my weird aesthetic and the thing that makes me me will be gone. I remember starting and restarting and restarting weight loss programs. I remember being active and then stopping. I remember my aunt's eyes growing fuller each time she'd seen me because "my God, when will she ever lose weight?" I remember my mom crying because "I'm sorry you have to work so hard at being healthy." I remember me, time and time again, going to my mom and dad saying "I'm going to really do it this time" and falling off the wagon quicker than it took me to jump on.

      It genuinely seems like I've tried everything. But, here is something I haven't even thought about trying. Bringing God to the mix. God seems to motivate me in every other aspect in my life. Why not bring Him in my healthy lifestyle journey? I mean, I don't want the things TV is telling me I want. I'm not looking for a quick fix. I'm not looking to be super skinny. I'm not looking to starve, believe me! I'm looking for a healthy lifestyle that is sustainable and will help the quality of my life. I'm 21 years old! What better time to start this than right now? So, here it goes.

      This blog will continue to have my questions and opinions and (everything) stuff about God and life and love and (everything) stuff. But now, we're going to see how well I can tie it into my healthy lifestyle journey! It'll include videos with my bro, cool articles I've found connecting this whole health thing with religion, and other cool things that I'm not even sure about yet. I have no clue what this will look like. I don't even know if it'll work. But I think it's worth a shot. Because taking care of myself is not selfish. It's one of our huge priorities. To love ourselves and take care of ourselves to that we might do the same for others! So, Here I go. You're welcome to join!

Woo!
Mary Taylor

Rosie always gets me motivated! Woo!