There are parts of me that I don’t share online, but those who know me in real life might know that I am an old soul and I can be very sensitive. I tend to be a little too empathetic at times, it shows every time a Sarah McLachlan SPCA commercial comes on. Water works!
I cry during the Voice auditions when they tell their story and a chair turns letting them live their dream, and I cry every time the National Anthem is played knowing that my Dad fought for those freedoms.
There are many books I have read that have touched me deeply. Just to name a few: On The Road and Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac, All The Bright Places by Jennifer Nevin, The Life Intended by Kristin Harmel, and Before I Go by Colleen Oakley. They all touched me for different reasons but they touched me, made me feel, broke me down.
Jack Kerouac – Naval Reserve Enlistment Photo
There are movies that have done the same. A few examples: In God’s Hands, Without Limits, Powder, and The Family Stone. C’Mon did you really think I would leave out the Family Stone?!
Some made me want to find my truth, some made me believe I could do anything I wanted to do with a little perseverance and what it looks like to be on the outside looking in.
I recently saw the movie The Good Lie starring Reese Witherspoon, about Sudan refugees who get asylum and move to America, their journey and how they change each other was touching. What they went through at such a young age, and the ignorance to things we take for granted like pizza and running water made my emotions jump all over the place.
There is a point where one of the refugees is in class and they discuss Huckleberry Finn and the Good Lie, the title of the film. I am paraphrasing here but he says:
“Huck changes, he tells the slave hunters he has no slaves, so his lie is a credible lie, but it is an unselfish lie because it saves Jim. Jim’s freedom means more than the money he would get for turning him in, so it is a good lie.”
The selflessness shown in that decision and throughout the movie was what I always hope to be. I know I struggle at times being selfish just like everyone but I hope when it matters that I can be selfless.
So to lighten up this post I am going to give you 3 truths and 1 lie, see if you can spot the lie.
- My front tooth was chipped and is now a fake.
- I once went to the hospital after falling running up the down escalator in Washington D.C.
- I won a little over $2,500 playing Blackjack at Foxwoods casino on my 21st birthday.
- I was kicked out of Kindergarten for kicking the Principal in the crotch.
What is a lie you have told?
Do you have a favorite movie or book that just made you feel all the feels?
My mom is a social worker and works with Sudanese people so I will have to watch this movie – it sounds amazing and I’m a cry baby too so dont you worry about that!! I hope the foxwoods statement is true – but I’m picking that as my lie!! xo, Biana –BlovedBoston
It was such a good movie and the main actors were actual refugees, children of refugees, and/or children soldiers. It broke my heart. Your Mom sounds like a brave and strong woman for doing that kind of work. You guessed it in one! 🙂
i loved you sharing these parts of your life with us!! i say #4 but that seems too easy! can’t wait for the update on the mendacity!
Thank you. Nope that one is actually true! Haha! Mendacity?
OMG your #4!!!! He probably deserved it!
My 6 front teeth are capped. I never bite into an apple- always cut it up!
I shy away from sadness and abuse books and movies, even with happy endings.
So much is in the media. I keep lighting and lighting everything and everyone.
I am always saying lights and angels, lights and angels. Never can have too many lights
or angels.
Have a divine day.
Love, Steph’s Momma
Me too, always have to cut my apples. My dog jumped right into my face on accident. It is so sad but I hate for history to repeat itself or for me to forget that it is important to be the light when others don’t get to see it. Or that some have seen so much darkness and can still be the light, it gives me a sense of purpose and a great reminder to be more. Thanks for always putting light into the world!
i just finished A Fine Balance and while it was such a great book, it was also so heart-breaking and really made me reevaluate my life. The characters in the book live in such squalid environments; their city filled with cruelty, torture and their country paralyzed with political strife which of course, always affecting the poor villagers….yet the characters are so positive; finding happiness in the smallest things, strive to be better than the place in which they live or how their society dictates them to be. they face their treacherous world with strength, courage and a will to always survive….. shit, i haven’t felt like this after reading a book in years. i legit felt like a pompous, spoiled asshole yearning for a stupid crafting machine while these characters were living in garbage dumps/crippled on the street and scavenging for food/water on a daily basis!
That sounds like an awesome book. I love when it really makes you think and evaluate how you live. They can be really heavy so I don’t read them often but so worth it when you do. I think you would like a Good Lie. There is such sadness but they also crack up over the Chicken crosses the road joke it is was such childlike innocence that was so touching.
Ha, poor principal. Poor you too! I cry and very emotional watching TV, movies, and reading. I used to be so embarrassed by it, but now I like that softness about me.
Yes, I like that I can empathize but it can be embarrassing at time when it doesn’t stop! haha!
I think #4 is the lie. haha. You were way too excited in that school photo. 😉
That one is actually true! I got in trouble for not wanting to nap and he crossed my arms and pulled too hard so I kicked him. 😉
I don’t know about the other but I’ve got my fingers crossed number 4 is true even though I have my doubts. 🙂
Haha! Number 4 is true. He crossed my arms until they hurt so I kicked him. I think I was acting out for not going down for a nap but whatever.
I love the Family Stone! The good lie sounds really great, I’ll have to put it on my list. Anything with elderly people really really gets me. It’s so hard for me to watch stuff like that. I will never watch UP again. I didn’t stop crying once during that movie. I suppose my grandfather passing away from Alzheimer’s made it a little too real. Same with the Notebook. Whew. But good cries… ? A Walk to Remember, Little Women, and any emotional episode of Gilmore Girls… I definitely cried when I finished The Help, gosh it was so much! XO -Alexandra
Simply Alexandra: My Favorite Things
It was so good, and really touching. That makes it so much more personal for you. A Walk to Remember is a good one, the ending is so sad.
On the Road did the same to me…it’s one of my favorites!
It is so good and really made me think and want to experience so much more than I have.
I too am a very sensitive soul and I cry at everything. In fact, I’m so sensitive that I have been told that I’m too sensitive. I totally love to watch sad movies (but I have to be in the mood for it). Nothing like a good cry to make you feel better. At least that is how I look at it. Hmm..the one lie, I think it’s the second one. I’m just guessing here. haha
It can totally make you feel better and releases all that energy. That one is actually true, it was a school field trip my Sophmore year in high school.
The Good Lie is on my to watch list!
It was so good, I think you will like it.
The Family Stone. Gets me every time. Same sobbing mess. haha
It is so good. It reminds me a lot of my own family.
The movie “Always” with Richard Dryfuss… oh gosh – I ugly cry every time.
That is an older one right. I think I have seen that one.
I am a crier- and i love stories that move me! I need to check out some of your recommendations! I think the kicking the principal in the crotch is a lie!
I hope you do, and like them. That one is actually true!! I didn’t want to nap and he pulled my arms till they hurt so I kicked him!
first off, oh my gosh i will laugh so hard if #4 is true. i am not sure if #1 is true, but if it is, we are teeth twins.
meanwhile – what a beautiful post. i have never thought of it this way, but i think the same way as you do. i am not a selfless person at all, but i know i can be when it matters, and i hope that never changes. i am not proud of being selfish, but i would never be selfish if it hurt someone else, you know? i know i only know you online but you come across as one of the kindest, most selfless, people i’ve ever met.
Those are actually both true! We are teeth twins!! Yes, we all have those moments were we spend too much time on social media or as readers we spend more time in books than with people and in a way it’s selfish but doesn’t hurt anybody. I left people cut in front of me and give when I can but when faced with big challenges I hope that I always put people first.
Thank you so much, that really means a lot. I have my moments and I have to reel myself in but I am very open to being better.
My mom was just texting me this morning asking if I’ve seen The Good Lie, I definitely have to see it now 🙂
Green Fashionista
You should, it is so good.
I was kicked out of Kindergarten for kicking the Principal in the crotch.- LOL!!!!! That is just awesome right there! This movie sounds like it needs to be on my to see list for sure!!! I totally cry during those animal commercials and The Family Stone gets me every time!
That one is actually true. It was so beautiful and it is not overly gruesome even though they went through horrible things. So moving with some laughter built in.
PLEASE tell me you really kicked someone in the crotch?!
I totally did!! 🙂
I always cry during Love Actually but not always at the same scenes. When I was a kid, I cried so hard during The Fox & The Hound that my mom had to take me out of the theater. I sobbed in the theater while seeing The Book Thief even though I’d already read the book and could anticipate the sad parts.
I’m going with your #3 as the lie.
Love Actually is a good one. That is so sad you had to leave the theatre but that was a sad movie, so I kinda agree. So far you are the only one to get it right!
#4 made me laugh out loud!! I want to say that’s the lie but you never know!! haha
That one I am afraid is true!
I’m totally with you on this. I’m going to e-mail you about my most recent spell of crying. I think we have a lot in common where this is concerned. I just get really choked up about certain things and I always try to consider how lucky I am. I really hope #4 is true because that’s hysterical! xo, Champagne&Suburbs
Yes, I cry way to easily at times. I love when I see people following their dreams and getting it. That one is totally true! So not like me but I was a spirited kid for sure.