Weekly Recap of ET's Reflections

Week 9-19-05 to 9-23-05

Movie Monday - Just Like Heaven
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Just like heaven Just Like Heaven, starring Reese Witherspoon & Mark Ruffalo, was my weekend movie choice.

Reece Witherspoon plays a workaholic doctor (Elizabeth), who is so obsessed with pursuing her career, she forgets to live.

Mark Ruffalo plays a man (David) who had once embraced life but has chosen to withdraw after being wounded in a relationship.

David is drawn to sublet Elizabeth’s apartment, only to learn that she has not moved out. At first David thinks there is just a mistake, but the real fun begins when David realizes that, his new room mate, has the ability to appear and disappear at will.

David seeks help from an old friend and even visits a metaphysical bookstore, in his endeavor to understand what is happening. Naturally, as with all spiritual quests, David learns that he must find the answers within himself.

This film is full of laughs as it stresses the importance of living a quality life. It does poke fun at some in the New Age arena, but if they can’t take it, who can?

My 15 year old son would not admit to liking the movie, insisting that it was the same old story, just told another way; but I heard him laughing and know that he enjoyed himself.

I will grant that the story was perhaps one more rendition of a famous fairy tale (I will not tell you which one!) but none the less I found it delightful and will most likely watch it again.

I can not justify placing this movie on my must see list, but I doubt anyone would be disappointed by investing 101 minutes here. I will probably buy the DVD just so I can share it with friends who need a nice laugh and a reminder to live life fully, here and now!

I give this movie three and one half hourglasses.



Define Inspirational
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Part of what I do, nearly everyday, is to scour the internet looking for uplifting news. The stories I find that I enjoy the most, I try to include in my weekly News of Hope newsletter. I would like to do a daily news cast of these type of stories soon, so I continue to hone my skills at locating the information without investing, what has equated to about one hour per story.

I am always looking for ways to have the news brought to me, so I subscribe to several newsletters, which promise positive or inspirational stories. Sometimes I find a link they offer will lead me to a site I had not seen before, but usually their idea of “Good” news and mine are different.

Here is an example: I received a link to this story billed as an inspirational story.

I found the story to be very sad. Here is a brief synopsis:

A three and one half year old child, in India, runs 7 hours a day, and that time is increasing. This child was sold by his mother for $ 20.00 because she was too poor to take care of him. The person who originally bought this baby, sold him to a man, who sees potential in the kid.

This new owner, a judo master feeds the kid well and has him run from 5:00 a.m. to Noon, and then again in the evening. When the child gets to 90 km a day, he will qualify for the Guinness Book of World Records.

The tragedy of the child being 3 ½ and already having been sold twice, notwithstanding, I can not imagine anyone encouraging a child to train this number of hours a day.

I am trying not to be judgmental about this and realize that I know nothing about child prodigies, but this does not seem right to me.

The picture and brief quote from the kid seem to indicate that he is happy with his arrangement, but what does a 3 ½ year old child know? Is it even possible that this type of regimen is healthy for someone this age? Any doctors on the list?

I am still looking for the inspirational aspect of this story. Perhaps someone out there can help me see the light.