
Be the Hero in Your Life by Michael Levy
Are you sitting comfortably, fantastic, now let me ask you a question.
What is the connection between a blind lieutenant colonel, a transvestite
and a holocaust inmate? It may take you a while to work it out so let
me tell you the answer. They are all incredible valiant characters from
what I regard as three of the most outstanding movies I have viewed in
the last fifty years. More than that, they unify by a potency of powerful
strength that you will become familiarized with shortly.
Al Pacino played the role of a character named Frank Slade, who is blind
and has made up his mind to have one last fling with a call girl before
committing suicide. He hires an impoverished student who is in trouble
with his university because he will not snitch on some mischievous wealthy
students. As the story unfolds Frank is in a posh hotel partaking in afternoon
tea. He asks a beautiful young lady to dance the tango and the joy of
the dance is savored in a mesmerizing manner. Later he comes back from
his encounter with the call girl and sits in his limo in dream like divine
bliss, savoring the sexual sensuality of a Scent of a Woman (Which is
the title of the movie.) Subsequently, the young student stops Frank from
committing suicide and is rewarded later by Frank defending the underdog
student in front of the whole school with a speech from his heart and
soul. It is a delivery of courage and gallantry. It originates from a
special place in a human being, which does not stem from academic achievement...A
blissful experience!
In the second movie, Cillian Murphy plays the role of an Irish transvestite
named Kitten. He embarks on many hazardous adventures and overcomes adversities
that would weaken the strongest fighters. Kitten is a hero who stands
out beyond the story line of his sexuality and cross gender. It relates
to the true core of his humanity, but the title of the movie, Breakfast
on Pluto relates to someone who lives outside this world. Nothing can
take away the strength of Kittens spiritual essence without his permission.
He will not sacrifice his true identity as a joy-filled soul come what
may. In one amusing and poignant scene, Kitten is posing as a striptease
artist in a peep show. A priest speaks to him through a small slit in
the booth, reminiscent of a confessional box. He confesses to Kitten that
he is his real physical father. It is a lustrous turn of normal circumstances
that encompass one of many cardinal messages throughout the movie. The
brilliantly acted story overcomes religious dogma, terrorism, wars, depravity
and humanities ignorance. The soul of a human shines through it all and
Kittens love for everyone he encounters turns hearts of stone into marshmallows....
A pure delight!
In the third film we find Roberto Benigni playing the role of Guido Orefice
who finds himself incarcerated in a concentration camp with his small
son. The Nazi’s are going to kill all the children so to protect
his son Guido makes up a game of hide and seek. The boy must hide away
from the Nazis and the longer he hides the more points he gets. When he
gets 10,000 points, he will win a real tank. Guido makes the words; Life
is Beautiful (the title of the movie) take on new profound meaning. If
we use our imagination, a little we can see the movie in a slightly different
way with the fact that the boy did not exist. We can contemplate the movie
from a point of view that the boy was actually his own soul and he hid
from the savage barbarism of the holocaust camps by comforting himself
inside a place where no harm can befall him. Even at the end of the movie
when a Nazi guard is about to kill him, he marches to his death in a joy-filled
manner and winks at his son (his own soul) hiding in a coalbunker. They
can take his physical life but they cannot touch or take away his spirit.
Life is truly beautiful when the light of the human spirit shines bright...Divine
blissfulness!
In all three movies, music plays its part in connecting the audience
with the action in a way no words can express. So have you figured out
the ingredients that connect all three characters in the movies, and why
is it significant in your life?
The main characters all conquered the monsters in their lives by not
accepting them as their reality. They lived outside the confines of religious
dogma, scientific scrutiny and academic doctrine. You may well say it
is only in the movies that people can enact their roles in a fearless
manner; however, great directors, writers, actors, musicians and a whole
crew of enlightened people who understand the qualities that make a human
being human make great movies. That is why there are very few great movies,
for just as in real life, not too many people know how to live an illuminating
authentic life free from the manacles of ignorance. Great movies reflect
the greatness in humanity. Many people who survived the holocaust have
told me they did so because their imagination took the place of their
physical reality.
Here are a few of the qualities that link them all together. After you
read them ask yourself...What role would I love to play out in my life
if given a free choice and who will it be that makes my choices?
1/ The pure joy of living can overcome every erroneous action, devastation
or hardship that will develop in every mature persons lifetime.
2/ Courage and fortitude are qualities that are inherent in every human
being. They are the savory ingredients that add spice and flavor to bland
insipid lives and turn the taster into an ambrosial celebrity.
3/ A strong spirit can overcome great challenges, whereas no amount of
education or social graces can prepare a person for catastrophes.
4/ Music has profound qualities that can sooth the mind and harmonize
with the body.
5/ Love can melt icebergs in 40 below temperatures. Even the most imperfect
humans by societies standards can rise above the unbalancing throng of
analytical dogma and transcend into higher realities by giving their love
to everyone they encounter.
6/ Imagination takes away the obnoxiousness of human behavior and lifts
the mind to a higher plateau. A happy face, dreams of faithfulness and
incorruptible gratitude originate from humanities image-maker.
7/ Greatness is achieved by good intent to other people. By becoming
the hero in other people’s lives, you become a hero to yourself.
8/ Cunning and deceit of others can take away any persons possessions,
even their physical lives, but cannot harm the true essence of who they
are.
9/ When the mind of a human is illuminated by the spirit of a loving
soul no evil force can penetrate the power within.
10/ The majestic grandeur of simple living cannot be bought by the extravagance
of money, diamonds, gold or silver. A friendly disposition, a warm smile
and enthusiastic childlike laughter are the characteristics and features
now playing on a stage inside every human heart.
Written by: Michael Levy is a professional optimist, his philosophy
of life is one of joyful optimism. He is an international radio host and
the author of nine inspirational books. Michael's poetry and essays grace
many web sites, newspapers, journals and magazines throughout the world.
He is a prominent speaker on health and wellness maintenance, stress eradication,
wealth creation and development, authentic happiness and inspirational
poetry.
http://www.pointoflife.com/

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