Dads and Virtual Learning: "Your Life is an Occasion. Rise to it."

What was the last movie you went to see? This year’s blockbusters are Iron Man 2, Toy Story 3, Shrek Forever After, Robin Hood, and others. Perhaps you made it to see one of those. Or, maybe you are one that likes the movies that aren’t necessarily blockbusters, but they are great movie nonetheless. The ones the crowds overlook but they still tell a great story.

In my opinion, great movies do tell great stories. I like movies that make you think, make you feel. They tell great stories. And, within those movies there are poignant moments that bring to life what the story is all about. There are lines within the script that stand out above all the rest.  Sometimes they are what the movie revolves around. Other times though, they are simply part of the movie yet they are memorable because I can relate to either the character or the lines being said.

They stay with me long after the credits have rolled. Perhaps you have experienced the same thing?

Remember watching A Few Good Men when the character played by Jack Nicholson is on the stand and Tom Cruise’s character is intensely questioning him trying to get to the truth?

What is Jack’s famous line? Remember it? It was “You can’t handle the truth.”  Now, whether or not this was the crux of the movie or not is debatable, but I do know I have used that line many times in dealing with situations by asking myself if I can “handle the truth.”

Two of my favorites, though, come from movies the whole family can see, because that is typically the ones I like to watch anyway. In my opinion, both lines are the heart of their respective movies. Without these each movie would just fall apart. And not only do they hold their movies together, they also have spoken to me on numerous points along this journey called life.

So I share them with you below and only ask two things in return:

1) Can you name the movies where you can find these lines?
2) Post out here some of your favorite lines from movies that have spoken to you.

• “Don’t be afraid of death Winnie. Be afraid of the unlived life.”
• “Your life is an occasion. Rise to it.”

Finally, as a dad with four children, how do these lines fit in with my purpose in writing my blogs? It is easy, really.

I want to make sure my children experience their “unlived” lives by helping them reach their dreams and fulfill their passions.

And, I do believe that each one of my children’s life is an occasion – my aim is to encourage them to rise to it.