Unspoken Rules of Courtesy

Times are changing. A lot of the rules in our society, that were once very rigid, are now something that we hardly pay heed to. But while some rules and regulations, on what might be considered as good behavior, are obsolete now; there still exists a bunch of unspoken ones that one needs to adhere to.
These are rules that have a lot to do with commitment, gratitude, privacy and general courtesy.

Text and photos courtesy of: Vannakam Salem

Reposting- Deep Lessons from the Movie Megamind

 I honestly love watching animated or cartoon movies till now. However, I became so picky of selecting animated films that is so worthy to watch. Something that brings good messages not just only impressing and getting the attention of the crowd.
Among that I love to watch repeatedly is Megamind..if you were to see the poster, it's not so catchy and appealing but when you start delving the entire movie, you'll see how good it is. You'll enjoy the jokes applied so as the lesson that you'd get from it.
I have thought of gathering some positive feedback of the movie from a christian movie goers like me, down below are among the viewer positive comments.

What do you do if you’re a funny looking blue man with a big bald head?
Megamind is a film about finding our meaning in life despite overwhelming odds. The film is named after its main character, Megamind. The baby that grew up to become Megamind was jettisoned from his planet, but was raised on earth by inmates in a prison. At the same time, another baby came to earth, but this one was raised by loving parents in a wealthy home. This baby eventually became Metro Man.
Both Megamind and Metro Man grow up to lead the lives seemingly predestined for them. Megamind becomes an evil genius who desires to rule the world; Metro Man becomes the superhero whose mission is to thwart Megamind’s plans.
(spoiler alert) The two fight each other until one day, almost accidentally, Megamind destroys Metro Man. The film then explores what happens to evil when good is no longer present. Does Megamind continue to have a reason to exist? Does he still wish to be evil? Without a nemesis to fight against him, Megamind becomes a lost soul. Even creating an archenemy for himself does not solve his problems. Megamind decides to face his own humanity and embrace it. He does this by finding love and changing his life. At the same time, Metro Man struggles with his reason for existence, and chooses to lead a “normal” life.
Although Megamind presents itself as a lighthearted family film—which it is—there are also many lessons we can learn about the human condition.
Do not be quick to judge.People judged Megamind on his looks, his past, and his behavior. But Megamind was a misfit. His persona did not match his inner ambitions: to be loved by others. He finally realized that he needed to change his ways for people to accept and love him. This was difficult, because, based on his past actions, it was difficult for people to believe in him.
It is human nature to judge others on their outward appearances, but God looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7 says, “People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” This is also a lesson for us—as disciples of Jesus—to not be so quick to judge others. Only God knows their hearts. We need to recognize what God is doing in their lives and love them all the way to Jesus.
Do not give up.In the film, we learn that Metro Man became tired of putting on his super cape and fighting evil. He simply wanted to have a normal, stress-free life. But there were consequences as a result. Evil ran amok.
Sometimes it is easier for us to give up than exert the time and energy to make disciples. The apostle Paul has some words of advice for us from Galatians 6:9: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” If we give up, Satan wins, but if we continually seek others, God will be glorified!
Everyone has the power to change.Although Megamind was poorly shaped by his environment and was seemingly destined to be evil forever, he overcame his upbringing and changed. The movie ends with the moral, “Destiny is not the path given to us, but the path we choose for ourselves.” Very deep for a family movie!
Every person has the power to change, no matter how bad the situation is for him or her. There is hope for that person on skid row. The ex-con or the alcoholic may have the potential to build an incredible church. We need to always remember that, “With God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). He has the power to change everyone!

What do you see when you look in the mirror? What do you see when you look at others?

Disclaimer: Texts owned by Surprisingly Deep Lessons From Megamind

I’ll be honest. When I first saw the previews for “Megamind,” several months ago, I said, “Nah, this doesn’t look like a film worth spending 10 dollars on!” However, I knew my friend really wanted to see this movie, so we decided to head to our local theater and see Megamind in Digital 3D. Well, next thing you know, I walked out of the theater saying, “That was pretty good.” Dreamworks has never ceased to amaze me in what they are able to accomplish in their films.
As the Dr. Criswell stated, “Megamind” wasn’t as good as “Despicable Me,” but it was close. The movie-making quality was jaw-dropping. The acting was well done by everyone, Tina Fey, Will Ferrel, Jonah Hill, and even Brad Pitt. The moral of this story? People can change. Megamind proved this in the movie. Everyone thought he was the villain, but suddenly he had to become the hero and WANTED to be the hero. 
The same principle applies to our walk in Christ. God can change people’s hearts, even the most unlikely of people. There’s nothing that God can’t do. So, do I recommend this movie? Yes. —Alexander Malsan, age 20 (USA)

Lesson from the Movie: Click

Watching movies is one of my hobbies especially when boredom attacks me. And watching movies doesn't only entertains you but it also proclaims lessons in life.
One that truly moved me was the movie "Click". After watching the whole film, I just completely realized that  it pointed out exactly what I did in life. Usually, I want things to be done rightly as it is, & sometimes I wish time would fly by very fast, because I felt that I am being left alone and everyone have succeeded on their chosen field of interest of which I'm the only lone wanderer that still finding ways where to go and what to do- believing I don't suit to the environment that I am in.
By watching the film "Click", it opened my eyes why it happens for some reason that I don't pay attention to good things in life and appreciate it. I faithfully believe that it is also our attitude to the world around us that practically programs our future. Meaning, if you have thought of bad things - the response would be bad as well.
I become aware, if I'd whine & complains everyday about everything that I'm into at - surely I'll stay in this situation no matter what I want to do and dream about. Many people have stayed and remains frustrated because they don't know how to get out of it. The movie proclaims that we should slow down a bit and try to appreciate every single bit of life's moment and savor the wonderful things you have experienced.
 Adam Sandler, the lead star was an impatient man. He doesn't want to hear the usual and routinable life he had till he found himself in a store that changed his life forever. Someone gave him a remote control of his life that allows him to do as he wishes it. He forwarded everything just as the most memorable moments of his life that one day he realized that he missed a significant segments of his life.
Because he wanted things to be done quickly, he kept on pressing the fast forward till he got noticed that his family relationship ruined including his very own.
Well, I don't want to go on story telling bit by bit and pages to chapter but just see it for yourself. You'll know why I like it much and the movie would certainly open doors to realization and understanding the present reality of our life. It'll bring us to think that life needs to be appreciated and enjoy just as the Lord wants it that way, we don't need to rush things, because if things bounds to happen, it'll happen according to God's plan.

Lesson learned, we must be thankful that we live today. Let God be in control 'coz it will rightly fall in place.

According to Buddha: " Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die, so let us all be thankful."

We need not to worry,  but be sure to smell the flowers along the way. We all know that we need to stop and smell the roses and enjoy the small joys in our lives. When we rush, we barely acknowledge what is happening around us instead of always thinking of the next thing to do.

Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit.Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever,even if your whole world seems upset.- Saint Francis de Sales

Guide to A Better Life - By Dr. Randy Pausch

It took me sometimes to post here, pretty busy for a while so as buying credits to load my cousin's Smart Broadband has prevented me to do so due to some financial constraints. However, I have here with a very inspiring thoughts that would somehow move and give us lesson to do about.

A cousin handed me two papers that really caught my attention. It was about a former professor in Harvard by the name Dr. Randy Pausch. He died of pancreatic cancer in 2008, but wrote a book "The Last Lecture", one of his bestsellers in 2007. In a letter to his wife Jai and his children, Dylan, Logan, and Chloe, he wrote this beautiful "guide to a better life" for them to follow.

I decided to post it here because it moved me as I read down the whole contents of the papers. Wishing as well that would be blessed by his insight.

POINTS ON HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR LIFE

Personality:

No one is in charge of your happiness except you

1. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
2. Don't have negative thoughts of things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment
3. Don't over do; keep your limits
4. Don't take yourself so seriously; no one else does
5. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip
6. Dream more while you are awake
7. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need..
8. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner of his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
9. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
10. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present
1. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn.
Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
13. Smile and laugh more
14. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
15. Negativity starts with you. Don't respond to a friend's happy greeting of "good morning, how was your weekend...?", with
" ....weekend was too short and I have to come back here to work".
16. Be happy, be grateful, But don't be content. There are a lot more others, who would sacrifice a lot to be in your place.
17. Be positive, even in down times, some may think you're insane, but they would want to be like you.

Community:
18. Call your family often
19. Each day give something good to others
20. Forgive everyone for everything
21. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6
22. Try to make at least three people smile each day
23. Don't allow yourself to fall into compromising situations, you may live to regret some of them.
24. What other people think of you is none of your business. You cannot control how others feel.
25. Your job will not take care of you when you are sick. Your family and friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:
26. Put GOD first in anything and everything that you think, say and do.
27. GOD heals everything
28. Do the right things
29. However good or bad a situation is, it will change. Nothing could ever remain the same
30. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up
31. The best is yet to come
32. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful
33. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it
34. If you know GOD you will always be happy. So, be happy.
35. Life's routes is all about choices, think before you make that choice, & when you do, you will be happy for it.

While you practice all of the above, share this knowledge with the people you love, people you school with, people you play with, people you work with and people you live with Not only will it enrich YOUR life, but also that of those around you.

Life Lessons from the Movie Kung Fu Panda 2

I downloaded a recent movie Kung Fu Panda 2, at first I was hesitant to do it since it's cartoon and more on kiddy type of movie thing. However, my instinct wins so I watched it and realized the lessons we can practically get out of the story of the movie itself. Practically recommending this movie to adults especially to those are battling to get inner peace within theirselves and appreciating who they are. Herewith, is a long list I got online about the Life Lesson we can get from this movie Kung Fu Panda 2, it's a long texts to hit but worth to read.

In KUNG FU PANDA 2, Po's new life of awesomeness is threatened by the emergence of a formidable villain, who plans to use a secret, unstoppable weapon to conquer China and destroy kung fu. He must look to his past and uncover the secrets of his mysterious origins; only then will Po be able to unlock the strength he needs to succeed.
Who would’ve thought a movie about an overweight Panda and a vengeful peacock would give us goose bumps? Seriously, from start to finish we were endowed with little nuggets of wisdom,
and quotes cleverly delivered by the various characters. Animated or not, wisdom can be found anywhere. All you have to do is look and listen with an open mind.

Lesson # 1 : God’s will, will be done.
Po didn’t even know he was chosen; he was selected long before he was born. But there was this peacock who knew from an oracle that a panda would finally seal his fate. So he had his minions kill all the pandas in China. He was an ordinary old panda. But God uses the ordinary, and no matter what anybody says, no one can stop God’s will for your life, not even cocky little peacocks.
You are the master of your destiny: No-one and nothing can come in between you and your destiny, except you. Take destiny by the horns and have fun.
Lesson # 2 : A Pretty Plume won’t make you happy.
Shen the peacock had a gorgeous plume, but he still wasn’t happy. Because he wasn’t happy, he spent his entire life trying to make everyone miserable. When he meets Po the Panda he is in awe of how peaceful he is. Po has nothing going for him. Yet he was comfortable with himself and had inner peace. As Master Shifu stated, “Remember…anything is possible if you have inner peace.”
You don’t need to meditate for hours and hours to attain inner peace and enlightenment. You need only see, feel, act from the heart. Let the heart guide you to your peaceful enlightenment.
Lesson # 3 : The only thing that matters is what you choose now.
Shen (the peacock) asked the Panda how he did it. Shen reminded Po that he’d killed his parents and almost killed him. Po told the peacock he had to let go of the past and choose right then to move forward. The point here is that holding on to pain from the past keeps you from obtaining inner peace. We have to choose now to embrace inner peace and let go of the things that hold us down. Don’t push past memories deeper inside of yourself. Let those memories breathe and let old wounds heal.
Lesson # 4 : Having it all means absolutely nothing
Shen had it all. His mother and father were rulers of the land. He was rich. He was smart. He was a pretty peacock with brilliant feathers, but he was empty. He wanted more. Even though Shen had everything, he still ended up with nothing. Po (the panda) on the other hand, had absolutely nothing. No one thought he’d amount to much except maybe a good noodle maker, but he becomes a hero. Be ONLY Yourself because Inner peace, calmness comes only when you are completely at ease with yourself- physically and emotionally.
Lesson # 5 : Anything is possible with inner peace
It’s a good thing we watched Kung Fu Panda 2 then. Thanks for the reminder Master Shifu! Come to think of it, when we are peaceful within, there would be a lot more peaceful and happier communities. (Isn’t that how the song – One More Gift – goes: “Grant me serenity within.. for the confusions around are mere reflections of what’s within.. what’s within me?”)
Achieving inner peace is also achieving inner strength.
Lesson # 6 : I know who I am
This reminded me of the importance of knowing who we really are – we are all, whether you choose to believe it or not – sons and daughters of God. “Who we are” is not so much defined by what we can do (remember Po, who said that if there was no Kung Fu, then he wouldn’t know who he was anymore?). We are who we are. Beautifully, wonderfully created to bless the world with our unique talents and skills.
“I know who I am. I’m your son.” – Po to Mr. Ping
Lesson # 7 : Good gifted friends are good gifts
Po had a group of friends that never let him down. They accepted him for who he was and helped him develop his weaknesses into something he could use. All of Po’s friends were super duper Kung Fu fighters, but they were all skilled in unique areas. They weren’t jealous of one another, and once they pulled all those gifts together they made an unstoppable team.
Friends are those who stay with you through thick and thin. No questions asked. Time spent sharing with good friends is equivalent to a thousand meditations. Good friends calm you and help you unburden.
Lesson # 8 : Work together as a team
The other lesson that was taught in the movie is the aspect of team work. There is a success trait called the “Circle of Influence”. The concept is that we are the sum of the 5 most influential people in our lives. Po was surrounded by friends that had common interest and goals, they had to work together to achieve maximum success. Ultimately, they were stronger together then they were apart.Share your gift with the world. Who knows,how many lives you are saving just by doing so. Your gift not only helps you, but all those you come in contact with.
Lesson # 9 : Investing in the next generation.
When Goose Dad saw Baby Po, there was no return of investment immediately. He patiently took care of Po, fed him and treated him like his real son. We as men should invest in our kids and the next generation. Guard the legacy that we have and pass it on to our sons and daughters.
“It takes a village to raise a child”
Lesson # 10 : Go with your gut.
Po could fight back and win against the most notorious enemy. The same is true in our real life, if you believe in yourself, nothing is impossible. You can do anything, as long as you believe you can. Go with your gut, because it’s an awesome conductor.
Your intuition is always active and alive. Go with your gut. It’s an awesome conductor.
Lesson # 11 : Notice the signs and take the lead.
It may just be a life lesson that you need to take. Life is never a bed of roses. If you do not recognize the lesson for what it is, you will find yourself continually stuck or attracting more of the same. You are in a vicious cycle, unable to break out. Step aside, take notes and learn from there. Notice the signs and take the lead. Then, you will find yourself moving on, becoming a more evolved and higher Self. The Universe is constantly giving you signs and messages for your journey. Notice them. Take the lead.
Lesson # 12 : Embrace your awesomeness
What Po dreamed about was right: you can’t really have enough awesomeness in your life. Embrace your awesomeness and dream your biggest dream and have faith it will come true. If Kung Fu Panda did it, you’ll do it too. There isn’t any, really. That’s just a fact!!!

Original text taken from: http://www.slideshare.net/bright9977/12-life-lessons-from-kung-fu-panda-2-8384210