My Favorite Movies Journal

The movies--what a wonderful way to spend an afternoon! I love going to the movies. When I thought about why I look forward to going to a movie, I realized it was like meditation for me. The only thing that was on my mind was what was in front of me on the screen. I am in the moment when I am at a movie.

Remember the movie "Harold and Maude"? Although this was decades ago, I remember it well. I started to cry during the movie and did not stop until late that night. This movie brought up so many feelings for me. I identified with Harold. I identified with Maude. I identified with what made each of them different from most people, yet so similar to each other.

Movies are a wonderful vehicle from which we can learn and feel. We can see more about ourselves and the world that surrounds us through movies. We can consider how we might handle the same situations we just watched in a movie. What we would have done differently, and done the same.

A great way to enhance your movie experience is to keep a "Favorite Movies" journal. You can use a blank book, one that you use only for your favorite movies or add your movie favorites to your existing journal entries. Write down the movie title, the date you saw it and with whom you went. You can even paste your ticket stub into your journal next to the title. Journal if you connected with the characters, what you learned and took away from each and what your feelings were.

Movies entertain us, but they can also teach us. What did you learn about yourself? Others? The world?

Did you hear a memorable line, like: "I'll be back" from the movie "Terminator" with Arnold Schwartzenegger or "God put you in my path" from the movie "The Four Feathers"?

Was there a memorable scene? Did it move you? Why?

Would you rewrite the ending? If so, why and what would it be?

When you keep a journal of your favorite movies, your movie experience can continue long after the popcorn is gone and the lights are back on.

Copyright 1999 - 2003 Doreene Clement All Rights Reserved Doreene Clement is the creator of, The 5 Year Journal, a journal where you can journal your life in one book for 5 years. You can tour the book at http://www.the5yearjournal.com

dkcomni@aol.com 480.423.8095

Feel free to pass this along to your friends. If you want to see my column, About Journaling, to subscribe http://www.the5yearjournal.com

The Atlantic

'Hysteria' Turns the Vibrator Into Inspirational Cinema The Atlantic Wexler and screenwriters Stephen Dyer and Jonah Lisa Dyer mainstream things without sanitizing them, reconstituting taboo fodder as the stuff of inspirational cinema. Wexler uses the lighthearted baseline to get at a deeper and more substantial look at ... and more »

USA TODAY

Review: 'The Intouchables' is the Genuinely Inspirational Story of an Unlikely ... Film School Rejects Still, the formula for success here, perfected by co-directors/writers Olivier Nakache and Éric Toledano, is clear: Find characters worth caring about, cast actors who are adept at making you feel for them and surround the stars with an inspirational ... "The Intouchables" goes down easy but leaves strange tasteOrlando Sentinel 'Intouchables' is a real crowd-pleaserPress of Atlantic City all 127 news articles »

Indie Picks: Inspirational First Position Opens at Violet Crown Austinist There has been some criticism of Kargman for not being transparent enough about the involvement of one of the Grand Prix's founders in shaping the film's story, but if you're looking for a heartwarming and inspirational trip to the movies this weekend, ... and more »

School's inspirational banner teaches a life lesson Vancouver Sun But for Vancouver swimmer Scott Dickens, those words, in big red and white letters on a banner at the back of a school gymnasium in his hometown of Ancaster, Ont., four years ago became life altering and a huge inspiration. "Three words that definitely ... and more »

Bulldogs win 'inspirational' sectional golf crown The Livingston County News Members of the Livonia golf team proudly show their sectional championship patches along with the Class B trophy they captured May 24 at Bath Country Club. The team is coached by Mike Cronmiller Jr. (far left). By Chris Metcalf on May 25, ... and more »

Wound Care Publication to be Distributed Within USA Today Highlights ... MarketWatch (press release) JR Martinez, whose resume includes burn survivor, motivational speaker, Dancing With the Stars alum, Army Veteran, and actor, graces the publication's cover, while his inspirational story of experiencing a devastating wound, surviving to tell his story ... and more »

Inspirational Network's David Cerullo is highest-paid nonprofit exec Bizjournals.com (blog) David Cerullo, president and chief executive of The Inspirational Network Inc., tops the list, with $1.9 million in compensation. Marc Favaro and Bill Airy, also executives at the Lancaster County based-network, hold the second and third spots on the ...

US: Arab uprisings 'inspirational' but destabilizing for Mideast CNN The report itself says: "The yearning for change we have witnessed in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Yemen, and Syria is inspirational, and yet change often creates instability before it leads to greater respect for democracy and human rights.

Catskill Daily Mail

Dennis Walters Provides The Inspiration To Follow Your Dreams Catskill Daily Mail However, what could be certainly considered the highlight of the show despite the entertaining golf antics is the inspirational message woven into the show. “Once I started golfing again, I took to the road and for me, it was good therapy,” Walters ...

Inspirational Journey for female engineers at Atkins The Engineer Atkins has joined An Inspirational Journey, an initiative aimed at increasing the number of women working at the senior corporate level in Britain's boardrooms. Atkins said in a statement that it has signed up a team of women that have been identified ...