Today I went to a yoga class that was followed by a tea drinking and discussion session. It was nice to spend some time in the zen zone with other people because I usually practise yoga and meditation alone; daily, but mostly alone. As we sat about in the warm after-glow of our hour long yoga session, with well stretched limbs and a calm disposition, we sipped tea and discussed the topic of 'The Man Who Wanted to Change the World.'
We listened to a story about a man who set out in his 20's to change the world. In his 30's he decided that perhaps he would downscale and just change his village because the world was too large to manage. Then in his 40's he decided to just focus on changing his family because his village was too big. And then, yep you guessed it, in his 50's he finally realised that what he needed to change was himself and he finally looked inwards and embarked on a journey of self change. We then reflected on this story and shared our thoughts, understandings and experiences.
Everyone looked at it differently and shared a little slice of their own experience. Some people shared what they were hoping to achieve or change within themselves, some people talked about their challenges or desires for self improvement and some people just reflected. There were no right or wrong answers or reflections, no judgements to be cast, it was a safe circle to share in and everyone was heard in their response.
I was thinking a lot about the Man Who Wanted to Change the World as I listened to the story and it made me think of how far I have come in my own journey of self discovery. I think that like the 'Man' in the story I was rushing to change things around me in my 20's and 30's as well, and I even tried to change my family in my 40's only to realise that it was the way that I saw the world that needed to be healed. I didn't actually need to change anyone or anything, I needed to fix my own vibration and my perspective on things.
I was so negative and so fixated on the ugliness of life when I was younger. I wasted a lot of time judging people, making assumptions and speaking my mind like I had something important to say. I actually thought that I knew what was going on, but I didn't know shit. In truth, nothing that I had to say was very important at all and I was just masking a lot of hurt feelings and a lot of unresolved tension. I had to turn inwards and do a lot of self healing and a lot of mindfulness and a lot of rebuilding. I had to change my perspective so that I could see what I now see.
The world around did not need to be fixed, it was never my job to do that, in fact most of what I thought needed to be fixed just needed to be accepted. The only thing that ever needed to be fixed or changed was me and as soon as I understood that and got busy doing that, my whole life instantly changed for the better. I stop judging everyone and feeling like I needed to be in control of anyone or anything else, and I poured all of my time, effort and focus into managing me. Pretty soon, everything else around me got so much easier and so much better. I was even starting to see beauty in the mundane, joy in the challenges and purpose in the pain. I was becoming whole because I was focusing on making myself a better person.
And now, I no longer feel like I need to change the world around me at all. I accept the world and all of the people in it as they are with the knowledge that there is only one thing in this whole big beautiful world that I will ever have any control over, and that is me. Just me, nothing more and nothing less than that. And there is the most marvellous level of comfort to be found in that awareness that is not only liberating and freeing, but also empowering and dynamic. So now, like the 'Man Who Wanted to Change the World' I don't look to change anything or anyone but myself these days, and I am doing that one day at a time and loving my life and the gift that it is more and more as I go.
We listened to a story about a man who set out in his 20's to change the world. In his 30's he decided that perhaps he would downscale and just change his village because the world was too large to manage. Then in his 40's he decided to just focus on changing his family because his village was too big. And then, yep you guessed it, in his 50's he finally realised that what he needed to change was himself and he finally looked inwards and embarked on a journey of self change. We then reflected on this story and shared our thoughts, understandings and experiences.
Everyone looked at it differently and shared a little slice of their own experience. Some people shared what they were hoping to achieve or change within themselves, some people talked about their challenges or desires for self improvement and some people just reflected. There were no right or wrong answers or reflections, no judgements to be cast, it was a safe circle to share in and everyone was heard in their response.
I was thinking a lot about the Man Who Wanted to Change the World as I listened to the story and it made me think of how far I have come in my own journey of self discovery. I think that like the 'Man' in the story I was rushing to change things around me in my 20's and 30's as well, and I even tried to change my family in my 40's only to realise that it was the way that I saw the world that needed to be healed. I didn't actually need to change anyone or anything, I needed to fix my own vibration and my perspective on things.
I was so negative and so fixated on the ugliness of life when I was younger. I wasted a lot of time judging people, making assumptions and speaking my mind like I had something important to say. I actually thought that I knew what was going on, but I didn't know shit. In truth, nothing that I had to say was very important at all and I was just masking a lot of hurt feelings and a lot of unresolved tension. I had to turn inwards and do a lot of self healing and a lot of mindfulness and a lot of rebuilding. I had to change my perspective so that I could see what I now see.
The world around did not need to be fixed, it was never my job to do that, in fact most of what I thought needed to be fixed just needed to be accepted. The only thing that ever needed to be fixed or changed was me and as soon as I understood that and got busy doing that, my whole life instantly changed for the better. I stop judging everyone and feeling like I needed to be in control of anyone or anything else, and I poured all of my time, effort and focus into managing me. Pretty soon, everything else around me got so much easier and so much better. I was even starting to see beauty in the mundane, joy in the challenges and purpose in the pain. I was becoming whole because I was focusing on making myself a better person.
And now, I no longer feel like I need to change the world around me at all. I accept the world and all of the people in it as they are with the knowledge that there is only one thing in this whole big beautiful world that I will ever have any control over, and that is me. Just me, nothing more and nothing less than that. And there is the most marvellous level of comfort to be found in that awareness that is not only liberating and freeing, but also empowering and dynamic. So now, like the 'Man Who Wanted to Change the World' I don't look to change anything or anyone but myself these days, and I am doing that one day at a time and loving my life and the gift that it is more and more as I go.
A MAN CALLED OTTO
Release Date: 2022
Rating: M
Running Time: 126 mins
Sometimes I forget just how great Tom Hanks can be and then I see him in a lead role like A Man Called Otto and I am just blown away by his delivery and emotional range. An American remake of the 2015 Swedish film A Man Called Ove, which was also based on the novel by Fredrik Backman, A Man Called Otto delivers a touching, affecting and enjoyable tale that is sure to tug at your heartstrings.
Otto is a cynical widower that is tired of living and feels exhausted by the so called 'stupidity' of the people around him. Just as he is about to check out, a new family check in across the street and bring with them both complication and distraction for Otto. Through a series of emotional flashbacks we come to understand who Otto was and how he has become the bitter retiree that he is today.
Mariana Trevino shines as Otto's new neighbour Marisol and Cameron Britton delivers as his power walking neighbour Jimmy, but no-one can outshine Hanks here as he delivers all of Otto's quirks and habits with fastidious accuracy and that subtle humour that we have all come to love about Tom Hanks. To be honest though, everyone is good here, even the scruffy stray cat! A Man Called Otto is a feel good movie that everyone can get something out of.
FINAL SAY: Basically, his heart is too big.
3.5 Chilli Peppers
Release Date: 2022
Rating: M
Running Time: 126 mins
Sometimes I forget just how great Tom Hanks can be and then I see him in a lead role like A Man Called Otto and I am just blown away by his delivery and emotional range. An American remake of the 2015 Swedish film A Man Called Ove, which was also based on the novel by Fredrik Backman, A Man Called Otto delivers a touching, affecting and enjoyable tale that is sure to tug at your heartstrings.
Otto is a cynical widower that is tired of living and feels exhausted by the so called 'stupidity' of the people around him. Just as he is about to check out, a new family check in across the street and bring with them both complication and distraction for Otto. Through a series of emotional flashbacks we come to understand who Otto was and how he has become the bitter retiree that he is today.
Mariana Trevino shines as Otto's new neighbour Marisol and Cameron Britton delivers as his power walking neighbour Jimmy, but no-one can outshine Hanks here as he delivers all of Otto's quirks and habits with fastidious accuracy and that subtle humour that we have all come to love about Tom Hanks. To be honest though, everyone is good here, even the scruffy stray cat! A Man Called Otto is a feel good movie that everyone can get something out of.
FINAL SAY: Basically, his heart is too big.
3.5 Chilli Peppers
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