I love the idea of upskilling or 'life levelling up' and I have poured hours of devotion into new practises and pathways that I believe have helped me to become a better and more rounded person. I do have to be honest and admit that sometimes the amount of time and energy that is required to engage in some form of new and meaningful life upskilling is quite overwhelming to me at the moment, and it isn't because of a lack of desire or motivation, it is because I feel like I have already had more than my fair share of 'upgrades' in this life.
At the moment, I have pretty much 'maxed out' my life. If I was a game avatar I would have almost every perk, extra feature and bonus item already in my inventory, there would be no more to add to my character except for cardio, I know that I need more cardio! I have done so many incredible things, seen so many amazing things, had so many adventures and worked hard to incorporated the best of everything that I have discovered along those paths into my life. And now I can say that I truly understand what it feels like to have my 'cup runneth over.'
So have I plateaued? Well if this is what plateauing feels like, then I am fine with that! But I do think that it is quite the contrary really, because I actually feel like I am running on maximum (well not literally running, let's not forget that cardio stuff, doubt that I will ever nail that) and even though I do not fit into the mould of what society tells me to believe that a 45 year women should 'look' like or 'feel' like, I actually feel amazing and completely happy. Sure I am not what anyone would call 'fit' or 'thin' but I am thriving. I feel well and vibrant and healthier than I have ever felt in my life, so what is actually going here? Why now, when I am older, heavier and wrinklier than I have ever been in my life am I experiencing this feeling of abundance and joy?
Perhaps it is what I spend my spare time doing that has cultivated this feeling of abundance? I like to spend my free hours practising yoga, meditating, walking, listening to podcasts, watching movies and TV shows, socialising with friends and family, cooking, journalling and reading. I would call myself a moderately active person, I eat healthy nutritious foods, and I try to balance out my days with some activity and some inactivity because I believe that balance is the key to a good life.
I do have the most excellent and fulfilling relationships with the people around me that I have ever had in my life and I value those relationships above everything else. I try to make sure that the people in my life feel cared for and I try to make time for meaningful engagment with the people that I care about. My family means the world to me and my friends are not only beautiful people, but they are also caring, unique and stimulating to have around.
Perhaps all of these practises combined have put me in good stead, and maybe I don't need to add anything more to the mix since I am feeling so terrific. And maybe all of this really just boils down to a state of mind. Maybe feeling like you have a life of abundance is really more about having self acceptance, contentment and always keeping your eye on the glass being half full. I really do have what most people would call a full and happy life, and it is good to celebrate that and rejoice in the space that I have cultivated for myself. I don't actually need another upgrade at this moment in life, I am happy, I am abundant and I am the best version of myself at this present moment.
At the moment, I have pretty much 'maxed out' my life. If I was a game avatar I would have almost every perk, extra feature and bonus item already in my inventory, there would be no more to add to my character except for cardio, I know that I need more cardio! I have done so many incredible things, seen so many amazing things, had so many adventures and worked hard to incorporated the best of everything that I have discovered along those paths into my life. And now I can say that I truly understand what it feels like to have my 'cup runneth over.'
So have I plateaued? Well if this is what plateauing feels like, then I am fine with that! But I do think that it is quite the contrary really, because I actually feel like I am running on maximum (well not literally running, let's not forget that cardio stuff, doubt that I will ever nail that) and even though I do not fit into the mould of what society tells me to believe that a 45 year women should 'look' like or 'feel' like, I actually feel amazing and completely happy. Sure I am not what anyone would call 'fit' or 'thin' but I am thriving. I feel well and vibrant and healthier than I have ever felt in my life, so what is actually going here? Why now, when I am older, heavier and wrinklier than I have ever been in my life am I experiencing this feeling of abundance and joy?
Perhaps it is what I spend my spare time doing that has cultivated this feeling of abundance? I like to spend my free hours practising yoga, meditating, walking, listening to podcasts, watching movies and TV shows, socialising with friends and family, cooking, journalling and reading. I would call myself a moderately active person, I eat healthy nutritious foods, and I try to balance out my days with some activity and some inactivity because I believe that balance is the key to a good life.
I do have the most excellent and fulfilling relationships with the people around me that I have ever had in my life and I value those relationships above everything else. I try to make sure that the people in my life feel cared for and I try to make time for meaningful engagment with the people that I care about. My family means the world to me and my friends are not only beautiful people, but they are also caring, unique and stimulating to have around.
Perhaps all of these practises combined have put me in good stead, and maybe I don't need to add anything more to the mix since I am feeling so terrific. And maybe all of this really just boils down to a state of mind. Maybe feeling like you have a life of abundance is really more about having self acceptance, contentment and always keeping your eye on the glass being half full. I really do have what most people would call a full and happy life, and it is good to celebrate that and rejoice in the space that I have cultivated for myself. I don't actually need another upgrade at this moment in life, I am happy, I am abundant and I am the best version of myself at this present moment.
AI
Release Date: 2001
Rating: M
Running Time: 146 mins
This movie gets me right in the heart every time, I have seen it three times now, and I always end up sobbing by the end. Originally, the idea, story and early design was realised by Stanley Kubrick in the 1970's. Kubrick passed the story and some 650 drawings and ideas onto Steven Spielberg, who went on to make the film after Kubrick's death in 1999.
In the not so distant future, the world has advanced to the point where AI (Artificially Intelligent) robots (called Mechas) are being used as personal servants to enhance living conditions. A mecha-producing company creates a new line of robot that has programmable feelings. Monica, a mother that is grieving over her cryo-stasis ill son, adopts one named David to replace her child. David, in Pinocchio like fashion, wants nothing more than to be a real boy, and after he is cast out by Monica when her real son returns, David finds himself searching for a way to become real, so that his mother will love him again.
This is intelligent science fiction that forces viewers to address all of the moral conundrums that apply to the creation of truly humanistic replicas. Like Blade Runner, the desire for the human condition is striking and poignant, and at times utterly heartbreaking.
Haley Joel Osment and Jude Law are incredible as the dutiful mechas, and the make-up effects that are employed to give them that glossy, not-quite-human effect is fabulous. The sets are really well thought out, and the feel of a possible future is quite believable and visually pleasing.
Like all Spielberg movies, it is long and there is plenty of heart wrenching sentimentality, but it works effectively and didn't feel cheesy or heavy handed to me. I think that Kubrick would've enjoyed the spin that Spielberg applied to his ideas, I certainly did, and I still get a lump in my throat when I think of some of those agonising scenes when I just couldn't convince myself that David was just a robot and not a real boy.
FINAL SAY: The greatest single human gift - the ability to chase down our dreams.
4.5 Chilli Peppers
Release Date: 2001
Rating: M
Running Time: 146 mins
This movie gets me right in the heart every time, I have seen it three times now, and I always end up sobbing by the end. Originally, the idea, story and early design was realised by Stanley Kubrick in the 1970's. Kubrick passed the story and some 650 drawings and ideas onto Steven Spielberg, who went on to make the film after Kubrick's death in 1999.
In the not so distant future, the world has advanced to the point where AI (Artificially Intelligent) robots (called Mechas) are being used as personal servants to enhance living conditions. A mecha-producing company creates a new line of robot that has programmable feelings. Monica, a mother that is grieving over her cryo-stasis ill son, adopts one named David to replace her child. David, in Pinocchio like fashion, wants nothing more than to be a real boy, and after he is cast out by Monica when her real son returns, David finds himself searching for a way to become real, so that his mother will love him again.
This is intelligent science fiction that forces viewers to address all of the moral conundrums that apply to the creation of truly humanistic replicas. Like Blade Runner, the desire for the human condition is striking and poignant, and at times utterly heartbreaking.
Haley Joel Osment and Jude Law are incredible as the dutiful mechas, and the make-up effects that are employed to give them that glossy, not-quite-human effect is fabulous. The sets are really well thought out, and the feel of a possible future is quite believable and visually pleasing.
Like all Spielberg movies, it is long and there is plenty of heart wrenching sentimentality, but it works effectively and didn't feel cheesy or heavy handed to me. I think that Kubrick would've enjoyed the spin that Spielberg applied to his ideas, I certainly did, and I still get a lump in my throat when I think of some of those agonising scenes when I just couldn't convince myself that David was just a robot and not a real boy.
FINAL SAY: The greatest single human gift - the ability to chase down our dreams.
4.5 Chilli Peppers
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