Positive Thinking Movie Review: Tyler: A Real Hero (1994)

 

Tyler: A Real Hero (1994)

Tyler Wilkinson is somewhat of a local folk hero in Saint George.  (click on the title, not the picture.)  This movie was made about his circumstances some years ago.  Tyler Wilkinson is a motivational speaker.   This is a story about a young man who had everything going for him, Star football player, stake champion wrestler and baseball player.  However he fell asleep at the wheel, and rolled his vehicle, which resulted in spinal cord injury and quadriplegia. 
This movie is narrated by Steve Young.  The story really begins after the accident.  It is not easy to maintain your attitude in such circumstances.  However your attitude is necessary to regain as much capacity as possible.  This movie concludes with the announcement that Tyler married his high school sweet heart, Jennifer Orton.  This couple struggled, but Tyler became an investment consultant and has a successful career.  He and his wife have five children.  I found this quote in City Lifestyle about them, "they live intentionally, striving for gratitude and a healthy sense of humor to see them through the inevitable, day-to-day challenges."  Tyler and Jennifer (Orton) frequently give speeches.  Tyler concludes his speeches by encouraging people to pass it forward.
This movie tells a great story.  I just don't know why they had to add Paul James as the announcer for the football games.  This spoils rather than adds to the story.

Positive Thinking Book Report: Skill With People

This is an interesting booklet which I have from my Amway days.  It talks about how to be good at selling, but the principles can apply to many other situations.  It is written by Les Giblin.  He points out that people would rather talk about themselves than about anything else.  The focus of interactions should be on what the other person has to say.  It talks about the need to praise, but it must be sincere and it should focus on the act and not the person.  In like fashion criticism should be made in privacy, should start with a compliment, should be impersonal (focus on the act not the person), should supply the answer (the right way to do it), ask for cooperation, criticize each offense only once, and finish on a friendly note.  In dealing with people a grateful attitude is also essential.  Mean it when you say thank you, and say it clearly and distinctly, thank people by name, and look them in the eye when you thank them.  This little pamphlet is a good thing to consult frequently to keep you brain in the right place in working with others.  And to foster an attitude of gratitude.

Documentary Review: Native American Healing in the 21st Century

 What is the place of Indian medicine today.  I know when I lived on the reservation, Indian Doctors were very much sought at and people would sometimes travel great distance to see and Indian Doctor.  there is something to be said for spiritual health helping with overall health.  I watched this documentary a few years ago.

Native American Healing in the 21st Century.  The movie presents Native American medicine as part of holistic health.  They also talk about other forms of alternative medicine.  Much of the medicine is based on herbal medicines; but it is combined with prayer and spiritual preparation.  A combination of health treatments (General medical and medicine an) is likely to be the most successful.  The Great Spirit and oneness with the earth and the spirit are important to treating people in a holistic way.  The presentation compares Native remedies with Eastern medicine.  And the importance of keeping energies in balance. 
A basic philosophy behind their remedies is gratitude for the Creator.  This combined with and absence of bias and prejudice will lead to peace, which is perfect healing. 
This movie presents a lot of practical advise, which herb or plant treats which illness.  Common natural band-aids and cures harvested from plants. 

Dealing with Adversity

 

Motivational Story: Adversity

I came across this story on Facebook, and I wanted to save it.  It is about a young woman and her grandmother:

  A young woman went to her grandmother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed that as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her grandmother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to a boil. In the first, she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil, without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She then pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.

Turning to her granddaughter, she asked, "Tell me, what do you see?"

"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.

She brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. She then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma.

The granddaughter then asked, "What does it mean, Grandmother?"

Her grandmother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity -- boiling water -- but each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. But, after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

"Which are you?" she asked her granddaughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?"

Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity? Do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor of your life. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hours are the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate to another level?

How do you handle adversity? Are you changed by your surroundings or do you bring life, flavor, to them?

ARE YOU A CARROT, AN EGG, OR A COFFEE BEAN?

Video Review: Andy Andrews: The Seven Decisions

Andy Andrews is one funny man.  He is also a very good motivational speaker.  He started out as a comedian, but has now written motivational books as well as become a motivational speaker.  I thoroughly enjoyed his presentation on the seven decisions.  These decisions are:
The Buck Stops Here:  Until we take responsibility for where we are, we have no power to make our situation better.
I Will Seek Wisdom: We must take responsibility for filling our minds with information that will improve ourselves, and in like way be careful of letting negative thoughts into our brains.
I am a Person of Action: Andrews told the stories of people who made decisions.  I love the story of Joshua Chamberlain, whose command to charge changed the battle of Gettysburg, and very possible the outcome of the Civil War.
I Have a Decided Heart:  Analysis is to lead to a decision.  Decision leads to action, and we should be committed to the decisions we make.
Today, I Will Choose to be Happy: The biggest key to happiness is to be grateful.  I will have a grateful heart, and thereby be happy.
I Will Greet this Day with a Forgiving Spirit: It is important to forgive others as quickly as possible; even if they don't deserve it; even if they don't ask.  I will also forgive myself.
I Will Persist Without Exception.  The without exception is key.  It is possible to persist, and then quit.  However if the persistence is without exception, then success will eventually come.
Andy Andrews gave the third rule last: I Am a Person of Action.  He did this on purpose, saying it is the most important.  He talked of the butterfly effect or law of sensitive dependency on initial condition.  In this theory, a small action can snowball until it has a tremendous effect.  Andrews illustrated this by talking of Chamberlain at Gettysburg, and also George Washington Carver.  He showed how decisions we make now can have tremendous results.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndPZVGwaRww 
The Butterfly Effect

I watched the bonus material.  Part was a question and answer session.  Someone asked, what is the most important lesson you want to teach your sons.  With out hesitation he answered, "That I love their mother."  He was so sincere, and so quick, I felt guilty I may not have responded so quickly, and that maybe I have not taught my children this lesson.  Some day I need to give up pride and selfishness, and make sure my kids get this message.