if it's not all right then it's not the end

last night i attended a preview of the film "the best exotic marigold hotel", hosted by barry ronge. it was a great film -- a stellar brit cast headed up by the always-dignified judi dench, a great screenplay and it's set in india. really now, is there any excuse to not see it?

there were a few things that resonated with me. i loved the humanity of the characters. the fine balance between humour and poignancy. most of all, i loved the message that it's never too late for redemption, second chances. 

sonny, played by slumdog millionaire's dev patel, who is the unquenchable optimist, has a great quote in the film: everything will be all right in the end... if it's not all right then it's not the end. 

sparklers and stuff

i had some frustrations to work off today so i decided to do an extended session at gym. and katy perry's "firework" came on my ipod. i've never really understood the value of power songs. until today. i played that track so incredibly loud. and about 8 times in a row.

there's something really empowering about that song. every time the pre-chorus built up into that big chorus, i increased my speed on the treadmill. i was officially, missioning it.

now, i'm not normally for cheese, but these lyrics are too good to miss. just where i am right now, i have a need to feel empowered. and to take back some strength that i have lost in the last few weeks. so when she sings:

do you know that there's still a chance for you / there's a spark in you

you just gotta ignite the light / and let it shine

just own the night / like the fourth of july

or

if you only knew what the future holds / after a hurricane comes a rainbow

maybe the reason why all the doors are closed / is so you can open one that leads you to the perfect road 
like a lightning bolt / your heart will glow / and when it's time you'll know

when i was in the usa i didn't see the fourth of july fireworks {there was a burn ban in texas due to the severe drought and fire hazard} but i was there for memorial day. and seeing those fireworks was gooseflesh-sublime.

i realised that these words are not just for angst-filled, lost teenagers who cry at katy perry concerts. these lyrics are for me, right now. and not just for 20 mins on the treadmill.

play it loud.

boom! boom! boom! even brighter than the moon, moon, moon.

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my wonderfully talented friend meg {whom i love and miss dearly} told me about the coolest site pinterest.com. i can't stop looking at the amazing and inspiring things on the pin board and am waiting for my invitation to be approved to have my own pin board. oh if i were cool enough. in the meantime i am collecting things i love and this is one:

gotta love them rolling stones 

x

this is your (my) life

this is my new adopted manifesto. love it love it love it!

i love the whole holstee ethos: kickass products, sustainably made, with a social impact. check out what they do here.

love’s confusing joy

i’ve come across some really rad quotes by the poet rumi, who lived in 13th-century persia, known as the poet of love. i first heard a quote by him in a movie {not that academic, i know} that went something like this “all we really want is love’s confusing joy”. he’s pretty legit. and i discovered that mr david crowder also takes inspiration from his works, you may recognise these words…

dance, when you’re broken open.
dance, if you’ve torn the bandage off.
dance in the middle of the fighting.
dance in your blood.
dance, when you’re perfectly free.

or maybe this…

that which GOD said to the rose,
and caused it to laugh in full-blown beauty,
he said to my heart,
and made it a hundred times more beautiful.
what was whispered to the rose
to break it open
last night
was whispered to my heart.

but i especially liked this:

love is reckless; not reason.
reason seeks a profit.
having died of self-interest,
love risks everything and asks for nothing.

x

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"africa can stun you in an instant. it can throw floods and drought and disease at you, sometimes all at the same time. in the next moment, it will tease you with its magnificent beauty, so even if you don't forget, you can find a way to forgive. ultimately, it keeps you coming back for more."

{jacqueline novogratz, the blue sweater}

the stolen heart

i bought a beautiful book a while ago called "classic love poems" hoping i could become more cultured and i started reading it last night. all the great poets are there…marlowe, byron, shakespeare, keats, yeats and wordsworth. i came across "the stolen heart" by john suckling and it really touched my heart...

"but love is such a mystery,
i cannot find it out;
for when i think i'm best resolved
i then am most in doubt"

{the stolen heart -- sir john suckling}

x

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i love donald miller. i was catching up on his blog today and came across this post entitled the joy of getting older:

"i wish i could go back and talk to myself when i was twenty. i'd say to myself "listen, don't worry about the things you've been worrying about. everything is going to work out great." and i'd likely clarify with myself that "in the future i get everything i need?" and i'd say back to myself, "no, you just realise you didn't need it. and that's even better."

{donald miller}

x

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i love this quote...

"how monotonous the sounds of the forest would be if the music came only from the top ten birds."

{dan bennett}