http://monicamatthews.com/blog.html Monica Matthews: Blog Jannis' PHPRss class - http://www.jannis.to/ Fri, 18 May 2012 21:31:33 -0700 http://monicamatthews.com/blog.html/surface_life
/For some, it makes them feel as if they have been violated/probed if you will, past the surface level of their skin. It's scary for several reasons I believe. To reply with something other than the expected "fine" could possibly implicate the one being asked in actually being human. Some are simply not comfy being human, yet silently die inside waiting for someone to reach in and ask that simple question and really care about the response. It also begs the question of how many of us are too scared to ask ourselves that question? Seriously. Our feelings have either become the boogey man under the bed or evil dictators of our existence.

Admittedly, it is a rather daunting prospect to answer that question honestly at times..depending upon who's asking. I think this is where discernment comes in. I have definitely run into my share of wolves through this process and realize that some people ask with their own agenda at work, others really don't want another answer than "fine".

I've also learned that while men in general, will tell you they are tired of running into women they end up having to save, the truth is, every boy wants to save the damsel, yet I would sit with an obvious awe inspired look if someone actually asked me how I was and genuinenly cared for the answer. Hum...]]> http://monicamatthews.com/blog.html/surface_life Thu, 27 Jan 2011 11:15:33 -0800 LOVE IS....The Song Of The Heart... - Monica Matthews - Blog http://monicamatthews.com/blog.html/run_your_race_baby
Busy peeling back the layers of my own mask lately, this movie hit a genuine and deep nerve inside of me. I managed to keep it all together until one moment in the story when Lucien, the flamboyantly, rejected, burned out, yet curiously capable horse trainer takes all the clippings from races he has lost and throws them into a cup and sets them ablaze. The camera pans to one title that reads... Lucien, loses again"...he has managed to keep the headline of every race he LOST. Interesting. Moving past his bitterness and rejection, he seized the opportunity and just went for it. And won. He ran his race. And in that moment, I ran with him. Tears sprung from my eyes as I thought of all the clippings from my own life I could and should burn. I was instantly empowered to light the damn things on fire and run my own race.

For those that have not seen this film, it's hard to write what I want to here and not give some pretty key factors away, so if you intend on seeing it, you should exit this blog NOW.

As for Secretariat, this magnificent creation as swift as moving sands... he moved my heart beyond the complacency and fear of "what if". This beast of passion, speed, and heart did what he was born to do... run. Not only does he break his own mold at story's end, he kills it, nails it, sets his world on fire without a care in the world.

It ocurred to me during our post flick discussion, that this horse not only had the "makings" of a winner, but he had people that believed in him.
Those that took time to train him, help him grow, encourage him with discipline and love. They cared for him and gave him every opportunity to run his race and in the end, run away with a title like never before.

I couldn't help but think of how many people, champions, are sitting in the field of life starving. Parched in spirit and heart because no one ever told them they could do it. No one ever held their hand in the muck and mire of their life and said, "it's okay baby... let's pick up right here and try again" or " get your ass back on the track, we got work to do because you were born to do it"...

As a parent, I have always known one of my important "jobs" in her life is to set the standard for her, her hope, her inspiration and belief in herself and others. In our home, that begins with God because I simply can't do it all and putting her trust in others is not wise. However, we have been blessed with a circle of people that cheer for her, show up to every race and win or lose, encourage, inspire, instruct her to continue on. I am reminded of those in my life that have done the same. But for those of us that got the cheering section later in life, sometimes it's hard to get back on that track.

We should never doubt the power we have to teach one another, share, inspire, encourage... you just don't know whose race you are influencing in doing so. As I take the clippings from my life that read.. "Monica loses again" and shoving them into a cup to set ablaze, I'm looking forward to stepping on the track of life with a hopeful expectation that the latter will be greater than the former.

Run your race baby...]]> http://monicamatthews.com/blog.html/run_your_race_baby Thu, 18 Nov 2010 18:12:30 -0800 LOVE IS....The Song Of The Heart... - Monica Matthews - Blog http://monicamatthews.com/blog.html/winter
As winter looms over the land and the search for warmth becomes ever more prevalent, may be not lose sight of something so basic to our survival. Remembering that even in the frozen ground lies a rose that will emerge in the sunlight of a new dawn. May that be your heart. And mine.]]> http://monicamatthews.com/blog.html/winter Wed, 03 Nov 2010 07:14:29 -0700 LOVE IS....The Song Of The Heart... - Monica Matthews - Blog http://monicamatthews.com/blog.html/inspiration http://monicamatthews.com/blog.html/inspiration Fri, 27 Aug 2010 18:32:39 -0700 LOVE IS....The Song Of The Heart... - Monica Matthews - Blog http://monicamatthews.com/blog.html/new_beginnings http://monicamatthews.com/blog.html/new_beginnings Sat, 14 Aug 2010 22:18:36 -0700 LOVE IS....The Song Of The Heart... - Monica Matthews - Blog