Inspirational Movie Night – Harry Potter

This month my inspiration for the movie feature came from this magazine cover.

I encourage you this month to check out any of the Harry Potter movies. When you suspend belief, even for just the time of a movie, it feeds your SOUL. I mean, why can’t there be a school for magic? I’m just an average muggle. How do I know that Hogworts doesn’t exist?

Let the magic of the Harry Potter movies inspire you to create some magic of your own. And while you are thanking Harry, also send a big shout out to Harry’s creator, author, J. K. Rowling.

Feed Your SOUL Music – Hold On

The Canadian trio, Triumph, in 1979 released a song called “Hold On.” Once my husband shared the lyrics with me, I knew I needed to feature it on SOUL. Here is the first verse of the song:

Music holds the secret

To know it can make you whole

It’s not just a game of notes

It’s the sounds inside your soul

Wow. That is exactly why I write this montly feature. I believe that music feeds the soul. A good song, if you let it, will lift you up and move through your body.

Can’t you feel the magic?

Feel it everywhere

Can’t you hear the music?

There’s something in the air

There’s a celebration

Deep within a song

Celebrate this feeling

You know it can’t be wrong

Hold on, hold on to your dreams

Hold on, even though it seems

Everyone around you has their little schemes

Listen to your heart and hold on to your dreams

Hold on, people. Hold on.

Inspirational Movie Night – The King's Speech

The King’s Speech, released in December 2010, is based on the true story of King George VI and his speech impediment. Imagine the pressure. You are the King, you are the voice of the people and you stutter.

King George VI was fortunate to find a speech therapist, Lionel Logue, whose eccentric techniques helps the King find his voice.

While researching this blog post, I found this great quote from Stephen R. Covey;

“One word expresses the pathway to greatness: voice. Those on this path find their voice and inspire others to find theirs. The rest never do.”

I hope this movie and SOUL inspire you to find your voice.

Karen

SoulMate Update - Michael J. Chase

On May 14th, 2011, our very own, Michael J. Chase of The Kindness Center, was a speaker at the I Can Do It Conference in Toronto, Canada. This conference is run by Hay House, which is the pinnacle in the self-empowerment field. So it is no stretch to say that Michael was now playing in the big leagues.

In his book, am I being kind, Michael has a chapter entitled "From Toll House to Hay House." This chapter describes how this all happened. How he got called up from the minor leagues. Michael was a star in his own back yard. He had done the work, lived his mission and was ready for the call.

I was lucky enough, thanks to free tickets from Cheryl Richardson, to be in the audience for Michael's first at bat. And let me tell you my friends, he hit it out of the park.

There were tears and laughter. An "I get it," looks on peoples faces. Lots of note taking and lots of books purchased!

It was so special for me to be there. You see I was there at the Movers & Shakers event where Michael was discovered by Hay House. The scouting team saw him and scooped him up. Not because he was lucky to be at the right place at the right time, though he was. It was because he had done the work. He was prepared. There's a great quote I heard Sting say it goes something like this; "The first time you can be lucky, then you must be prepared."

How many of us when we think about our goals and dreams fantasize about being discovered? We sit in front of our computers and say someday an agent will represent me and sell my book, but what have you written? You make a beautiful art and dream of how someone will pay big bucks for it, but it still sits in your basement never seeing the light of day.

Don't get me wrong, dreaming is great. We need to use our imagination to help formulate our dreams, but don't stop there. Execute those dreams. Break them down. Take small steps.

It gave me such hope to see Michael up there on stage. I was at the Movers & Shakers conference with Michael and look what happened to him! I know I'm not ready for the big leagues yet, but I'm gonna do the work so I will be ready when I get the call.

Feed Your SOUL,

Karen C. Auld

Founder

Feed Your SOUL Music – You Learn

This is a song I love to sing LOUD!!! “You Learn,” by Alanis Morissette reminds us that we need to experience those uncomfortable times of life. The lyrics are so good, I’ve posted the whole song.

I, recommend getting your heart trampled on to anyone, yeah

I, recommend walking around naked in your living room, yeah

Swallow it down (what a jagged little pill)

It feels so good (swimming in your stomach)

Wait until the dust settles

1-You live you learn, you love you learn

You cry you learn, you lose you learn

You bleed you learn, you scream you learn

I, recommend biting off more than you can chew to anyone

I certainly do

I, recommend sticking your foot in your mouth at any time

Feel free

Throw it down (the caution blocks you from the wind)

Hold it up (to the rays)

You wait and see when the smoke clears

(repeat 1)

I, I, oh, oh

Wear it out (the way a three-year-old would do)

Melt it down (you're gonna have to eventually, anyway)

The fire trucks are coming up around the bend

(rpt 1)

You grieve you learn, you choke you learn

You laugh you learn, you choose you learn

You pray you learn, you ask you learn

You live you learn

I love the symbolism of the “jagged little pill.” Don’t you just know what it would feel like if If you swallowed a pill like that? You would feel it going through your mouth, throat, stomach, etc. Experiencing the events Alanis sings about, getting your heart broken, stretching yourself, can be catalysts in our lives. But you have to feel them like that little pill. Feel all the emotions in your body. Then we learn.

So, I recommend blasting this tune in the car, to everyone. I certainly do!

Inspirational Movie Night – Parenthood

Mother’s day is here and to honor all you great moms out there I thought this month I would pick a movie that featured some wise and inspirational moms. So I chose “Parenthood,” starring Steve Martin, as Gil Buckman. Gil is a worry wort who stresses when things don’t go as planned. Strange choice you may be thinking with the lead being a male, but keep reading.

We all know life can get messy at times, but the mothers in this movie always seem to be able to see through the mess and revel in its imperfections. They find a way to not only get through the day’s struggles but to use those struggles to benefit of their kids.

In one pivitol scene of the movie, chaos is reigning in the Buckman househould. In the midst of this chaos, the Great Grandmother of the family tells Gil a story about how she loved riding rollercoasters when she was young. She vividly describes the thrill of going up and down in a rollercoaster-thinking what a thrill it is to be both frightened and invigorated at the same time. At the time of her sweet sollioquy, Gil thinks she nuts. Can’t she see the craziness that is surrounding him?

The movie has great great side stories that move the family in all different directions. Many highs and lows. Twist and turns. Happy and sad.

But in the end Gil realizes the reason for the Great Grandmother’s story. Its the highs and lows-the ups and downs that makes life exciting and gives us opportunity to be invigorated by its power and live in its joy. Those are the times that feed your SOUL.

Feed Your SOUL Music - Firework

When I first really listened to this song, “Firework,” performed by Katy Perry off of her Teenage Dream album, it brought tears to my eyes. Here’s the first verse and chorus:

Do you ever feel like a plastic bag

Drifting throught the wind

Wanting to start again

Do you ever feel, feel so paper thin

Like a house of cards

One blow from caving in

Do you ever feel already buried deep

Six feet under scream

But no one seems to hear a thing

Do you know that there's still a chance for you

Cause 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

Cause baby you're a firework

Come on show 'em what you're worth

Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"

As you shoot across the sky-y-y

Baby you're a firework

Come on let your colors burst

Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"

You're gunna leave 'em fallin' down-own-own

I so believe in the words of this song. We all have that spark. We just have to let it burst into its brilliance.

Turn this one up and belt it out. Singing this song is going to help you find that spark and maybe even ignite it.