I've decided to slightly change the format of this blog. I'll still write about my faith, my job, what I'm reading and what I'm listening to, but my blog won't be compartmentalized so neatly...because my real life isn't! Those areas of my life naturally flow into each other, and I want my blog to reflect that. I will plan to update once a week, usually on Monday mornings. I want it to be the sort of blog you can read while drinking your morning coffee...short and sweet, and hopefully I'll leave you with some inspiration as you begin your week.

Last week, I watched a film that stayed with me. It's called The Boy In The Striped Pajamas. I sort of stumbled onto the movie on Netlix. Prior to watching it, I had a vivid dream about children fighting to survive during WWII in abandoned canal houses in Amsterdam. It was such an exciting dream...it had me on the edge of my seat! It was a story of courage, survival, and the healing that comes through sacrificial love. At the end of the dream, I realized that it was the plot of a novel...I wouldn't even know where to begin writing a novel, but maybe someday I'll give it a try!

Anyway, right from the start, The Boy In The Striped Pajamas felt like a natural extension of the dream I had. It's the story of Bruno, an 8-year-old German boy, who befriends Schmuel, an 8-year-old Jewish boy in the concentration camp of which Bruno's father is the director. Bruno's simple kindness to Schmuel gives him hope and sustains him in a hopeless situation. If you don't want to know what happens, stop reading now!

At the end of the film, Bruno discovers some loose dirt by the fence around the concentration camp. He decides to break into the camp and help Schmuel find his missing father. He is afraid, but he knows he can't help Schmuel unless he goes inside the camp. Meanwhile, Bruno's father has ordered that all the prisoners be sent to the gas chambers...not knowing that his own son is inside the camp. I was so moved by the way that Bruno, in his simple faith, was willing to risk everything to help his friend. This film, though deeply upsetting to me, reminded me that prejudice and hatred lead to emptiness and loss...but also that a simple act of kindness can have ramifications we can't even imagine.

Here is a music video from the movie (with a song that oddly fits, Iridescent by Linkin Park)

So...on a lighter note!

During workout sessions over the last week, I've been focusing on the word "impossible." I am so inspired by watching my clients do what they used to think was impossible! What if "impossible" became your favorite word...?? What could you do, and how would your life change? What is standing in your way? I was inspired recently by a blog called Free To Be Athlete (www.freetobeathlete.com) It's the story of a woman, Dominique, who started out running only a few minutes at a time, and who is now training for an Ironman Triathlon. What seems impossible to you? What if you thought of that word in a new way...? 

My favorite exercise last week was the good old-fashioned mountain climber: 

Here it is being performed by Jillian Michaels...I learned the exercise from her. :) 

The mountain climber seems to be a fitting metaphor...what mountains are waiting for you to conquer them? What's stopping you? Here's a thought to end with, words of Jesus from Matthew 17:20:

"...Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."