Sandra Bullock's latest flick, a heartwarming, tear-jerker.

We went and saw the movie The Blind Side last night and man… I was failing miserably at holding back tears the entire show. I found it extremely moving, touching, and it really hit home.  Many people might tell you it is about an uneducated, black, homeless kid who was taken in by a white family, taught football, tutored, and eventually went pro in the NFL, but that is not accurate.  The movie is really about a woman that reaches out, does the right thing, and makes a huge difference in a young man’s life.  A truly inspiring story and for me, personally moving.

As we were driving home I realized why I was so moved by this film… (keep reading –>)

…the character Sandra Bullock played in the Blind Side movie reminded me of my wife Ashley, not only are they both attractive, strong-willed, and intelligent, but they both decided to love kids that were not their own.

Ashley took two little girls in to her life, that weren’t hers and chose to love them and be a mother to them.  She didn’t have to.  No one sees how difficult it has been for her, dealing with my ex-wife’s anger, defensiveness, and desire to be the only mom in their lives.  She has dealt with hatred.  She has even been yelled at and called a “little hussy” to her face by my ex-mother-in law (don’t worry, apologies have been made).   Ashley took the high road and gave gifts, gas money, cards, etc. to my ex-wife, seeking to create a peaceful environment, only to have her motives questioned and attacked.  Ashley was also, unjustly, the primary target of attack in legal custody battles and falsely slandered and painted as the selfish, meddling stepmother to a judge.

Ashley was the one that suggested we should to move to Burley.  She felt we needed to be closer to the girls.  She felt the girls needed it and she knew I needed it.  We had always wanted to be closer to the girls.  We just considered a move to Burley as being financially unsustainable, but we finally had the means to make such a move work, and so we did it.  Only God knows what rumors and stories had been said to people about her before moving here.  Many women would have given up, or perhaps decided to just be a distant stepmother.  She tearfully left all of her family behind in California because she wanted to make a difference in two little girls lives.

Ashley could have just been my wife, she could have been one of the evil stepmothers you see in movies, or that are spoken of in many classic children’s stories.  These are, in my opinion women that took the easy route, guarded their hearts and then began to resent the relationship their man has with their kids.  Ashley however, has chosen to stay open and vulnerable and loving toward the girls, be a mother to them, and love them, in spite of all the challenges.

During one of our trips to Burley to visit the girls, before moving here. The girls used to call this place "Dad's Hotel."

The girls love her.  She has always planned crafty projects to do with them and I can’t even get them to go to sleep unless they get a kiss goodnight from “Mom.”

As Ashley and I were driving back from the theater, I expressed to her that she was just as amazing as the mother in the movie.  I tearfully expressed my gratitude for her loving me and my two precious daughters.  She sat quiet for a while and then revealed she came away from the movie feeling like she wasn’t doing enough service or making a big enough difference in the world.  No, the girls weren’t homeless, and no, they won’t become professional football players, and our story will likely never become a movie, but the sacrifices Ashley has made and the love she has given is just as big and just as important.  Not only has she greatly impacted two little girls, but she also took a broken, divorced, shell-of-a-man, and believed in him and loved him, and that is what makes Ashley great, in anyone’s eyes.  How can you not love such a woman?

Enjoyed this article?  Seen the movie?  Make comments!  Know Ashley?  Please say something about her below and I’ll make her read it.

Me, getting back to nature in my small town by the river... look at the natural instincts coming through... intense!

I recently moved from one of the biggest metropolitan areas in the world, West Los Angeles, to a small town of roughly 9,000, Burley, Idaho.  I grew up in a Southern California suburb, which is somewhere in between, so I have a good perspective of the differences and advantages of each.  Most of our friends thought we would hate it or go crazy, but we have really enjoyed it.  Read on to find out why!

Warning: Be careful reading this, you just might notice yourself imagining the wonderful life that small towns can bring and find yourself craving small-town living!

Small towns are easily compared to a placid pond with a smooth surface.  It is largely undisturbed, conservative, and slow to change.  Big cities are much like the ocean, lots of change, movement, and such.  Imagine if you threw a small pebble into a placid pond.  It would create some ripples and be quite noticeable.  If you threw a boulder into the ocean no one would even notice a change to the wavy waters found there.  This sums up the differences between the impact you have in small towns versus large cities.

You can do small things in small towns and they have more impact and effect than seemingly large things you can do in large cities.  Now if you are planning to do lots of shady things then you are better off in a large city.

I am a fan of lists (they are easier to read), so here is my list of the benefits of small town living:

• Reputation is king – in a small town your reputation is infinitely more important in business and in personal life.  It is much more likely that the good or the bad that you do, will spread.
• Greater impact – Remember the pebble?  If your desire is to do good or evil you can have a more dramatic impact in a small town.  This means more of the reward you are seeking.
• Your name matters – Some family names have been around in the area a long time.  Businesses are usually named after them.  Here we have Ramsey’s heating and Electric, Redder’s Showcase, and several others.  Less people means your name has greater meaning and word about you travels much faster.
• Big Fish in a small pond – If you have a particular skill or talent it is much easier to be one of the best in a small town.  Here my wife and I are starring leads in the local musical, I have a leading website design business, and people respect me as a marketing and business expert… and we have been here less than a year!
• Honesty and integrity matters – You won’t be in business long if you establish a reputation for being shady or a jerk.  Even some businesses in small towns do not realize this or they deal largely with clients out of the area so they can get away with it, but most people want to have a good name and small towns have a higher level of accountability.  There are less secrets in small towns.
• Slower pace - Who could argue that the high pace of city living brings lower stress and is better for your health?  People have time for people in small towns.
• Local loyalty - Small towns are loyal to local businesses, to their state, and to their country.  They are grateful for the good they have.
• Recession proof – Because many small towns are highly loyal to local businesses, this makes them somewhat recession proof.  Locals are able to do business with each other and they are often able to run businesses for a lower cost and sell goods and services to larger cities outside the area, which brings more money into the local economy.  Unless the local economy is linked directly to a major company, small towns may be the last areas to feel any effects of a recession and are able to weather it much easier.  I have worked with several people starting small businesses during, what the news keeps trying to sell as, the worst recession in recent years.
• People look you in the eye – In the The Definitive Book of Body Language they suggest that this is positive in several ways.  In larger areas this is avoided as confrontational or because it may mean you will have to communicate with someone, which is too time consuming considering the large number of people you cross.
• People take time to talk – People have time for people, and people are more important than things.
• Family matters – Family is important in small towns and family values are a priority.  Even the musical I am in currently, has been altered to exclude some of the racism and swear words, because that is what the community expects.  Small towns are these extremely healthy bubbles for children to grow up in, like little garden’s of eden for plants.  Don’t worry they have plenty of time to be corrupted later once they’ve grown their tender roots and leaves and know who they are, without being poisoned as they grow.
• Greater focus on nature and the outdoors – I believe that the greater the disconnect we have from nature the worse our health gets and the less connected we feel to things.  One way to connect with nature is pets.  Other ways include enjoying the great outdoors.  There is something soothing about the drive out to Oakley or Twin Falls and seeing nothing but fields or untamed land.
• Cleaner air – This is debatable due to the machinery, lower smog standards, and crop-dusting, and livestock, but overall the air is clearer here, there are less vehicles, and the sky is actually blue.  Very different from Los Angeles.
• Lower cost of living – More bang for your buck is a great thing!  If you can pull in big city pay by reaching out to areas outside your small town, then small town living becomes luxury living!
• Less bums - It is really unlikely to see a “veteran” with a sign asking for money or food, they go to where there are a lot more people… in a small town their jig would be up in a few days since everyone would know they have no intention of getting off the street and just want to live off of handouts.
• Less superficial and more real – Less focus on personal appearance could be good or bad, but after seeing all the old ladies in Los Angeles that look the same due to excessive plastic surgery, I feel it is a good thing.  Los Angeles has models and actors and actresses and sexy people all over the place… it is sort of weird.  I miss the eye candy humans, but I really love how beautiful and kind the people are on the inside, here in the small town.  It really is surprising and makes me feel right at home.  Research suggests friendships are a huge key to health and happiness and small towns feel like home.
• More independence – There is a higher percentage of small business owners since large companies tend to gravitate toward larger populations.  This means here are more business owners.  Business owners tend to have initiative and be self starters. This seems to translate into a community that values a good days work and values time.

If you came from a small town you are probably missing it right now.  If you are crazy and stressed in a big city or even a suburb of a big city, then you may be wishing for some small-town living.

Come from a small town?  Lived in a small town?  Live in one currently?  What goodness have you noticed about small towns?  Let everyone know in the comments…

The great author of this blog with died black hair and cool goatie (see my next blog entry).

I am great! Okay, I admit, it may or may not be true… and I agree that I may not be at the caliber of Gandhi, Jesus, Buddha, etc.  Sure they were obviously great.  I also know you will use your power of judgment to decide, regardless of what I suggest, and that you likely assume most people are not great and doubt that this blog is great, but let me present an extremely persuasive argument.

So what could I write to convince you that 1) I am an amazing person, that 2) you really want to be friends with me, and that 3) you want to read every blog entry I write, subscribe to my blog, and invite me to do cool stuff with you?  Here goes…

I just might be great!

You may have met or read about someone that you felt is great.  Perhaps they truly inspired you.  I may or may not be just like that person – you will only know if you get to know me (which you can do by reading this blog).  Regardless, notice how great it feels to read the stuff I write (shameless persuasion tactic).

They did, you can (and so can I)!

If anyone was ever great, then you can be great.  If any man can do something, then you can do it.  It might be difficult, but it is not impossible.  Also, if you wish to be great, you won’t get there by running tapes in your head that tell yourself you are not great… if you give in to these messages and believe them then you will certainly become the “not great” thing you spent so much time convincing yourself and others that you were.  Being great is our destiny if you choose it to be…

Who’s choice is it?

Also, if you believe in affirmations, have watched “The Secret,” or believe that if you treat a person as if they are great then they will become great, then why not tell yourself you are great?  Isn’t it your decision?  God gave you the ability to make choices so why not choose to be great?

Now that you are great… So am I

I am sure by now you agree that you are great and that anyone can be great… I am great as well… and if I am great then so is my blog because greatness comes from greatness.  If you do not feel you are great this is a sad thing.  Maybe you can at least agree that everyone should be great.  If not you then who?  Why not me?  So even if you are not great I can be.  Wouldn’t it be great if everyone believed they were great and everyone strives to live a great life?

Less convincing arguments as to my greatness:

Scott is great?

Several people say “Great Scott!” and no one even knows who he is!  You can actually get to know me – how great is that?  Also, if you are not one who says that phrase, why not start saying “Great Jason!” when you are excited?  It would at least get others’ attention by interrupting an old pattern.  When they look strangely at you tell them it’s a guy you actually know rather than the Scott everyone else is praising.

Tony the Tiger set the bar extremely low

Frosted flakes are great. If those can be great, then why not me?  I mean isn’t Total or Wheaties greater than a Frosted Flake in nutritional value?  Or on the merits of taste alone, several deserts are better than a bowl of Frosted Flakes.

Jesus, Sparrows, and Children

Really… certainly a sparrow is greater than a sugary flake and the great sage Jesus (most would concur that he was great) said man is greater than a sparrow… on the same note a child is probably greater than me according to the same source, but not many of them can blog so as far as blogging goes I may be greater than a little child and my wife would affirm I can be extremely childish if I choose to be.

Un-Great Britain?

Many still refer to a certain geographical area on this planet as “Great Britain.”  Have you ever called it that?  I bet you have at least once and I also bet you never checked to see if it qualified as great.  Maybe it is “un-great?”  Have you been there or seen it?  If you call call it great without fact checking, then why not call me great?  And since it is simply geographic, you can easily designate a small spot in your backyard, maybe an unused corner, as Great Jason – a small portion of land in honor of me and how great I am.  Tiny signs that say “Welcome to Great Jason – www.jasonisgreat.com” can easily be made out of a post-it or 3×5 card attached to a popsicle stick and placed in that great corner.  If you do this please send me pictures to share here.

Webster at Large

Let’s look at a definition according to Webster.  One is “notably large in size.”  Since size and “largeness” is relative, then so is greatness.  I am much larger than ants… so I am great.

So now that you are extremely convinced.  Please subscribe, share, and visit often!

Have any other compelling arguments I should add?  Images or stories of your Great Jason?

Let me know in the comments.