Themes from The Count of Monte Cristo

Musicals are media because they actors on stage are sending a message to the audience and we each receive it. Something I think is interesting though is the fact that we can all receive different messages based on what we're paying attention to. I went to The Count of Monte Cristo the musical this weekend and it was fantastic. The actors and actresses were wonderful and their singing was beautiful. I was impressed by the production team as well, with all the simple yet creative sets. The theme of whole musical seems to be revenge. Now that's not a very good theme if that's really what you're going for. But obviously as the end the main character realizes he doesn't want revenge and he should have listened to the old man in the prison in the first place. So its not really til the very end of the story when you learn the lesson that forgiveness is the best lesson to learn, and part of me hopes that no one left the play 5 minutes early or else they might not have gotten that.

On the other hand, maybe it's genius to show someone's whole life struggle to get revenge and then show that he changed his heart at the end when he still had a long life ahead of him (he's only in his 40's probably). I guess that's what the Atonement is all about right? That even if we've lived a life unworthily, we can change any time with Christ's help. It might take a long time, especially if we've committed larger sins, but Christ will forgive all those who come unto him.

Feel-Good Movies

I'm one of those people who loves "feel good" movies. I don't know why, but I like being happy while I watch movies...crazy, I know. Yesterday my husband and I watched The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.

It just makes me happy because the music is calming and the scenery is gorgeous and the story line is genius! He travels to some beautiful places and it makes me feel like I can go accomplish anything. Walter doesn't think he's anybody at the beginning of the movie; I've felt like that before...sometimes I still feel like that. But he just goes looking for what he needs and he finds that he really is a great person, just the way he is. He likes himself and he is proud of himself. He also realizes that he can be himself and people will like him, like when he shares his skateboarding talent with Cheryl's son. Sure he's a little awkward while talking to the girl he likes, but so are you! We all get awkward when we don't know what to say, but that's ok.

We aren't meant to be perfect. I believe that very strongly. We would have no reason to use the Atonement if we weren't inadequate. But we ARE amazing. We just have to realize who we are: we are God's children with great potential. 

I'm here!...yeah but are you present?

There's a difference between being in a room with a group of people talking and laughing and building relationships and being in a room with a group of people while everyone is looking at their phones. It doesn't matter what they're doing, scrolling through Facebook, checking their email, playing a game, it doesn't count as being social. I have had multiple experiences with this the past couple of weeks with family and friends. I think they just don't realize that what they're doing is slowly destroying relationships. When I'm sitting talking with people and they pull out their phone the message I get is:

 "you are boring me. Facebook is more entertaining", 

or "I don't really care about getting to know you better, so I'm just going to play a game." 

I've actually tried telling people who I love to get off their phones so they know how I feel, but all they say is "I'm here." Yeah your body is sitting on the couch next to me but you are not here with me.

I miss you...

Have you seen this video that has been going around? This girl doesn't have a phone and she's in multiple situations where everyone else is on theirs and she's obviously all left out. Why don't these videos work? Why don't people realize that they are the people in those videos who are ruining relationships and losing track of what's really important!?