Strong Words, Softly Spoken

Why is it that I always have all these great idea for blog posts and then I sit down to write and suddenly can’t remember a single thing I wanted to say?

I’m going to have to take a cue from Alex and start writing on my hand.

I’m so happy to have been able to witness this.

And my favorite:

I’ve been horrible about writing here lately. I promised myself that I was going to make this more of a regular thing and every time I think about writing a post I find some reason to put it off until tomorrow. Story of my life…

Thursday night we watched The Wrestler and Revolutionary Road. The Wrestler was a great film. Mickey Roarke did a fantastic job in it. But Revolutionary Road spoke to me. I can’t say that I necessarily found either Kate Winslet or Leonardo DiCaprio’s performances to be as astounding as they’re being hyped to be, but the film itself is a pretty big eye opener. Settling is a scary thought for dreamers…and I am a dreamer. Here you’ve got 2 characters: April, the dreamer who is so terrified of settling for less than what she’s always dreamed of and would do practically anything to not be stuck in a mundane life…and Frank, who really believes he’s a dreamer, but finds himself having a hard time turning down things that are comfortable and familiar. What’s so scary about this is that I found myself relating to both of them. And I think anyone could relate to both of them to some extent. It’s so easy to really want to have everything in life and long for it and wish for it and then never truly go for it because you feel safe and secure where you currently are. You start thinking “oh well, this isn’t really so bad…” And next thing you know…you’re a Frank Wheeler.

I don’t want to be a Frank Wheeler. I don’t want to be an April Wheeler either (I’ll refrain from saying why, so I don’t ruin the movie for anyone), but I’m ready to find that happy medium. Now if only there were directions…

We also saw The Reader this week…another Kate Winslet film. I think the more I distance myself from it, the more I realize I did like it. I left thinking it was ok, but there were some things I couldn’t really connect with, but I think I liked it a little more than I originally thought. It’s worth checking out for anyone who was thinking about seeing it.

I AM going to write more here. I AM! Someone needs to hold me accountable!

SO EXCITED FOR NEXT TUESDAY!

Next Tuesday, Barack Obama will be sworn in as our 44th President. On this historic occasion, PARADE asked the President-elect, who is also a devoted family man, to get personal and tell us what he wants for his children. Here, he shares his letter to them.

Dear Malia and Sasha,

I know that you’ve both had a lot of fun these last two years on the campaign trail, going to picnics and parades and state fairs, eating all sorts of junk food your mother and I probably shouldn’t have let you have. But I also know that it hasn’t always been easy for you and Mom, and that as excited as you both are about that new puppy, it doesn’t make up for all the time we’ve been apart. I know how much I’ve missed these past two years, and today I want to tell you a little more about why I decided to take our family on this journey.

When I was a young man, I thought life was all about me-about how I’d make my way in the world, become successful, and get the things I want. But then the two of you came into my world with all your curiosity and mischief and those smiles that never fail to fill my heart and light up my day. And suddenly, all my big plans for myself didn’t seem so important anymore. I soon found that the greatest joy in my life was the joy I saw in yours. And I realized that my own life wouldn’t count for much unless I was able to ensure that you had every opportunity for happiness and fulfillment in yours. In the end, girls, that’s why I ran for President: because of what I want for you and for every child in this nation.

I want all our children to go to schools worthy of their potential-schools that challenge them, inspire them, and instill in them a sense of wonder about the world around them. I want them to have the chance to go to college-even if their parents aren’t rich. And I want them to get good jobs: jobs that pay well and give them benefits like health care, jobs that let them spend time with their own kids and retire with dignity.

I want us to push the boundaries of discovery so that you’ll live to see new technologies and inventions that improve our lives and make our planet cleaner and safer. And I want us to push our own human boundaries to reach beyond the divides of race and region, gender and religion that keep us from seeing the best in each other.

Sometimes we have to send our young men and women into war and other dangerous situations to protect our country-but when we do, I want to make sure that it is only for a very good reason, that we try our best to settle our differences with others peacefully, and that we do everything possible to keep our servicemen and women safe. And I want every child to understand that the blessings these brave Americans fight for are not free-that with the great privilege of being a citizen of this nation comes great responsibility.

That was the lesson your grandmother tried to teach me when I was your age, reading me the opening lines of the Declaration of Independence and telling me about the men and women who marched for equality because they believed those words put to paper two centuries ago should mean something.

She helped me understand that America is great not because it is perfect but because it can always be made better-and that the unfinished work of perfecting our union falls to each of us. It’s a charge we pass on to our children, coming closer with each new generation to what we know America should be.

I hope both of you will take up that work, righting the wrongs that you see and working to give others the chances you’ve had. Not just because you have an obligation to give something back to this country that has given our family so much-although you do have that obligation. But because you have an obligation to yourself. Because it is only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you will realize your true potential.

These are the things I want for you-to grow up in a world with no limits on your dreams and no achievements beyond your reach, and to grow into compassionate, committed women who will help build that world. And I want every child to have the same chances to learn and dream and grow and thrive that you girls have. That’s why I’ve taken our family on this great adventure.

I am so proud of both of you. I love you more than you can ever know. And I am grateful every day for your patience, poise, grace, and humor as we prepare to start our new life together in the White House.

Love, Dad

Source: http://www.parade.com/new…tter-to-my-daughters.html

Well, 2008 is over. Hello, 2009! Hope you’re a gracious host.

It’s Saturday, January 3 and I’m sitting at home sick for the first time this season. This pretty much blows. I don’t have the energy to do anything but I can’t seem to shake the feeling of guilt I have for sitting around and doing nothing. I should be cleaning. I should be putting up Christmas decorations. I should be working on something or being productive in some way but when your head feels like it’s being crushed by a bulldozer, it’s hard to find the motivation. But this damn guilt is still lingering.

I suppose this is the post where I should talk about my resolutions for 2009. The thing is, I don’t really do the resolution thing. Why bother when there’s a 99% chance I won’t keep them? Regardless, it is strange how we all sit around at the end of each year and look back and say “wow I didn’t really do anything I intended to do. But next year….next year will be different.” To all of you who have made resolutions, I raise my glass and say “here’s to following through this time.”

What did I actually do in 2008? I found and met a half brother. Talk about a life-changing experience. It caused me to look at myself and my life and where I come from in ways I’ve never had to before. I visited the love of my life, New York City, for the 2nd time and saw my second play on Broadway. I saw 52 films in the theater. I read many books. I lost a friend. I made a few new ones. I realized who I could count on…and who I could not. And I learned a little each day how to let people in and depend on someone other than myself. Times were great and times were hard. And now the slate has been wiped clean and we all begin anew.

So again, 2009, I hope you’re a gracious host. I have a feeling the next 6 months are going to be especially difficult…so many life decisions to be made in such a short amount of time. I hope to make the right decisions for the right reasons. And I hope that at the end of 2009 I can look back and say “wow I actually DID do what I intended.” And I hope you all can say the same.