Let's Get Uncomfortable.
Last night I saw Slum Dog Millionaire. (yes, on a weeknight at 9:45. it was heavenly.)
What a fantastic movie. The story, the acting, the cinematography.
For those of you who don't know, the movie is about a young man from India's slums who goes on his country's version of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" He is answering all the questions correctly, and the police think he is cheating, as he has absolutely no formal education to speak of.
The answers have all "happened" to him. Meaning, each answer he gets, he only knows because it happened to him personally.
And, wow. The things that happened.
I won't spoil it for you, as I am hoping you take the time to see it.
There are parts of his childhood that will make you cry. But don't let that deter you. Some of the best films make us uncomfortable, as they put other people's reality in our face.
The movie got me thinking.
Something I have always wanted for my son is resiliency.
To be able to survive and even thrive in the face of real adversity.
To think on his feet.
To keep his integrity when giving it up would be easier.
To believe in possibility even when it doesn't seem to exist.
Setting our kids up for success doesn't mean making things easy.
In order for him to grow, prosper, and feel the sense of accomplishment of truly rising above a difficult situation, he must experience true adversity.
Sometimes we are so busy interfering with our kids lives, that we don't allow things to unfold. Our kids often don't get a chance to overcome, as we've already done it for them.
This week Oprah has a series of webcasts. I watched Monday night's with trainer Bob Green. He was talking about that one of the biggest obstacles people have with exercise is allowing themselves to be "uncomfortable". To actually exercise at a level that offers results, you have to be willing to experience discomfort.
Kind of like life.
To grow and expand you have to be willing to be uncomfortable.
Same goes for our kids.
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Comments
oh! gonna check out the movie this weekend...glad to know it's fab!
Hugs!
Check it out, well directed and a lot of it is sad but true.
Just started a new blog with daily gifs...any feedback would be appreciated!
And I just loved this post!
great post
My response was bad things happen in life and I want them to experience this glimpse of how God might want them to look at such challenges. Adversity makes us stronger and that is not something they will learn if we don't allow them to experience it.
Besides- we don't want them living at home till they're 40,right LOL
I'll be adding Slumdog Millionaire to my Netflix queue since I'm curious to see it after they won all those awards at the Golden Globes.
When my boys were little I read an article by a mom who said she pictures the adults she wants her kids to be, then gives them the opportunities to get there.
I'm so going to see that movie.
Just love it.
I've heard this movie was really great and makes you think.
And you are so right. I am happy to hear someone say this!
And you are so right...I don't want to be uncomfortable, I don't want my kids to be uncomfortable...but really, I am just holding them back!
But...the over protective parent. I can be like that sometimes. And other times, I am very hands off. There is not pattern to it...nor does it make any sense. But you are right in that I need my kids to fail. They have to learn that things don't come easily - and that the struggle is where they really learn.
I'm so with you on the adversity thing, but oh how it's so difficult to practice what we preach!!
I thought it hurt to be the one who's picked last. Wrong. It hurts way more to watch your child be the last picked.
Got goose bumps just reading about the movie- I want to see it SOOOO bad!
I have to agree I have seen the affects of "fixing" everything hard in my brothers and believe me learning to cope and rise above makes EVERYONE a better person.
Great post!
Have a wonderful weekend!!
Have a no nonsense balls to the wall fun weekend!
And yes, Slumdog rocked. What a great movie.
And your inspiration - though I realize it was meant for life in general - is going to really get me going on my exercise. I've let it slip because waking up early is 'uncomfortable' to me. That's gotta stop!
Do not tease me about the sun and warmth in So Cal right now. I can't take it. I'm taking my shawl from Betty, cuddling up with my puppy and I'm gonna watch some back episodes of Big Love. 'Cause that's what cool people do on a Friday night in Ohio.
Keep up the good work!!
and I loved this post. The Boy is going to be an AMAZING husband one day, 'cause he has such parents bringing him up right. Of course, I want him to be Libbey's amazing husband, but that goes without saying.
ANd those things you want for your son, dead on. My son is 16 and it is a precarious path.
Also...I know this is why I don't get better results with my exercising. I just don't push myself hard enough!
Growing always hurts a little....or a lot! Thanks for reminding us.
It's just not always easy to let them make their own mistakes and being in discomfort even if it will let them reach their own goals with time.