Ok, I needed a break, some space, some Margin (last post), and my family and I watched a movie on Friday night that stayed with me through the weekend. No Reservations is a sweet romantic dramedy about a control freak chef who finds her world turned around by her niece and her new sous-chef. I can't say this is a movie that will make it into the classics, but I loved it. It was the perfect blend of drama, comedy and romance that I needed for a "margin" moment with my family.
So what does this have to do with my theme, Creativity Toolbox?
I want to focus on two things from the movie.
First, the title:
"No Reservations: Life isn't always made to order"
Isn't that true of our creative lives?
Our projects don't always fit the order we intended.
Sometimes we stray from our outlines, and our carefully ordered plans to find new life in a story that's gone stale.
And second, the slowly changing attitude of the head chef played by Catherine Zeta Jones:
She starts by saying she "Never" does a number of things like she "Never drinks wine at work," she "Never eats in the afternoons", and she "Never dates guys who sing opera." Her "Nevers" have locked her into a box. It's a safe box, but a lonely one.
What Nevers do you have in your life?
Are they healthy "nevers" or are they keeping you from your creative potential?
I'm not saying we shouldn't have standards to live by, just that we need to be thoughtful about those standards. "Never" is a pretty strong word when it starts keeping people out, and keeping our creativity in a box.
A to Z Challenge - Just keep writing those posts!
Creativity Toolbox Exercise: Write a list of 10 things you've Never done, but want to do, then pick one and write a story about it, or create a song, a poem, etc.
Or, take a look at the core of your current project and give yourself a moment of "unplanned" creativity.
Morning! Happy Monday!
ReplyDeleteIf there is someone that can live up to their never's I have to admire that person; it takes strength, discipline and life lessons learned to live up to -never.
Never is a very consistent, eternal word to live up to - however, I'm sure it can be done.
I use to say never once in a while- i'll never do that again;or never again, etc. however I've learned not to conceive of never as an impossibility.
If someone ask: have you ever tried... then I might say: "never".
I don't think I'll ever go back to my ex-husband - that could be a never and a very likely - never.
So I suppose there are some never's that can be lived up to.
I'm willing to try new things and in that sense, I have to think- before I say: Never.
Morning! Happy Monday!
ReplyDeleteIf there is someone that can live up to their never's I have to admire that person; it takes strength, discipline and life lessons learned to live up to -never.
Never is a very consistent, eternal word to live up to - however, I'm sure it can be done.
I use to say never once in a while- i'll never do that again;or never again, etc. however I've learned not to conceive of never as an impossibility.
If someone ask: have you ever tried... then I might say: "never".
I don't think I'll ever go back to my ex-husband - that could be a never and a very likely - never.
So I suppose there are some never's that can be lived up to.
I'm willing to try new things and in that sense, I have to think- before I say: Never.
Always keep an open mind to new options.
ReplyDeleteHaven't seen the movie but I have been know to watch the TV show No Reservations.
Yup. Never say never.
ReplyDeleteI've yet to watch this movie, but I've seen the previews and I've always liked Catherine Zeta-Jones. She's just a classy actress, you know?
Great post!
Okay, just last night, we watched a movie with this actor on Netflix. It was so random. It was based off the comic book and called "the Punisher." so it's so odd that I click over to your site and see him here. :)
ReplyDeleteBTW, I loved these kind of romantic/comedy movies. It's fun to escape reality for awhile.
Sandi
Love the post...I've not see the movie but I do like movies that have a good balance in them.
ReplyDeleteOkay, about the word 'never' it is NOT allowed in my classroom and I caution my son to lso hesitate the word 'never' because you are aware of when this word will come back and bit you in the tush...
:)
I'm inclined to be a never-say-never kind of person, but there are probably a few things that I would or should never do. I like to stay open to at least considering options.
ReplyDeleteLee
An A to Z Co-Host
Tossing It Out
Try my networking experiment
It's funny I can encourage others 'til the cows come home, but find that I am my own worst enemy....I'm working on it though. I saw that movie and I really liked it.
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Joanne
I remember when that movie was out - I thought it looked cute but Never saw it. Perhaps that will change. Very cool that you picked up some wisdom to share from it.
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful post. I don't have 10 things but I do have one that I used to have: Never write horror.
ReplyDeleteUntil I hosted a horror author at my blog.
Having opened my mind, I can sense the possibilities. Some of them dark and scary but the ideas could really work for my writing creativity.
yes very true!
ReplyDeleteSonia Lal, A to Z challenge
I saw this movie a few days ago and I enjoyed it too! I love the message... I'm definitely guilty of saying 'never' way too much. Great post! :)
ReplyDeletei like your creativity exercise
ReplyDeletenever say never without an out =)
Ah yes, life isn't always perfectly ordered as we expect. I think it's a good thing when we realize this and can roll with it - not in a defeatist way, but in an upbeat and flexible way.
ReplyDeleteHaven't forgotten about you, my friend, just have had more to roll with of late than expected. Hoping to have something to you very soon!
Have a lovely day,
Karen