Forgiveness and renewal, two very important themes.

One reason why stories are created, is to form the framework of forgiveness. A surprising number of tragic stories are made primarily to spread forgiveness and to renew faith in humanity. Of course, it doesn't take tragedy to grant forgiveness, as many other kinds of stories prove, yet the device is well suited to bring catharsis to the audience (that is, to set free the pent up emotions and provide relief). Scary stories do this in a way, but it's the deep and haunting tales that grip your heart that provide the best return.

Many people find forgiveness very hard to secure. Whether it be forgiving themselves, or others, people like to hold grudges. Stories can teach how to forgive, why to forgive, and when to forgive. It's safe to say that even grudging forgiveness is better than allowing pain and hurt to fester inside. Look at the tale of "Hamlet" by Shakespeare, and we find a family incapable of forgiving anyone, and it leads to the doom of them all. What a powerful example! More recently, look at the musical fiction "The Greatest Showman," and the amount of forgiveness and renewal on constant display is breathtaking. I especially love how his wife and family renew the main character's passion for life by their forgiveness. It's inspiring.

Why do stories tackle such heavy and powerful themes? Well, why not? Stories are part of our human nature, so authors pour themselves into creating them. It's natural to talk about anything important to us. Also, stories provide a safe way to learn and express ideas. We get to experience situations unknown to us, and see how people might behave. When we watch other people forgive and experience renewal, it's easier for us to do the same. I love reading books where the main character is shattered personally, and then later is renewed to life. Stories aren't merely entertainment, but powerful platforms for teaching.

- M

Why character growth is so important

I've experienced several stories recently where the main characters do not change at all throughout the story. And, they've all been disappointing. I think it's because we naturally expect, quite reasonably, that the events of the story will have an impact on the characters. When that doesn't happen, it's like nothing mattered and we're left hollow. Poor choices mean bad things happen, and great choices mean good things. Audiences want the catharsis of result; it's satisfying and wraps up the story.

We hear the phrase "character arc" a lot in these types of discussions. What's it mean? Basically, it means characters grow and change during a story. Perhaps their priorities diverge, their internal motivations alter, or their beliefs change. If you took the characters from the end and put them into the beginning again, those characters wouldn't behave the same way. Why? Because they've changed. It's part of the entertainment of any story. We hear the phrase, "the journey is more important than the reward," and it's true in virtually every aspect of life, even our entertainment.

When characters feel real, we go through their circumstances with them, and as they change ... so do we. If we truly relate to characters, we live vicariously (look it up, it's a good word to know). Entertainment like this is special, because it has the capacity to expand our lives, our experience, our viewpoints, and provides new ways of seeing the world. Yes, entertainment has that incredible power, so use it wisely and carefully. "With great power, comes great responsibility." - Uncle Ben, Spiderman.

- M

Paper cut! Someone call the paramedics!

Isn't it amazing how such flimsy pieces of paper can cut so devastatingly? I find paper does a better job of slicing than most razor blades. Actually, a magician wrote a great card magic book called "Cards as Weapons." Anyway, the trouble with paper cuts is they hurt like fire and they take forever to heal. Of course, paper is terrible when you actually want it to cut; it's more of an ambush sort of tool.

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Yesterday, I decided to use another tool in an unusual way. Apparently unhappy with how I was shaving, my razor (5 bladed of course) took issue with my finger and relieved it of a few layers of fingerprint. I was so startled that I couldn't figure out what happened for a minute or two, until blood started flowing and I knew for sure what happened. I was unaware "safety razors" were so cruel. It seems very deceiving to market them as safe when they clearly are capable of serious devilry.

 

I'm sure there are other usually benign tools we have in our daily lives just waiting to pummel, rip, and tear us to pieces. Our houses are filled to the brim with things waiting to send us to the Emergency Room. I refuse to be afraid, to quaver in fear, or to bend to the will of these paltry objects. I am the master of my own domain! Let all paper fear my wrath!

 

- M

Allergies are unkind.

I think nature actively hates me. I somehow am allergic to almost anything that grows--including grass dust. This brings me to another one of my theories. You see, I think there's a connection between how much we run around outside and getting sick from it. When I was a kid, I was outside all the time and loved it. I rolled in straw, ate pebbles, played in mud puddles, and generally frolicked with great aplomb. Now, I'm an indoor hermit and nature hates me. There's a connection.

Okay, I'll admit it's not much a theory as it is pretty much fact. What I wonder is how it happened? When did my allergies cascade to such a level that I can't be outside very much anymore? I still love the outdoors. I enjoy going for walks with my glorious and adorable wife. I want to lay out and watch the clouds roll bye. I'm sad to lose those things. Being indoors too much does hurt your ability to survive in nature, especially regarding your immune system.

We need to get out more. Living indoors is nice and wonderful, but it's reducing our bodies into pathetic jelly globs. Don't let yourself get like me. Get out there and run, play, drink in the sun and strengthen your bodies! You don't want nature to hate you too.

- M

Shame is a good thing.

Have you ever done something you knew wasn't a good idea, gotten caught, and then tried to excuse your way out of it? I'll bet we all have. That's an experience in shame. Hopefully nobody believed the excuse, and you accepted just punishment. Congratulations, you've learned a portion of responsibility in how to behave in life. Sadly, I've been noticing a lasting trend toward getting caught and then attacking whoever noticed the indiscretion. Sure, it's no fun being caught when you're up to no good, but the shame you feel is because you know you did wrong. Shame is a good thing. It means you know right from wrong.

In America, the concept of shame has been dwindling for many years, to the point in popular culture that it's rarely even a story point. That's too bad, because it remains one of the finest teaching tools in how to behave in society. If there's no shame, then why not do anything so long as you can get away with it? Shame gives teeth to the boundaries around us. Without it, well, let's say bullies feel very little shame in what they do.



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It's hard to encourage shame, because we feel bad and horrid about it. We don't like making others unhappy, or cause hurt, yet without it we lose a lot. It's been said that a train running wild in a field beyond the railways is technically free, but it cannot enjoy such freedom because it runs on rails. We need boundaries within which we thrive. As a society, when we lose shame we lose more than we realize. Like so many life lessons, it hurts to grow and mature. Of course, too much is never good, however, I suggest shame is generally a good thing and useful to a healthy life.

- M

Wisdom teeth ... makes wise?

I've been told that wisdom teeth are so named because it shows the person is now old enough to be wise. Erm, no. For me, I'm blessed with a small mouth and giant teeth, so I had mine taken out pretty early. I've heard that some people manage to keep them and are then apparently quite wise. Should the story include a penalty for having the wisdom teeth pulled out? Hmm, that would make for a better urban legend, I think.

 

Trouble is, getting teeth pulled hurts. A lot. And, getting four monster molars pulled at the same time is a prescription for agony. We all have ways of dealing with pain, but pain in your mouth is one of the worst kinds. You can't get away from it. It's not like you can stop moving your jaw for long periods. My trouble is that my tongue seems to have a life of its own, and the silly thing keeps probing at places it shouldn't. Result? Ouch.

 

Maybe wisdom teeth do make you wise after all? You learn quite a lot about pain and managing discomfort. Those are definitely worthwhile lessons. And, life serves up quite a few painful teaching moments, that's for sure. I just wish we didn't have to go through the pains first. But, I'd bet we wouldn't learn anything if it didn't hurt when we did wrong. There's another life lesson.

 

Wow, wisdom teeth do make you smerter!

 

- M

Give me dentures, or I'll gum your earlobes off!

My, what nice teeth you have, grandma!

Incredibly, false teeth have been around for centuries. Apparently, Egyptians wired real teeth together with gold. Ancient Mexicans used wolf teeth, jamming them into the empty sockets of the happy victims. Japan has the oldest known dentures, made from the Japanese Box tree and were worn by a princess. In the United States, George Washington had a set of ivory dentures. Losing your teeth isn't the end of the world.

 

Back when I was a kid, I loved seeing elderly pop out their teeth and show them to me. It was like a magic trick. Plus, there was the hilarity of seeing grandma drop her choppers into the Christmas pie. Yup, lots of fun. Now that I'm older, those events aren't quite as amusing, though I still laugh when funny videos show it. Sure, buying a new set is a definite pain, so that's not funny at all.

 

What's really impressive is how adaptable we human beings are. I can't imagine shoving a wolf's tooth into my jaw, yet there were those who have. It just goes to show how far we are willing to go, just to fix an injury or make things right. Maybe that's another part of the magic of the human spirit: going to incredible lengths to fix the broken.

 

- M

Olympic Games: Risk takers look great in mud and gold in equal measure.

2016 Olympic gold medal

As the world watches the Olympics, it occurs to me how great a risk these athletes are taking. We've already seen incredible feats of daring, and shocking disasters. I'm sure people ask, "Why take the risk?" Think about this, only three people win ... 1st, 2nd, 3rd place. Everyone else loses, to varying degrees. That's a pretty crushing prospect. So, why even try, since the vast majority fail?

Because somebody will most certainly win!

 

If I'm racing, then I fully expect it'll be me. How about you?

 

So, the better question is, "Why compete at all, if you expect to lose?" It's likely that no athlete in the Olympic Games ever expected to fail, but rather expected to stand in 1st place. These are champions, each and every one, and champions demand the very best of themselves. They see themselves as absolute victors before the race ever begins. I think that's what makes watching the Olympics so exciting. We don't often see a field of champions arranged to fight for a single goal. Usually, there are a handful of champions and the rest are just playing. Champions inspire. Champions strive. Champions accomplish.

 

Yes, champions fail. Yet, failure does not define a champion. If anything, the definition of a champion is the willingness to slog through a field of mud for the opportunity to try. I'm in awe of these Olympic athletes! The sacrifices they've made, for literally years, just for a few seconds of actual competition is almost beyond belief. Courage, determination, sacrifice, pain and glory. Champions risk for the opportunity to try and catch hold of the trophy. How can anyone look on them an not wonder if we have the heart to do the same?

 

- M

Ouch, toothache!

Sigh, I'm about to lose another couple of teeth. I feel like I'm in a cartoon. Really, like one of those where the cartoon character gets a mouth full of broken teeth and spits them out like a machinegun. It's not the same fun. I'll just say, "owie."

 

 

We all have pains and aches, so why is it that characters in stories tend to be so healthy? My guess is because we don't generally like listening to people complain and even more so with our fiction. While having pains does create a more realistic character, there's a really fine line that's easy to cross over. Still, I do wish there were more characters with more realistically frail bodies. It's almost like our heroes are superpowered or something. Even Superman has a vulnerability (no matter how trite) because without some form of weakness, there isn't any tension of possible harm to the hero.

 

It's funny how fickle we are about such things. On one side we love gossiping about someone else's failures and yet we dislike hearing about them. But, this event in my life again teaches me some valuable lessons about making my written characters more believable. Character quirks are fine, but actual flaws/vulnerabilities are also a good idea. When the audience is able to sympathize with the characters because of believable flaws, then it upholds the story and brings it to a higher level.

 

- M

 

ps. --Owie--

Goodbye is such ... a drag

I've heard the phrase, "parting is such sweet sorrow." It was written by a poetic mastermind named Shakespeare. Maybe you've heard of him. It's meant to say that yes, parting is harsh, but it's also sweet because of the care that follows. Both sweet and painful. Really, it's more than that. Life usually isn't so poetic. We don't always know we'll return or if they'll return.

Goodbye is expected, unwelcome, and a complete bummer. Still, life doesn't let us pity ourselves too long, because we get to say goodbye a lot. We learn to deal with it. Hopefully we learn to expect the opposite, which is "Hello." If we can force ourselves away from the negative and focus on the positive, then we can understand why some cultures don't even have a word for goodbye.

There is a phrase that I've heard a times, and perhaps I'll start using it now: "Until next we meet." There's hope in that statement. Hope for the future. Of course, saying, "Goodbye" can be broken down to "Good parting" and even more to "Bless your travels, and I really look forward to the next time we meet and all the good things we will do."

So, here's to the next "Hello." Until then...

- M

Tornados, Earthquakes, Sand Storms and living in other dangerous area.

Why do we humans insist on living in dangerous locations? I'm not one to ask, since I live in the heart of Tornado Alley. But, I have to wonder why we do it? My guess is we don't like anything getting in our way of settling down, and we will find a way to build in those areas regardless of the environment--much of Florida was originally swamp, but it sure is gorgeous!

The amazing thing is that when disaster does strike, there are tears and howls, but then we go right back and build all over again. We remain, doggedly fighting against the dangers with every bit of gristle within us. It's remarkable how persistent we are, and maybe it comes down to pure stubbornness. Either way, we are in every environment on Earth, and I very much doubt it will ever change.

Now, the funny thing about all this is that people do complain... a lot... about the terrible conditions. Everywhere on Earth, the weather changes constantly... yet, it's only in my area that it changes with the minute hand. I have to grin whenever people say that "here" if you don't like the weather, just wait an hour. There's danger anywhere you want to look, if you look hard enough. That's probably why we stay, after all. We picked our spot, and we'll live in it. No matter what. But, we reserve the right to fuss about it. Often.

- M

Apocalypse! The End of the World! Yikes!

The end of the world is always a popular topic. I suppose because we all know that eventually everything must end, and it's more fun to imagine it happening in a spectacular manner. Some recent films depict comets or meteorites blasting us to smithereens, or massive nuclear wars, and even gigantic monsters (I still love Pacific Rim). The end of everything we know is a terrifying prospect, but it's also sensational and maybe by facing it in stories it's a little less scary.

Whatever the reason, the destruction of worlds is a recurrent theme in fantasy and science fiction (though it probably wouldn't even work in other genres). It goes along with world building, envisioning how it will all go wrong. The newest Planet of the Apes movies demonstrate this theme very well, showing how our human world goes up in flames and is replaced by something else.

It doesn't have to be such a serious thing though. There are plenty of stories that make light of the whole idea. Humor can make anything better. I think laughter is the greatest medicine known to mankind. Giggling about it provides a new perspective, a different view that isn't bound by strict reality. It makes it bearable.

So, get out there and make new stories about the world burning up from an exploding sun, or whatever tickles your fancy. There are a universe of possibilities.

- M