Be Good

The inspiration for the title of this blog, 'Be Good', comes from one of my favourite films, and the one I have watched the most times (but not a weird geeky number of times): E.T. The Extra Terrestrial.

E.T. The Extra Terrestrial (1982)

For those who don't remember (don't remember - you gotta be kiddin me!), the last lines of the film are:

E.T.: Come...

Elliot: Stay...

E.T.: Ouch.

Elliot: Ouch.

E.T.: I'll... be... right... here.

Elliot: ...bye.

E.T.: Be good.

E.T.: [touching heart, about to leave] Ouuuuch!

God, I'm welling up - seriously I am - this is a great film. Anyway I could have called the blog 'Ouuuuch' but the thing that is inspiring about these lines is that of all the things that E.T. could say to Elliot, and by implication to the human race, he simply says 'Be Good'. It is Stephen Speilberg's message to the World and it is the message of all parents to their children as they leave the house on their own. In fact E.T. learned 'Be Good' from Gertie (you know, the cowgirl) who was told the same by her mother Mary.

Some criticise Speilberg's 'sentimentality', but give me sentimentality over brutality any day. He is an optimist, and inspires hope in human nature when faced with dark forces. Huge odds can be overcome when one man/woman/child makes the choice to be good and so inspires others. Think Schindler's List.

So what does it mean to 'Be Good'? If someone is described as 'a good man' (usually noted shortly after they depart this Earth, more's the pity) then this does not necessarily mean that he performed specific meritorious or charitable deeds; instead it more often than not means that they chose to live in a general way, and most of the time, to help and not harm others. A 'good woman' has different connotations, but let's not get into that.

I think most would say that they are good people, just like most say they are good drivers. The happy truth is that the vast majority of people are good, kind and caring as well as being safe, considerate drivers (honestly!). It appears that we have the great fortune to have evolved so that being generally good is the norm - and not just to our direct genetic heirs. However perhaps this is a fragile truth that needs to be constantly maintained by the efforts of good people.

So be good until I come back. And another thing - phone home!

P.S. When writing this I Googled 'Schindler's List' and was offered 'Schindler's Lifts' - it's for real!! http://www.schindlerlifts.co.uk/

Be Inspired Be Creative

If you Google the word 'Inspiration' then two separate definitions appear:

(1) The arousal of the mind to special unusual activity or creativity and (2) The act of inhaling; the drawing in of air as in breathing.

If we take an etymological leap and combine these definitions then we can claim that the very business of living is a continual process of inspiration. Inspiration for the body - as I live and breathe - and inspiration for the mind.

Whilst we may take the former for granted (and what an omission that is!) we reserve inspiration of the mind to 'unusual' activity, particularly relating to creativity, and often limited to artistic or musical innovation. Where this inspiration comes from is still a mystery, and is often put down to our imagination, dreams or visitations from any one of a number of generous muses.

I think that we should rescue inspiration from these lofty attic rooms and recognize that our minds are inspired by images, sounds, words, conversations and events that we encounter everyday. We realise these inspired thoughts through our creativity in a wide range of our everyday actions: in our jobs, with family and friends, in our goals and choices, in our blogs, videos, texts and tweets, in our compassion and in our comedy. Thus inspiration and creativity are open to all and not the preserve of a gifted elite and their eureka moments.

Access to sources of inspiration has never been more readily available, as are our opportunities to realise and share our creativity. On this computer I have a library of over 40,000 art images and a music collection of 4000 tracks, however this is a mere drop in the ocean of information that can be accessed in an instant through the web. I have a website, two blogs, a twitter account, a flickr gallery, and a youtube channel - and I'm not that unusual!

This plethora of words, sounds, images, advice and opinions, although tremendously exciting, can be overwhelming. My reason for initiating this blog is therefore two-fold:

Firstly to simply record my everyday inspirations and creativity, as they occur or when I remember them, as in a sketchbook or scrapbook.

Secondly, so that in the process of recording inspirations, I become more aware of what interests and inspires me, just as drawing a thing enables one to see it for the first time, and then see other things in a new way.

I guess there is a third reason, which has to answer the question of why publish these thoughts to the world. A serious answer would be because this is part of my creativity, and creativity begets inspiration begets creativity. The reason I started thinking about this blog was the direct result of viewing the website www.inspiredday.co.uk which is the creative outlet of @taragh. If I can inspire others to be creative or share inspirations with others then great. If not then it doesn't matter. A less serious answer is that deep down I'm a show-off and I'll perform whether you like it or not (but you love me..don't you?...please...look at me I'm showing off!).

So much for good intentions. Here are some more:

(1) I'll be positive - no complaining e.g. 'I hate the monetise tab on this blog editor'

(2) I'll be funny (in a dry and sometimes unfunny way)

(3) I'll be parochial, partial, pedantic and petulant if I want to

(4) I won't try to sell you anything, or should I say I won't monetise myself

(5) OK I'm probably wrong and you are probably right

(6) I'll be good