Tuesday, May 29, 2012

How positive thinking adds years to life

When Harvey Gould was diagnosed with a rare, incurable blood cancer, he told he had less than years to live. Now, twelve years later, Gould is continues to fight his disease head-on with unwavering endurance, humor and positivity.

In his compelling memoir, A Fierce Local: Memoirs for My Love Affair with Ireland, Gould recounts stories of adventure, romance and lessons learned from his fourteen trips to Irish soil. Dubbed a "fierce local," or someone as belonging, by the locals, Gould takes readers on an exhilarating journey from the dirt floor of countryside pubs to the bustling streets of Dublin.

With a punch of optimism and upbeat humor, Gould not only offers a unique perspective on Ireland, but also on his chronic battle with cancer, which would take him further than he ever imagined into Irish culture—to the wing of a Limerick hospital and a full-blown transfusion of Irish blood— finally making him a full-blooded Irishman.

In his compelling memoir, A Fierce Local: Memoirs for My Love Affair with Ireland, Gould recounts stories of adventure, romance and lessons learned from his fourteen trips to Irish soil. Dubbed a "fierce local," or someone as belonging, by the locals, Gould takes readers on an exhilarating journey from the dirt floor of countryside pubs to the bustling streets of Dublin.

With a punch of optimism and upbeat humor, Gould not only offers a unique perspective on Ireland, but also on his chronic battle with cancer, which would take him further than he ever imagined into Irish culture—to the wing of a Limerick hospital and a full-blown transfusion of Irish blood— finally making him a full-blooded Irishman.

Sarah's Key





Starring Kristin Scott Thomas, the film tells the story of a young Jewish girl who was sent to a deportation camp as part of the French government’s infamous war-time Vel D’Hiv Roundup in 1942 and the story of an American journalist 60 years later who becomes obsessed with the idea that her husband’s family may have benefited from the roundup.

As 10-year-old Sarah and her family are arrested she locks her brother in a closet in their apartment, saying she would come back for him. As Julia unravel's Sarah's story, she not only questions the values of French society in the 1940s but the current values of society generally and her own personal decisions when faced with adversity.

I was moved by the stories of both Sarah and Julia. As I watched I questioned my own values and my courage to stand up when my values are challenged. Do I have the courage to speak up or take action for what I believe is right? I would rate this among Netflix's best movies online. This movie entertained as it stimulated reflection.