From Rags to Being True to You



I watched the most incredibly lame movie last night on Netflix called “Rags” with a twist on the Cinderella theme. This Canadian-made 2012 movie was filmed in Vancouver with New York as its setting. I couldn't help noticing that in the opening scene of NYC, they still showed the Twin Towers. You'd think they could at least use some modern footage. For a while I kept thinking the movie must have been made before 2001 until I saw them using modern Iphones and not those huge clunky portable phones of the 1990's.

This movie was a stinker, no doubt about it. It was really bad; the script, the acting and the music, but I watched it anyhow.


Rags

Like eating junk food, sometimes I’m in the mood for a fluffy teen movie where I don’t have to think too much. At least it had no calories!

The main character Charlie reminded me of Justin Bieber with his boyish looks, his goofy eagerness and singing style. GAG! *Makes a face* I’m not a Bieber fan, can you tell?

I had to rack my brain trying to find something good about the movie, (other than the father character was played by the Old Spice Guy, Isaaih Mustafa. Drool!) Those commercials are an absolute hoot. Just to sidetrack you, here is the link to one for a good laugh.



Hmmmmmmmm, *Daydreams with dreamy, goofy look on face*  

Now back to the main topic, Cathy. Where was I? *Throws cold water on face*

I would have to say the most redeeming feature of the movie "Rags" was the focus on being authentic and being true to yourself. Of course this theme has been overdone in movies to the point of being clichéd, especially in a teen movie like this one, but I still think it has value.

How many of us pretend to the world instead of showing our real selves? We pretend to like things we don’t like for fear of being scorned. We pretend to like people we don’t care for in order to be accepted as part of the cool crowd. We engage in activities we don’t enjoy or buy things we don’t even care about and go broke in the process, all to get approval from others.

As I age, I think I’m becoming more authentic and accepting of the real person I am. I’ve done that pretending routine and found it hard to keep up appearances. I didn’t like that person anyhow. She wasn’t real.

Even in middle age, I’m still on a journey of self discovery to discover the real authentic me. Sometimes it can be a painful process. Sometimes it’s exhilarating and wonderful.

How freeing it is when we can accept the whole messy package that makes us the person we are.

It’s easy to be blue
If you’re not being you,
All that pretending can take its toll
Being yourself should be your goal,
For being you is what you do best
Stay true to yourself and forget the rest!

Who knew such a lame movie could be the inspiration for a blog post, eh? I sure didn't!

© Cathy Graham, October 26, 2014


Comments

  1. AditiOctober 26, 2014 at 11:27 AM

    Haha bad movie day turned into fabulous blogpost day! Loved the learning you got from Rags though personally I can never bring myself to sit through a bad movie! So true Cathy, we are always on a journey of self discovery no? That is life!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownOctober 26, 2014 at 11:34 AM

      Thanks, Aditi. Appreciate your comments. It was a pretty bad movie and I'm amazed I sat through it all, too, especially with the hubs coming in to comment from time to time on how bad it was. Oh well. I've seen worse!

      Delete
  2. UnknownOctober 26, 2014 at 1:05 PM

    I love how you took something so bad and got something so good from it! Total Cat style. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownOctober 26, 2014 at 6:11 PM

    Creating such a fine post after watching such a boring movie. Wow! This is called 'making the best out of the worst'.You are so correct, when you say that pretending to be different from what we are naturally, cannot work too long. Reality shows much earlier.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownOctober 31, 2014 at 11:59 AM

      Thanks for the kind words, Usha. Yes, it's better that we be authentic, I agree.

      Delete
  4. NabanitaOctober 26, 2014 at 10:18 PM

    Haha I know sometimes even bad experiences or rather forgettable experiences make up for a blog post!

    Random Thoughts Naba..Lovely-Uncertainties...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownOctober 31, 2014 at 12:00 PM

      Thanks for commenting, Nabanita. So true. Often bad experiences make the best posts.

      Delete
  5. UnknownOctober 27, 2014 at 12:09 PM

    Even a bad movie can make a good blogpost. ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownOctober 31, 2014 at 12:17 PM

      Thanks for commenting, Sheethal. Yes, sometimes there's even more to say about a bad movie as I did here. Heheh!

      Delete
  6. UnknownOctober 27, 2014 at 5:36 PM

    I can't sit through that kind of movie, but it's great that you were able to take something good from it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownOctober 31, 2014 at 12:18 PM

      Thanks, Karen. I tried to find something good to say about it as it was pretty darn bad.

      Delete
  7. Shilpa GargOctober 31, 2014 at 9:30 AM

    Aha! A bad movie gave you so much to ponder on! Even I am discovering myself and accepting the real person that I am and I am wondering why this realization didnt dawned a few years earlier!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownOctober 31, 2014 at 12:20 PM

      Thanks for commenting, Shilpa. Yes, that bad movie gave me lots of ideas. So true that if only we could have self acceptance earlier on, eh? I wish I had the wisdom I have now when I was young.

      Delete

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