Author Archives: phyllis
AMOUR: Lessons from the 2013 Best Foreign Film
Although the 2013 Academy Awards are history, one gem – Amour – will continue to shine. This heartbreaking and unflinching movie was painful to watch but it stimulated conversations with more questions than answers. As the people we love decline, how do we deal with the inevitable suffering? Austrian filmmaker Michael Haneke tackled this subject and won the 2013 Academy Award for best foreign language film. The leads, veteran French actors Jean-Louis Trintignant and Emmanuelle Riva, play a vital Parisian couple in their 80s whose happy marriage gradually unravels. A retired music … Continue reading
The 2013 Academy Awards Revisited
My husband and I are part of a monthly film group that always watches the Academy Awards together. When we congregated yesterday, we filled in our ballots for every category and put a couple of dollars in the kitty. I never win this sort of thing, and last night was no exception. But it was fun anyway. Dinner was delicious. According to new data, 30% of cardiovascular disease can be prevented in high risk people if they eat a Mediterranean diet. So we all cooked in olive oil and enjoyed … Continue reading
For the Love of Giving Back
Today is Valentine’s Day, so why don’t we celebrate all kinds of social bonds? Whether you’re partnered or single, connecting through giving back can strengthen and enriches everyone. And the whole is much greater than the sum of its parts. I have just returned from volunteering on the island of St. Lucia in the Caribbean, where a dedicated and collaborative team worked in a community that welcomed us with open arms. It wasn’t a two year commitment to the Peace Corps so you may see it as a drop … Continue reading
Digital Detox and Beautiful Sunsets
Imagine two weeks without an iPhone, Google maps, or conversing in 140 characters. Do you think you’d feel cut off or perhaps be relieved? Maybe it will allow you more time to reflect, come up with novel ideas, or even express yourself verbally. I’m ready to separate my work and personal life. I want to have less stress about my inbox, clear my mind, and experience more personal conversations. As the constant flow of receiving, processing and sending information has become a reality, the trend of vacations from digital technology … Continue reading
