Sunday, August 26, 2018

Tip#1108: Top 4 Movies About Dogs & Pet Therapy

Whenever I find myself back in the dark hole of depression or feeling stuck with a challenge at work or in life I always do my best to remember my many tools and methods for coping. These include what CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) refers to as “pleasurable activities” such as movies, cooking, walking and other feel-good activities that always provide relief from the ruminating of negative thoughts and emotions. Another is being around friends that have dogs and cats. This is when I feel the uplifting benefits from pet therapy without realizing that I’m doing therapy!


Sherlock & Sydney

I’ve known my friend’s Jack Russell, Sherlock, since he was an adorable puppy. He’s been there for me during many depressed times even years before I was diagnosed with clinical depression at Toronto’s CAMH. I’ll always remember this one winter when I was feeling extremely hopeless and was sitting on my friend’s living room couch when Sherlock hopped up and put his head on my lap. I almost cried. I intuitively felt he knew I was in pain and came to comfort me. I was both amazed and grateful for Sherlock’s unconditional love and attention. He also has a brother, a chubby tabby named Sydney, who likes to join us when we go for walks in the beautiful Etobicoke lakeshore area.


Scamp

There was a wonderful period of several summer weekends in 2018 when I enjoyed the benefits of pet therapy. During a July heat wave on a hike with a friend in Scarborough’s Ellesmere Ravine I was surprised and delighted that his black cat Scamp came to join us! This wooded area was actually his backyard so maybe he was happily giving us a tour! Just seeing him joyfully roll around in the dirt and follow us along steep edges and thick forests made me laugh and put a big smile on my face!


Uma & Lucy

I believe my friends know that being with their pets helped my mental health. One time I visited a friend pet-sitting in the City of Vaughan and she took me and her dogs, Uma and Lucy (both Russian mongrels), to the Thornhill Woodlots. The green of the forest felt so rejuvenating as was being with these awesome, well behaved dogs! We even enjoyed watching one of my favourite films as an inspirational tool Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle later in the day. But they were watching us more than the movie!


Luke

The week right after I was invited to spend a sunny morning with another friend and his dog Luke in High Park. My friend had been reading my movie tips and mental health posts on social media so he knew about my clinical depression. So he offered this uplifting outdoor adventure with Luke (Labrador Retriever and Husky mix) and it was such a memorable experience! Luke took us on some of his favourite trails on a hot summer day where the forests were more lush than I’d seen before. He was also so well behaved and waited for us whenever we stopped to enjoy the scenery. Once again I felt re-energized and re-vitalized being in nature and being with a friend and their pet.

These experiences proved to me how powerfully effective pet therapy can be. On my article on Top 10 Movies for Managing Depression I shared a link to depression author Therese J. Borchard’s excellent article on how watching the right movie has an antidepressant effect (read here). And here is another article of hers on the 6 benefits of pet therapy. See article: 6 Ways Pets Relieve Depression 

1. Pets offer a soothing presence
2. Pets offer unconditional love and acceptance
3. Pets alter our behavior
4. Pets distract
5. Pets promote touch
6. Pets make us responsible

It is also National Dog Day, August 26th when I posted this so here are my top 4 movies that celebrate dogs. These are my favourites that are so uplifting, heartwarming and will also give you a good cry!

Because of Winn-Dixie (2005)

This highly entertaining family film is about a lonely 10 year old named Opal (AnnaSophia Robb) who finds a rambunctious dog she names Winn-Dixie (a Picardy Shepherd, a rare breed from France). He then leads her through her small town to make new friends young and old. I absolutely loved this film and it is brimming with important life lessons, memorable scenes and hilarious moments with colourful characters! It explores the vital need for community and friendship by sharing each other’s joy, sadness and loneliness.
See: movie trailer
Watch it now: Amazon Prime 

A Dog’s Purpose (2017)

This entertaining comedy drama is about Bailey (voiced by Josh Gad) a dog whose life is shown from his point of view from birth to death and reincarnated through 5 different dog breeds and genders. There are lots of life lessons throughout this unique story about living in the moment, learning to let go and finding your purpose. So many funny and touching scenes in this film on how dogs can rescue us any day and every day!
See: movie trailer
Watch it now: Amazon Prime

Hachi: A Dog's Tale (2009)

This touching drama is based on a true story about an Atika puppy shipped to the US from Japan and his loyalty and devotion to a professor named Parker (Richard Gere). This is such a powerful story about eternal loyalty, dedication and love of a dog for its master. There is this wonderful, soothing tone to this film and every scene between Hachi and Parker are so heartwarming!
See: movie trailer
Watch it now: Amazon Prime

Marley & Me (2008)

This comedy drama is based on the true story of John and Jenny Grogan (Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston) and their three kids living with a hyper active, disobedient Labrador retriever named Marley. This entertaining film has a wonderful message of a loving, forgiving family living with a difficult dog. And it will remind you to recognize the silver lining within problems the way John found inspiration for his newspaper column from the wild antics of Marley!
See: movie trailer
Watch it now: Amazon Prime

And one more bonus film…

Lassie Come Home (1943)

This heartwarming classic is about a Yorkshire boy Joe Carraclough (Roddy McDowell) and his rough collie, Lassie who is sold and sent away during Depression-era Yorkshire, England. I remember seeing this for the first time as a kid and now as an adult I loved returning to a simple time and watching Lassie travel bravely through the gorgeous sceneries.
See: movie trailer
Watch it now: Amazon Prime

Check out this awesome 2 min. video:
100 Years of Famous Dogs in Films 

Whether you are dealing with depression, difficult times or other challenges at work or in life always remember that there are many tools and strategies you can use to feel confident you will get through it. Remember to do things you love like watch a favourite movie, take a walk in nature or eat delicious foods. Everyone deserves a mental health day and so do you!

And if you have a pet or know someone with a dog or cat remember the revitalizing magic of pet therapy. These furry little friends will be eager to help lift your spirits sky high!




See 100's of inspirational movie tips from this blog!

DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE DEALING WITH
DEPRESSION OR DIFFICULT TIMES?
• READ: Top 10 Inspiring Movies for Managing Depression
• READ: Emmanuel & Depression featured in The Toronto Star
• LISTEN: Emmanuel's CBC Radio Interview on Movie Messages of Hope: The Fresh Air Show
• WATCH: Uplifting Movie Montage produced by Emmanuel Lopez!
• DISCOVER: 8 Creative Tools for Motivation & Depression

Remember How Movies Can Help You:
A) Entertain & Escape
B) Re-energize & Release
C) Inspiration & Motivation

 http://bit.ly/cj7UIphttp://www.pinterest.com/motivatorman1/http://bit.ly/9Je5dhhttp://bit.ly/djk9Yjhttp://bit.ly/bUSAy0

Emmanuel Lopez-Motivatorman
Motivational Speaker
Discover Movies As Inspirational & Learning Tools!
See website: www.motivatorman.com
 
© Emmanuel Lopez 2018

Sunday, August 19, 2018

Tip#1107: Family & Nostalgic Memories, Part 4 - National Velvet

I just saw my favourite band of all time Electric Light Orchestra for the first time since their 1981 Time Tour! It’s been 37 years! It was an epic, epic evening and Jeff Lynne sounded so fantastic at 70 years old. They played so many of their hits like my favourites Livin Thing, Turn to Stone and the concert opener Standin' in the Rain. All were from the first album I ever got of ELO called Out of the Blue that my Dad bought for me as a gift! I remember loving the spaceship artwork on the cover.

With my feet tapping joyfully, the evening turned out to be very nostalgic as I had flashbacks of growing up with ELO music during middle school and high school. When I was the high school yearbook editor it was a joy having other ELO fans on the yearbook staff and played their music while we worked! This was also simpler times with no mobile phones or computers. Music was on vinyl and played on record players or cassette tapes.

Jeff Lynne's ELO, August 18, 2018, Scotiabank Arena

Banner art I did for ELO concert in 1981 while in high school for their Time Tour. I got it signed by Jeff Lynne and all members of the band but alas don't know what happened to the banner!

I also remembered my family growing up, my loving parents and siblings. I felt a bit of melancholy last night as I was missing that sense of family since I currently live alone. For weeks now I’ve realized my core clan/extended family of friends have been getting married and focusing on their own clan/family. I’ve seen less of them as the years go by and even though we stay in touch I believe this sense of loss is part of the triggers for my depression symptoms.

So it’s been my goal to find a new clan or perhaps cultivate one that I already have. It’s the physical in person interactions that my spirit and mental health needs. I’m excited about the possibilities as I start exploring meetup.com groups and other opportunities in Toronto to share my passions for movies, delicious, nutritious food and personal growth!

It’s that sense of family I know is vitally important and was excited to have an unexpected family film come into my life to inspire me and fill me with warm nostalgia and hope!

National Velvet (1944)

The classic family film, National Velvet, is about Velvet Brown (Elizabeth Taylor) dreaming of owning a horse and makes her dream come true with the help of her family and former jockey Mi Taylor (Mickey Rooney) in rural Sussex. This heartwarming, entertaining film has some hilarious scenes and wonderful performances from the entire cast! See: movie trailer

Watch now: Amazon Prime
Purchase now: DVD


Inspiring Themes:
• Having a Vision
• Passion
• Perseverance
• Resilience
• Indestructible Optimism
• Leadership
• Teamwork
• Supportive Relationships
• Love of Family & Community

The warm, gorgeous scenery immediately grabbed me and took me to a wonderful, simple world for a few hours. I was pleasantly surprised at how much the film focused on the love of family, friends and community. It is brimming with life lessons still important in today's time. Velvet also exuded so much passion for her horse named Pie and I’d recommend her as an excellent cinematic role model for her creative visualization skills in manifesting her dreams into reality.

She reminded me of an exercise I recently did for finding my clan/family by remembering and visualizing examples of what I’m seeking and made a list. Some have been featured on this blog:

Vyoo Storytelling Event 
The Gift Circle Meetup group
The Mastery of Self-Expression group 
• STEAM group (a close group of friends that met once a month)
• High school yearbook staff

The power of nostalgia can ignite warm memories or other emotions for what we once had in the past. They can remind us that a sense of family is vital to keep alive in each of our lives. Let classic family films lift you up if nostalgia is making you feel alone or a little down. And if you have favourite band or singer put on their music today to get your feet tapping and soul dancing with hope and optimism!



Tip#715: Family & Nostalgic Memories - A Christmas Story
Tip#775: Family & Nostalgic Memories, Part 2 - Boyhood
Tip#877: Family & Nostalgic Memories, Part 3 - J.J. Abrams - Regarding Henry – Forever Young
Tip#1107: Family & Nostalgic Memories, Part 4 - National Velvet

See 100's of inspirational movie tips from this blog!

DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE DEALING WITH
DEPRESSION OR DIFFICULT TIMES?
• READ: Top 10 Inspiring Movies for Managing Depression
• READ: Emmanuel & Depression featured in The Toronto Star
• LISTEN: Emmanuel's CBC Radio Interview on Movie Messages of Hope: The Fresh Air Show
• WATCH: Uplifting Movie Montage produced by Emmanuel Lopez!
• DISCOVER: 8 Creative Tools for Motivation & Depression

Remember How Movies Can Help You:
A) Entertain & Escape
B) Re-energize & Release
C) Inspiration & Motivation

 http://bit.ly/cj7UIphttp://www.pinterest.com/motivatorman1/http://bit.ly/9Je5dhhttp://bit.ly/djk9Yjhttp://bit.ly/bUSAy0

Emmanuel Lopez-Motivatorman
Motivational Speaker
Discover Movies As Inspirational & Learning Tools!
See website: www.motivatorman.com
 
© Emmanuel Lopez 2018

Sunday, August 12, 2018

Tip#1106: Top Feel Good Movies, Pt 6 – The Perfect Game

I’ve been so excited about designing new social media graphics to promote my new website MoviesForMotivation.com! It just reminds me that my passion for being creative and expressing my artistic visions always makes me feel good with positive emotional energy!

Each graphic highlights a key motivational theme (e.g. Optimism, Resilience, Perseverance, etc.) with four movies I recommend seeing as inspirational tools. See these on my Instagram and get a sneak preview of the series here: Cool Graphics!

Even when I feel clinical depression symptoms, I just follow my passion (pleasurable activities as it’s known in CBT, cognitive behavioural therapy) and it always cuts through hopeless feelings and immediately halts the ruminating of negative thoughts. And when I’m feeling a little lost I remember how lucky and blessed I am in having many supportive relationships to help me persevere. It’s like I have a special team for playing this game of life!

Watching movies also always clears my mind especially uplifting feel-good stories. And if they are based on true stories there is an added motivational factor that pushes me to accomplish my dreams and goals! Sometimes I discover hidden gems which makes me eager to share with others to experience the same feel good feelings I received! Here’s my latest discovery.

The Perfect Game (2009)

The family drama film, The Perfect Game, is based on the true story of the first Mexican team to win the Little League World Series in 1957. It’s also about a second chance at life for their coach César Faz (Clifton Collins, Jr). This highly entertaining film has so many fun and inspirational moments thanks to the amazing cast of child actors as well as Cheech Marin as Padre Esteban and others. See: movie trailer

This wonderful underdog film captures the mood, sights and sounds of the late 50’s and also the warm Mexican community of Monterrey, Mexico. It shows the passion and perseverance of a group of boys who loved baseball and just wanted to play in a little league. They also showed great courage, resilience and teamwork in facing the racism that awaited them at every game they played in the US.

The film also celebrates supportive relationships and how a passion for baseball can unite communities and ethnic differences. From the young and old you’ll see the kindness of strangers and the healing of family wounds. And through the eyes of these kids you’ll feel their excitement and sense of wonder throughout their journey.

For me, I also resonated with coach César who was initially lost in life after losing his job with the St. Louis Cardinals. He eventually found his place in the world by offering his skills as coach with the help of Padre Esteban. He had found a renewed sense of purpose and found his clan and family.

Inspiring Themes:
• Passion
• Perseverance
• Resilience
• Indestructible Optimism
• Leadership
• Teamwork
• Supportive Relationships
• Sense of Community
• Overcoming Racism

We all go through our ups and downs in life. So it’s important to remember we each have our own personal tools for inspiration and for feeling good again. Maybe you have creative skills you can play with. Maybe you have a support team ready to cheer you up. And always remember there are a treasure chest of uplifting movies you can count on for re-energizing your spirit and drive! Find one today and get ready to feel good fast!



Related Tips:
Tip#828: Motivatorman’s Top 10 Feel Good Movies 
Tip#756: Top Feel-Good Movies, Pt 1 - Fusia Magazine 5th Anniversary Party - Million Dollar Arm 
Tip#806: Top Feel-Good Movies, Pt 2 - St. Vincent  
Tip#807: Top Feel-Good Movies, Pt 3 – The Artist 
Tip#979: Top Feel-Good Movies, Pt 4 - Pelé: Birth of a Legend 
Tip#1021: Top Feel-Good Movies, Pt 5 – Singin’ in the Rain 
Tip#1106: Top Feel Good Movies, Pt 6 – The Perfect Game

See 100's of inspirational movie tips from this blog!

DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE DEALING WITH
DEPRESSION OR DIFFICULT TIMES?
• READ: Top 10 Inspiring Movies for Managing Depression
• READ: Emmanuel & Depression featured in The Toronto Star
• LISTEN: Emmanuel's CBC Radio Interview on Movie Messages of Hope: The Fresh Air Show
• WATCH: Uplifting Movie Montage produced by Emmanuel Lopez!
• DISCOVER: 8 Creative Tools for Motivation & Depression

Remember How Movies Can Help You:
A) Entertain & Escape
B) Re-energize & Release
C) Inspiration & Motivation

 http://bit.ly/cj7UIphttp://www.pinterest.com/motivatorman1/http://bit.ly/9Je5dhhttp://bit.ly/djk9Yjhttp://bit.ly/bUSAy0

Emmanuel Lopez-Motivatorman
Motivational Speaker
See Movies As Inspirational & Learning Tools!
See website: www.motivatorman.com
 
© Emmanuel Lopez 2018

Sunday, August 05, 2018

Tip#1105: Resilience Resources, Part 24 – Mission: Impossible - Fallout

I’ve recently been dealing with muscle strain along my right arm from lifting a table that was extremely heavy. I remember the table not moving at first and then mentally pushing myself to accomplish the task. The consequence was the pain I started to feel days later. But what makes me feeling confident I’ll heal just fine is thinking about Tom Cruise’s injury story while doing his own stunts in Mission: Impossible - Fallout. His resilience was incredible!

There’s a video interview I highly recommend you see of Cruise discussing how he broke his ankle on his latest Mission Impossible film. They also show three video angles of the injury where you clearly see the ankle break. And yet in the final video you see him persevere with the shot pulling himself back up and run while limping. This was kept in the final film!

See Interview: Tom Cruise Reacts to Slow-Mo Footage of How He Broke His Ankle | The Graham Norton Show

Production shut down for a few months after Cruise’s injury for him to heal but then he was back with more running, jumping and other stunts. Some say he's a bit crazy for doing these over-the-top scenes for the sake of art and yet ultimately I am very inspired by Cruise’s relentless tenacity and passion to create the best, most entertaining cinema he can. And his latest film and results are outstanding!

Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2018)

The spy action film, Mission: Impossible – Fallout, is the sixth installment of the series where Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his team must track down stolen plutonium after losing them while being monitored by a CIA agent, August Walker (Henry Cavill). This highly entertaining film is jam-packed with exhilarating action sequences and a gripping story. Also starring is Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Sean Harris, Michelle Monaghan, Alec Baldwin, Vanessa Kirby and Angela Bassett. See: movie trailer

I enjoyed this film for so many reasons. It ties in with many of the previous chapters of the series and is filled with many unexpected surprises that you’d come to expect from these movies. And yet they are still enjoyably surprising! The other hallmark of this these films is the strategic thinking of the heroes (or villains) that lead up to these surprises.

It also continues to amaze me at seeing Cruise’s breathtaking stunt work captured on film like doing a halo jump from a plane, racing a motorcycle in the crowded traffic of Paris or dangling from a flying helicopter. Even the long takes of him just sprinting always leaves me in awe because of his energy and stamina!

There are many examples of people demonstrating resilience in the movies as well as in real life. They face adversities, fall down and then get back up to persevere. These examples can be used as tools and resources for inspiration when you to face your own challenges at work and in life. Whether it's a broken ankle, strained arm or other painful experience remember that you can heal and persevere forward with confidence!



Related Tips:
Tip#804: Resilience Resources, Part 1 - Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) - The Theory of Everything
Tip#805: Resilience Resources, Part 2 - Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) - It’s Kind of a Funny Story
Tip#810: Resilience Resources, Part 3 – Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) - A League of Their Own
Tip#811: Resilience Resources, Part 4 – Top 15 Movies for Dealing with Depression & Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Tip#812: Resilience Resources, Part 5 – Mental Health - Mumford
Tip#813: Resilience Resources, Part 6 - 50 First Dates 
Tip#819: Resilience Resources, Part 7 - Wild 
Tip#822: Resilience Resources, Part 8 - Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Tip#823: Resilience Resources, Part 9 – Super Bowl -Invincible
Tip#825: Resilience Resources, Part 10 – Mental Health & Healthcare - Big Hero 6
Tip#829: Resilience Resources, Part 11 – The Tartigrade – Mr. Deeds Goes To Town
Tip#830: Resilience Resources, Part 12 – Depression & Graham Moore - The Imitation Game 
Tip#833: Resilience Resources, Part 13 – Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Tip#834: Resilience Resources, Part 14 - Top 10 Movies for Inspiring Resilience in the Workplace
Tip#857: Resilience Resources, Part 15 - Instagram - Pitch Perfect 2
Tip#873: Resilience Resources, Part 16 - Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation
Tip#881: Resilience Resources, Part 17 - Love & Mercy
Tip#892: Resilience Resources, Part 18 – Problem Solving - The Martian 
Tip#896: Resilience Resources, Part 19 - Depression – J.K. Rowling – Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Tip#910: Resilience Resources, Part 20 – Depression – A Christmas Carol – It’s a Wonderful Life 
Tip#933: Resilience Resources, Part 21 - Depression - Under the Tuscan Sun
Tip#1028: Resilience Resources, Part 22  – I Had a Black Dog, His Name Was Depression
Tip#1057: Resilience Resources, Part 23 - Brain On Fire 
Tip#1105: Resilience Resources, Part 24 – Mission: Impossible - Fallout

SEE NEW WEBSITE featuring 100's of movies from this blog listed A to Z!

DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE DEALING WITH
DEPRESSION OR DIFFICULT TIMES?
• READ: Top 10 Inspiring Movies for Managing Depression
• READ: Emmanuel & Depression featured in The Toronto Star
• LISTEN: Emmanuel's CBC Radio Interview on Movie Messages of Hope: The Fresh Air Show
• WATCH: Uplifting Movie Montage produced by Emmanuel Lopez!
• DISCOVER: 8 Creative Tools for Motivation & Depression

Remember How Movies Can Help You:
A) Entertain & Escape
B) Re-energize & Release
C) Inspiration & Motivation

 http://bit.ly/cj7UIphttp://www.pinterest.com/motivatorman1/http://bit.ly/9Je5dhhttp://bit.ly/djk9Yjhttp://bit.ly/bUSAy0

Emmanuel Lopez-Motivatorman
Motivational Speaker
See Movies As Inspirational & Learning Tools!
See website: www.motivatorman.com
 
© Emmanuel Lopez 2018