8 Mile life lessons.

  I sat down and watched the movie 8 Mile again for the first time since it came out. I really enjoyed the movie the first time and could really relate to how he grew up. However being older and wiser I took in so much more this time around. B Rabbit (Marshall Mathers) had a work ethic that drove him to a higher understanding of the people around him. He watched as everyone he knew, from his mother to his friends and the girl he met, looked to something or someone else to change their current situation. Every single person around him excused themselves from the process. The mom was looking to the boyfriend to take her away from the life she was living. The girl he met was sleeping with anyone she thought would give her an advantage. There was one scene, while receiving a ride to work where Rabbit asked his buddy" do you ever think about not trying to live up here (raising his hand) and just keep living down here? (lowering his hand) His friend looked at him and said "it's seven o'clock in the morning man". He hadn't thought about it. And not only had he not given any thought to what was asked, he was completely oblivious to the higher thought processes of his friend B Rabbit. Which only contributed to Rabbits feeling of isolation. Rabbit seemed to observe the world around him. Taking in the hypocrisies people were living. Understanding the self limiting beliefs of the people around him. In the the end Rabbit chose to do his own thing. He chose his own path. His constant frustration with hearing everyone around him complain led him to action. In one scene he lashes out at his peers saying basically that he is sick and tired of listening to people talk about what they are going to do, while continuing to do nothing.

 How many of you can relate? Even better how many of you are that aware? Not just of others but of yourself. Awareness of self is one of the most difficult qualities to acquire. Much easier to look at those around you and place blame. In another scene Rabbits ex girlfriend caused a scene at his place of employment. When his supervisor asked about it Rabbits first response was to excuse himself and blame her. To which he stopped himself and simply said " it won't happen again". he accepted responsibility for the incident and realized he was making decisions that brought about the results he was getting and keeping him in the environment he so yearned to free himself from. Every human being on the planet wants more for themselves and their families. And yet very few ever do anything to make the change.

   Baby steps. I'll give you two baby steps to make that will change your view on the world around you.
Step one: Take charge or take responsibility. Look around you right now. Are you living in your dream home? Are you satisfied with how you earn your living? Would you like to earn more? All of these things are within you to change and obtain. If you can't first look around you and understand that every decision you have ever made in life, or at least the past ten years, has placed you in your current situation, how can you change it? Your life is not at the mercy of others. Sometimes we may be faced with choices we don't want to make, but we still have a choice.

Baby step 2. Don't complain. Ever. Some people call it venting. You see, when you choose to complain, you only contaminate your thoughts further. Be a solution thinker, not a complainer. Complainers and gossipers are the carriers of a disease of the mind. It's highly contagious and hazardous to the health of everyone around you.
  these things may not happen for you over night. However when you begin to recognize the symptoms you can cure yourself of this infectious disease.

 Bonus baby step. Check your friends. You show me who you walk with, and I'll show you who you are. If you are the smartest person in your group, then find a new group.

B Rabbit became self aware and realized all these things within his own life. He also understood the only one who could save him was himself. Now no one can ever do it alone. We all need that group that pulls you up.

 Imagine you are stuck in a dark hole. You can see a ray of light coming from above you and you scratch and claw trying to find a way up. You trip over objects you can't see. You pick yourself up and trip again. Now you are in pain and you're tired. You sit staring at the light. You say to yourself there must be a way out.  You search your pockets. You scan the ground for anything useful. Your fingertips trace the edge of a book... of matches. You open the book, pull a match from it's pages and strike up a small flickering flame. The light is dim but you can now see the walls that have kept you and you notice the things you have been tripping over are blocks that you could stand on to get closer to the light. The match burns your fingers, you drop it and it goes out. With your fingers throbbing, your knees bruised and bleeding you stand in the dark with hope. Strike the match and begin to stack the blocks. Each time placing you closer and closer to the source of the light. You run out of blocks you are only close enough to place your hand in the light. You feel a cool breeze and the warmth of the sun on your fingers. Soon someone notices your struggle. No. They notice your efforts. One moment they are going about their lives and the next there is a hand reaching up out of nowhere. They pull you out. As you look around you start to realize their are many more people living in the light. Enjoying the sun and the fresh breeze. Had you sat in the bottom of the hole complaining to the other faceless voices. Had you sat there blaming the walls and the blocks for your struggle, no one would have noticed you reaching up. Action begets action.

Adding Value to the Lives of Others

       If we could sum up the title with one word, what would it be? Selfless. What does it mean to be selfless? One way to look at it would be to imagine yourself standing at the front of a long line. As the first person in this line what position are you in? Well from what I have seen you are the first person to raise your hand when someone else needs a hand. You often see an opportunity to add value to someones life, by giving of yourself, when nothing was asked of you. It comes natural. Or maybe it's like that smile and kind words from your first interaction in the morning that makes the rest of your day go so well. It's contagious. Maybe someone smiled on your life and the ripples from that one gesture are still reaching out and touching the lives of others through you. Remember the line? Look behind you. All those people behind you with that same selfless attitude. Imagine the resources available to each one of you. Imagine how enriched each individual life will be. Each selfless gesture strengthening the greater whole. Stand us all inside of 10364 Old Nashville Highway suite 100,200 and 300. Take away the name, the mats, the images and the walls and what is left? A small, yet significant Nation of people, making a difference one child, one family, one day at a time.

    So very proud to be a part we call the Nation. Each and every one of you are an integral part of the experience. Thank you for helping me make it what it is today!