The Golden Globes and awards season is here. I didn’t watch the Globes, but I do love the modern art of cinema. Few artforms are so captivating, moving, immersive, powerful, persuasive and empathizing. For two hours, you can experience what it is like to forgo identification with the self and identify with the characters in the story instead.

While this escape can become addictive (because dissociation with our ego is extremely pleasurable), in the right doses it can remind us not to take ourselves too seriously or make our stories too important. Films can remind us that our own lives are merely the flickering of light and symphony of sounds. If we get too hung up on the beginning of the story (i.e. the past), we’ll miss out on the story unfolding before our eyes. Watching films can be a fun practice in presence, even though we are transported to a fictional world or a galaxy far far away. They can inspire us, teach us, delight us and connect us. And we all need that.

This year, while I haven’t seen all the nominated films, I (perhaps surprisingly) absolutely loved the film Heretic. I thought its depth and humor made it one of the greatest horror films of all time. You can’t help but love Hugh Grant in this, despite his being a monster.

Deadpool and Wolverine is my kind of movie. Who can’t be charmed by the adorable, The Wild Robot. Gladiator II, Beetlejeuice Beetlejeuice, and Twisters are all fine sequel treatments if the nostalgia is enough to keep a viewer happy. Baby Reindeer and The Penguin were instant classics in my book.

But the one Golden Globe nomination that really impressed me this year was the show, Shogun. Usually my heart is racing and I’m holding my breath watching shows and movies. I have to practice keeping some of my awareness on myself and my breath so I don’t get too lost in the suspenseful stories. But Shogun is like a breath of fresh air. This beautiful show, set in medieval Japan, felt like a Zen meditation. The slower pace of the show along with the beautiful architecture of the time, evoked a feng shui energy that left me feeling deep peace, even if the characters were in almost constant battle. It was such a pleasant surprise to see a film buck the trend of frantic hyperactive pacing, and to be so well received and highly regarded.

So that’s what I thought. Let me know what your favorites were this year. And on this spiritual journey that we’re on, let’s not forget to enjoy the simple and beautiful pleasures of this world. For me, art and music are essential. They are why we’re here — to enjoy and to create. Make your life an art piece, put care and love into everything you do, and life will always be beautiful. 

If you ever feel like your life has taken a detour and want it to get back on track so you can enjoy the journey of life again — twists and turns and all — then this is for you.

Much love,
Todd

PS – Hope you are enjoying the recently released series, Lost and Alone: Secrets of Finding Yourself. The 4th episode is out now in which I explore whether beliefs are something we’re born with, something we learn, or something we can choose. I discuss whether we can only believe what already resonates with our current beliefs and understanding; or if we can reshape and consciously choose our beliefs in order to bring about the most joy, peace, confidence and healing that we can possibly have. Don’t miss the last episode which will be out on Sunday, January 12th, 2025 at 8:00 AM EST on YouTube.