THE BLIND SIDE

I had the opportunity to facilitate a seminar on Vision and Leadership at the weekend, and at some point someone asked me, what to do if our circumstances are the things that have hindered us.  Specifically, he wanted to know how our background, financial and birth wise can affect our dreams especially if they are both negatives.

I watched the movie Blind Side yesterday for the very first time, and it is a movie my entire family is going to have to see over and over until all the lessons therein are gleaned.

It has been a while since I saw a movie for entertainment and end up receiving an education in the process.  Starring Sandra Bullock, Quinton Aaron and Tim Mcgraw, this movie chronicles the life of Michael Oher, real life professional football player from homelessness to literally, the stars.

Good story, but it was not only a movie with great storyline and acting, it opened my eyes more to what I have been saying all along, there is a part of each one of us, that is meant to propel us to the pinnacle of success from within.   For Michael Oher, it was his defensive instincts. Everything he had faced and gone through in life, made him extremely defensive. He tells the story of how his mother used to tell him to close his eyes when something bad was happening and tell him to open his eyes later, after the event with the words ‘the world is a good place.’  So despite the rough life and the move from one foster home to the other, Michael was just a child waiting for an enabling environment to blossom.

My mindset therefore, is that no matter what happens to us, we cannot live an excuse ridden life; we should just get up and do our best.  But more importantly, I must admit that there was no way Michael would have been able to overcome his issues without Leigh Anne (Sandra) and her family’s nurture and love.

Every one of us has a dream within us, every one of us has the amazing capacity to surprise and blindside everyone, even ourselves with the measure of success we can achieve.  It just takes a few things as I saw in this movie:

1. Our experiences good or bad
2. Someone willing to believe in us to give us a chance
3. Our own willingness to believe in ourselves
4. The teachable spirit as exhibited by Michael
5. Determination, and mutual love and respect within the ranks.

All in all, my conclusion is that we all can make it, because God has put some surprise element within us that if we will allow ourselves the enabling environment and the faith that it can happen there is no telling how far we will go.  Michael’s Leigh Anne found him, your own is waiting too, in the wings, make that connection and you will be amazed how far you will go!  There is also a Leigh Anne in each of us too, our Michaels are waiting.  If we will give them the chance of day, the bottom line will be that each one of us makes it. 

I remember Leigh Anne’s friend saying Leigh Anne was changing Micheal’s life and she replies ‘No, he is changing me.’ We need each other, and a dream will take collaboration.  If we will find our Michaels and Leigh Annes, making it just becomes a matter of time, NeverTheLess.

You will make it, I promise

Love,

Sistar B