The Ministry of Happiness

Movies make me happy: Reviews

Posted on July 30, 2017 by Michael Kane

Movies make me happy: Reviews

The Dude in the Big Lebowski

A film is – or should be – more like music than like fiction. It should be a progression of moods and feelings. The theme, what’s behind the emotion, the meaning, all that comes later. ~ Stanley Kubrick

I absolutely love movies, even though I absolutely hate the way people behave in theaters. It drives me crazy so I watch most of my movies at home these days. Although, there are some films that need to be seen on the big screen, and sometimes, I miss it enough to sneak out to a matinee after a film has been out for awhile and have a good old fashioned movie experience. Don’t even get me started on the costs!

Movies make me happy so I decided to put together a post, one I can add to from time to time to review the films I go to see at the theaters, I hope you enjoy it and have a happy day my friends ~ Rev Kane

War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)

Director – Matt Reeves

War for the Planet of the Apes

I had heard great things about this movie and I really enjoyed the first two so I thought I would go check this out while of vacation last week. First off, if you haven’t seen the first two films in the series go see them first, this is certainly a well-connected trilogy and I don’t think the third film would work as a stand alone, even if you know the old 70’s Planet of the Apes film. A quick bit about the franchise. I loved the original Planet of the Apes, I saw it as on a child on TV and absolutely fell in love with it. Caught a couple of the follow-ons in theaters as a kid. Loved the TV series and have watched most of those old movies on TV dozens of time. Even got to meet Roddy McDowell and Kim Hunter in costume at a car show once in New York.

The first movie was a classic and amazing film, the rest were B-grade scifi fun films, cartoonish and goofy at times. Tim Burton took a shot at a restart and the film was absolutely terrible caught somewhere between trying to be a good film and catch some of the magic of the old films. It missed. The most recent restart of the series has been a revelation, I really enjoyed the first two films and think they did a magnificent on both of them. Things brings us to the third film, War for the Planet of the Apes. On the surface this looks like your typical summer blow stuff up action blockbuster, it’s not! Even the good buzz around the film had me thinking it was just a really good summer blockbuster and hey, I love films like Independence Day, so what the heck.

I was deeply surprised by this movie. Sure, there are some good action sequences, but this is a great film. The story is excellent, flows well and introduces us to some amazing ideas and characters and has a lot to say underneath. Matt Reeves does a wonderful job of utilizing motion capture technology and the actors are physically fantastic. This film keeps your attention, entertains you and makes you care deeply about the characters. Well worth the ridiculous cost of going to the movies.

Valerian

Director – Luc Besson

Valerian

I have to start discussing this film by discussing The 5th Element, one of Luc Besson’s best films. I didn’t go to the film in the theater because it starred Milla Jovovich and she really doesn’t like me, it comes back to an incident that occurred between me and her in Knoxville while she was on tour for her “album” but that’s a story for another time. It was a choice I regretted as I’ve come to really love the genius of that film and Besson’s work on it. There’s a great cast, the story is a hell of a lot of fun and it’s a film that I watch again and again. No, there’s a little bit of an on the nose, good vs evil message, but this is a film for fun not deep thought. As such, it does a magnificent job, Milla is fantastic in this film, maybe that sincere compliment will repair our relationship.

I’ve been seeing mixed reviews for Valerian, they have ranged from the promotional awesome, to the over critical horrible. I honestly didn’t have high expectations for the film, but Luc Besson is a director who looks at the world differently and sometimes, like with The 5th Element, The Professional or La Femme Nikita, he does some amazing work. So on a hot day it was worth the gamble of a matinée price in the air conditioning.

The movie’s primary star is Cara Delevingne, she’s a beautiful girl with a great body, assuming you can ignore the caterpillars on her forehead. I know, that’s not nice, some people love her big dark eye brows, I’m just not one of them. She’s in the film for her look, she’s not a great actor and her constant eye-roll and scowl seem to be her one acting skill. But she’s generally easy on the eyes as is her co-star and again, that seems to be their draw, young pretty people.

The movie is visually amazing, the opening scene, that sets the stage for the story, is absolutely visually stunning and emotionally evocative. The scene really made me happy. Unfortunately, the visuals are absolutely the highlight of the film. The city of a 1000 worlds as a concept is great, the quick descriptor though is really just a tease and I wish they would have gone deeper into the idea of the city and explored it somehow. The story moves through fairly linearly and the action sequences are ok, but the whole film is really carried along as a feast for the eyes. But where The 5th Element was inventive and the story interesting with some great characters, Zorg, Ruby Rhod and The Diva, Valerian looks spectacular but feels utterly linear and two-dimensional. Wait for it on TV.

Posted in movies, personal happiness | Tagged be happy, happiness, happy, make me happy, movies, planet of the apes | Leave a comment

Happiness and Wellness

Posted on July 27, 2017 by Michael Kane

Happiness and Wellness

Happiness and Wellness

The best way for a person to have happy thoughts is to count his blessings and not his cash. ~Author Unknown

Obviously our happiness is tied to our health and wellness and we’ve all seen lots of information regarding the right things to eat, the right amount of exercise. Of course we’ve also seen lots of conflicting information as well. So tonight a little simple and solid advice on being healthier.

Try to do the following 6 out of 7 days a week

· Walk 30 minutes a day or 7,000 steps a day (Recommend the Omron HJ112 pedometer)

· Drink 48 ounces of water a day

· Eat 5 servings of vegetables a day

· Sleep 7 plus hours a night

· Write nightly in a grateful journal about what you are grateful for each day.

Far from a radical plan and one I think we can all accomplish, so eat well, be grateful and have a happy day my friends ~ Rev Kane

Wisdom of the Dalai Lama

Posted on July 16, 2017 by Michael Kane

Wisdom of the Dalai Lama

talks on happiness, on happiness, kindness

The Dalai Lama professes on happiness and kindness

On being knocked down

I have great hopes that the world may become a better, more peaceful, more equitable place in the twenty-first century. From my own experience, at 16 I lost my freedom, at 24 I lost my country and for the last more than 50 years have faced all sorts of problems, but I have never given up hope. We have a Tibetan saying, ‘Nine times fall down, Nine times pick yourself up.’

On moral principles

As human beings we are all the same. We have this marvelous intelligence, which sometimes creates problems for us, but when influenced by warm-heartedness can be very constructive. In this context we need to appreciate the value of having moral principles.

On anger

Like anyone else, I too have the potential for violence; I too have anger in me. However, I try to recall that anger is a destructive emotion. I remind myself that scientists now say that anger is bad for our health; it eats into our immune system. So, anger destroys our peace of mind and our physical health. We shouldn’t welcome it or think of it as natural or as a friend.

Posted in Dalai Lama, personal happiness | Tagged anger, buddhism, dalai lama, inspiration, morals, persistence, philosophy, tibet, violence | 1 Comment

Happiness and Family: Update

Posted on July 15, 2017 by Michael Kane

Happiness and Family: Update

Sometimes this is very true

Today an update to a piece I wrote in 2012. The first little update is my flock or gang, (depending on their moods), of nieces and nephews has grown from five to seven. My brother and his wife have added two incredibly adorable nephews into the mix. So at the current time my nieces and nephews range from one and a half to fifteen. All are living back in NY, one is terrified of me and calls me Uncle Beard and to him I’m some twisted combination of the Boogeyman and Santa Claus, one has only met me once and was too young to really interact with me. I have a fifteen year old niece who is a full force of nature, one of the physically strongest humans I know, a terror, an artist and a giant ball of love. I have a tween nephew who is both brilliant, a talented golfer and a total wise ass. I have my one potential scientist in the mix and his little sister who is a mix of science nerd and actress who is absolutely fearless. Then there is Rooney my partner in crime pictured below.

Picture purposely blurry to protect our identities

I am incredibly grateful for this pack of munchkins, they add so much to my life. I don’t get to see them nearly enough, one of the downsides of my semi-nomadic existence. But I cherish the time I do get with them. So today just a little note to say that and to remind you to hug, or send a note to the ones you love. Have a happy day my friends ~ Rev Kane

Happiness and Family

My oldest sister’s kids

Tonight I’m writing to just say how thankful I am for my nieces and nephews and to just revel in how much joy they bring me. I have 5 so far, 3 nieces and 2 nephews, their ages include 3 months, 3 years, 5 years, 7 years and 9 years. One of my nieces just broke her thumb and thumbed the authority and went to camp anyway, one of my nephews drove a golf ball 100 yards at golf camp, two of them just showed up at the happiest place on earth and my niece got the full princess make-up treatment and looked more happy than I could possibly imagine a little girl could look. My 3 month old niece is even starting to mimicking the sounds that other people send at her.

I haven’t always had the closest of relationships with my family, but my nieces and nephews have absolutely brought me more happiness than anything else in my life. I’m single, I don’t have any children and for some people, that means my life is somehow diminished and maybe they are correct, but I think the best five little people in my life bring me more happiness than I can imagine. I hope you have the same kind of people in your life and as always, have a happy day my friends. ~ Rev Kane

Happiness and Anger Management

Posted on July 2, 2017 by Michael Kane

Happiness and Anger Management

Happiness and Anger Management

If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion. ~ Dalai Lama

We all have those days, we’re running late, things are going right, we didn’t have time for breakfast so we whip through the drive through at our local fast food joint to pick up a snack and then of course, they got the order wrong. You get mad, we all do, you may even yell a bit in your car and if you really can’t eat it you bring the order back in to the restaurant.

I witnessed this happen for someone this morning at McDonalds; he came into the restaurant with his drive-thru order and a lot of anger. He had apparently been told that they were serving lunch and they weren’t and he’d ordered several meal deals that turned out to be breakfast not lunch. He came in upset and the manager did what a good manager would do, she apologized, offered him his money back or to choose another order. He did eventually take another order but he kept hammering at the manager, kept ordering her to tell the person who made the mistake that it was breakfast and not lunch. He did what a lot of us do when we’re angry, he just had to find a way to hurt her and make her feel bad.

This is something we all need to learn to avoid my friends. It’s ok for us to get angry it’s a normal human reaction. However, it’s the duration that we have to work on, we need to learn to hold that anger to an absolute minimum. The longer we stay angry the more harm we do to ourselves in terms of stress and negativity. The longer we stay angry the more we feel the need to hurt others as well. We need to reduce the length of time we stay angry, so that we can increase the amount of time we’re happy. So start today and have a happy day my friends. ~ Rev Kane

Happiness and ghosts from the past

Posted on June 30, 2017 by Michael Kane

Happiness and ghosts from the past

Lovely statues or Dermentors in the shadows

It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. ~Berkely Breathed

Very few people, at least in how they remember things, had a great childhood. We all suffered the slings and arrows of parents who were less attentive than we wished, of the torments and slights of other children and the disappointments of others getting things we wanted but never got. The fact is that this historical record is not a static entity; it is a dynamic history that we create and recreate both consciously and unconsciously as we move through life. If you want evidence of this just listen to the family stories each year at the holidays and watch how they change over time. This, although it can cause confusion and problems, is ultimately a good thing.

You see the fact that our history is fluid means that although we are a product of our past, our past can be changed and therefore our lives can be changed. The slights of our past no longer have to be the reason we act the way that we do. As adults we have to take responsibility for our actions and no longer blame others for the situations of our lives. It is our life and ultimately our fault for how it works out and whether or not we are happy. So take the proverbial bull by the horns and take control of your life, and your happiness. And as always, have a happy day my friends. ~ Rev Kane

Books for your Summer Reading List 2017

Posted on June 10, 2017 by Michael Kane

Books for your Summer Reading List 2017

Summer is Beach Reading Season

Tonight a little post to help you find books for your summer reading list. The focus for the list is books that aren’t too deep, about interesting topics and not too long, basically brain candy reading for the hot, sweet days of summer, while you’re relaxing on vacation, enjoy.

Nothing brings you more happiness than reading books on the beach in the summer.

Summer Reading Books

Borne by Jeff Vandermeer

Borne – Rachel, a postapocalyptic scavenger who finds the improbably sentient and mutable creature—who “smelled of beach reeds on lazy summer afternoons and, beneath the sea salt, of passionflowers”—while picking through the fur of the gargantuan flying bear that terrorizes her devastated city. And then things start to get weird.

Full Wolf Moon – By one of the authors of Relic, a little paranormal mystery book featuring the character paranormal investigator Jeremy Logan. Add to that a cool location, Werewolves in the Adirondacks.

Books on Happiness

Appalachian Trail Happiness – This book comes in at less than a hundred pages and is a nice light book about hiking the Appalachian Trail. As one of the comments say on Amazon, this book is like a great conversation with the author telling stories about the trail.

Appalachian Trail, adventure, travel, happiness

Find happiness walking on the Appalachian Trail

Potlikker Papers: A Food History of the Modern South – A book that tells stories about the culture of the south through food. Stories including dinners cooked for civil rights leaders to the fast booms in the south, brain candy and it will make you hungry.

Books about Love

How to Fall in Love with Anyone – Mandy Len Catron provided everyone with their new favorite date-night opener in her viral New York Times piece “To Fall in Love With Anyone, Do This.” Is it possible to create the conditions for romance armed only with 36 questions devised by a psychologist? (Try it, and let us know.) Now, Catron expands upon the themes of love and relationships in a collection of essays destined to provide more conversational fodder.

Sex and Rage – Originally published in 1979, Sex and Rage paints with Babitz’s signature hues: Los Angeles sky blue, jacaranda mauve, and cocktail pink. Its protagonist, the aimless Jacaranda, shares with her creator a bicoastal range, languid ambition, and a talent for passion.

Uplifting Books

Waking Land

The Waking Land – Bates’s debut is the first book in a planned trilogy about a young woman who can call on the magical powers of nature. Bates has built an extraordinary world with terrific characters in this unique new fantasy.

Reading with Patrick: A Teacher, A Student and a Life-changing Relationship – In 2004, Michelle Kuo moved to the Mississippi Delta to teach at a school in one of the poorest counties in the U.S. There she met a young man named Patrick. Patrick was thoughtful, motivated, and loved learning — he was only hampered by opportunity. Kuo worked with him until she moved away to attend law school. After learning that Patrick was in jail for murder, she moved back to work with him again. This is a story about the power of books; the issues of race, justice, and poverty; and the endurance of hope and connection. Kuo’s book is an honest and touching memoir.

Happiness, Wedding and Love

Posted on May 30, 2017 by Michael Kane

Happiness, Wedding and Love

No relationship is all sunshine, but two people can share an umbrella and survive the storm ~ Unknown

So this weekend I had the honor of officiating the wedding of the two fine people pictured above. It was a lovely wedding and went off without any significant hitches. I’m happy to say the ceremony will not be showing up on America’s Home Videos. It was a lovely ceremony and I was quite happy to be part of it.

For my part of the ceremony, not really sure what to call that actually, I spoke about the courage of love. To me, what true love really comes down to is acceptance. Not just the type of acceptance extended to us by colleagues and friends but true acceptance.

You see we all wear masks, we don’t show ourselves to each other, not really. We all have secrets we never share, with anyone. So when I say true love is acceptance, I mean the acceptance that occurs when you take the ultimate risk. When you drop all of the masks and defenses and let someone see the real you. When you show them what you really think, all of your strengths, your fears, the horrible parts of you. When you truly show the person you love the monster inside. Of course it’s only really us who sees what’s inside as a monster. We’re never as truly awful or as ugly as we believe. But when we stand there naked and defenseless before another, in all of our perceived ugliness, and that person accepts us, that is true love.

When two people can truly accept each other it’s a beautiful and magical thing. At the end of the day, it’s what we all want for ourselves, what we all hope we will find with another. I hope you have found it my friends and it’s brought you many happy days. ~ Rev Kane

Musings on a Sunday Night

Posted on May 1, 2017 by Michael Kane

Musings on a Sunday Night

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before. ~ Edgar Alan Poe

As usual on Sunday night I sat down to write my weekly post and frankly I’ve got nothing. Now, I’ve never let that stop me from writing before, so why stop now. It’s been a hectic last few weeks, a new job opportunity came my way that I needed to decide on, I’m in the process of moving and I’m finding being a full-time dean, a full-time blogger, author, writer and book salesman (marketing team), hiker, and super secret hero (damn, that was a secret) is wearing me down. Perhaps I need to take my own recent blog advice and just take a weekend, and I will but not for a few weeks. I’m in the middle of a move and on travel for work over the next two weeks and then I get to do something really amazing and officiate a friends wedding at the end of May. But that first weekend in June is all mine!!

What I find when I burn the candle at both ends is that it starts to get into my psyche and pull me down. I get less sleep, my mood tanks a bit, I eat badly and I lose focus but I can certainly tough out a couple of weeks. And sometimes friend that’s just what we have to do, happiness is an ongoing battle, it’s not like you hit it and then boom – happy forever! Wouldn’t that would be nice. But like fitness and wellness, happiness is a constant effort, that like the others provides really amazing benefits. I have been thinking a lot about that idea lately.

You see ten years ago a point like this would have me spiraling into darkness and depression that would take me weeks to fight my way out of back into the light. But now, because of the work I’ve done over the years I can ride this out and stay on an even keel. That’s why I talk and post about happiness, it’s to help you get to a similar place if you’re not there, and to help you stay there if you are there.

So have a happy day my friends ~ Rev Kane

Happiness is a Book Club

Posted on April 17, 2017 by Michael Kane

Happiness is a Book Club

There is nothing to writing. You just sit down at a typewriter and bleed. ~ Rev Kane

So, several months before I had published my book, Appalachian Trail Happiness, I got a note from a friend of a friend. She posted on Facebook to my friend that they should read my book for their book club, and have me come speak. I was both surprised and flattered, I mean heck, the book wasn’t even done yet!

Well, this past week I did in fact drive down to LA and join my friend’s book club for the evening. The whole day was great. I went down to Hermosa Beach in the afternoon and hung out with a friend and his kids. Had some Shel Silverstein verses thrown my way and had a couple of hours to catch up with my friend.

It was a gorgeous day and the drive up to Palos Verdes where my friend lives was lovely.

I’ve done a couple of presentations about my book, but this was my first book club. I have to confess to being a bit nervous about the whole thing. The idea of having folks right in your face who may not have liked the book was not a comforting feeling. I’m happy to say that they seemed very happy with the book, I even sold a couple of extra copies.

They also gave me a great suggestion, when I first wrote the book, the book was split into two sections, the main story and then a sort of glossary where I explained trail slang and told some stories. Eventually, in the final edit, I took the glossary and incorporated the stories and terms into the main part of the book. What the book club members told me was that the glossary would have been helpful either way. So I will be sharing that out on a post later tonight.

So I guess I’m an author, it’s funny to say that, but I have a book that’s out and published, that people are buying. I’m not making a lot of money off of the book, but I’m actually proud of 79,000+ ranking on Amazon’s author list. But I’m happy, it’s a start, the most significant step so far to becoming what I want to be, a full-time writer and speaker. So thank you very much to the book club members and in particular my high school friend Suanne who hosted, for helping add one more piece to that puzzle I’m working on.

Have a happy day my friends ~ Rev Kane

Some Other Adventure Posts You Might Enjoy!

Appalachian Trail Happiness: Trail Community

Appalachian Trail Happiness: Reader’s Favorite Posts

Quitting the Appalachian Trail

My Favorite Appalachian Trail Photos of 2015

Appalachian Trail Happiness: Precious Moments

Posted in personal happiness | Tagged Appalchian trail, author, book club, friends, happiness, los angeles, publishing, writing | Leave a comment

The Ministry of Happiness

Movies make me happy: Reviews

Movies make me happy: Reviews

Happiness and Wellness

Happiness and Wellness

Other Happiness Posts You Will Enjoy!

Wisdom of the Dalai Lama

Wisdom of the Dalai Lama

Happiness and Family: Update

Happiness and Family: Update

Happiness and Family

Other Happiness Posts You Might Enjoy!

Happiness and Anger Management

Happiness and Anger Management

Other Posts You Might Enjoy!

Happiness and ghosts from the past

Happiness and ghosts from the past

Other Posts You Might Enjoy!

Books for your Summer Reading List 2017