The Challenge- Take Two

A friend said to me the other day: "Are you going to do The Challenge again this year?" It was cool because he said 'The Challenge' as though it was a proper noun; an actual, recognized proper noun and therefore proper challenge.

I hadn't thought about it up until that point, but decided that, heck yeah I'm going to do it again this year. So at his suggestion, I'm getting started early.

As a reminder: The Challenge is for me to see as many of the Oscar-nominated films as possible prior to the Awards Broadcast.

How can I start now, you ask? I have no crystal ball, how am I going to start now? Well, until I get more versed in what makes a film or performance 'Oscar-worthy' I am relying on websites like www.awardsdaily.com that feature "contender trackers." The folks there keep their fingers on the pulse of film festival season to see which horses move out into the front of the race.

On my immediate must-see list: "Inception" and "The Kids Are All Right."

And..... ACTION!

The First Challenge Pt. 2

My first challenge has come to an end. The Oscars were handed out last night in a ceremony that was unsurprisingly long, but went surprisingly fast. I got to watch with friends for the first time, and keeping score on our ballots was certainly a fun new twist to my annual Oscar-watch. (I never thought I'd hear the words "Okay, Jamie's on the scoreboard" as I watched an awards show.)

I was able to predict 15 out of the 22 categories. I'm not sure if that's because of my challenge, or if it was because the Academy was somehow more predictable this year. I'll choose to believe that I gained some astounding insights as I watched film after nominated film (whether that's fact or fiction, I'll not debate for now.)

What I did gain from this challenge was a better understanding of what it takes to reach a goal. From the countless challenges I face in daily life (some mundane and some not so), I should have understood this to some degree already. However, in the pursuit of something that is your bliss, the lessons become more poignant and meaningful.

I learned that to achieve a goal, it will involve a certain amount of sacrifice. The pursuit will also steal a large chunk of your focus and become somewhat of an obsession. Being prepared is important (think spreadsheet and highlighters) but being willing to go with the flow at the drop of a hat is vital. Economic support is important, but constantly worrying about it will hold you back. Not to sound cliché, but knowledge is key- and if you don't already know something, be prepared to research it. Be open to learning, open to advice and ready to hear criticism. Know that you'll feel guilty and self-centered at various points in the quest, but that it's part and parcel to the adventure. Let go of fears and doubt. And perhaps the most amazing thing I learned, rather was reminded of, was that the journey is so much more rewarding with friends and loved ones in the seats beside you.

Thanks to everyone who gave me a shot and read my blog. HUGE thank yous to those who commented... it was nice to know I wasn't just rambling in cyberspace. Can't wait to see you all back for The Second Challenge. Stay tuned to see what's next.

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