THE LETTERS - THE EPIC LIFE STORY OF MOTHER TERESA

If you judge people, you have no time to love them 

-Mother Teresa 

As a Catholic school boy in the early '80s, the nuns who taught my classes really emphasized Mother Teresa, who had recently won the Nobel Prize in 1979, as a role model.  One of those lessons based upon Mother Teresa's teachings that still resonates with me today after more than thirty years have passed by is not to judge people with preconceived notions because that clouds your ability to being open to accepting others for who they are.  With all of today's mistrust and hatred between people of different political, religious, and racial affiliations, Mother Teresa's simple but profound words "if you judge people, you have no time to love them" ring so true.  Our world would be such a better place if more people could accept that tenet.

I remember going to a summer basketball camp when I was a kid and the coaches running the clinic brought some underprivileged boys from another city that they had taken under their wings to participate.  Based upon my impression of them being poor, another skin color, and a bit rough around the edges, I stayed clear of this trio of what I perceived as young hoodlums.  One day some of the other students from my neighborhood school attending the camp started bullying and beating me up.  I was about to get thrown into the pool at the high school where this basketball camp was taking place with my clothes and shoes on.  Out of no where these three boys, who I had been avoiding throughout the camp and really didn't know, stepped in, stopped the abuse, and saved me from the situation.  They became my good friends and we still stay in touch to this day.  I truly learned Mother Teresa's message that fateful day and have tried to abide by it everyday since never judging people by appearances and always trying to conduct myself with others in a manner that I would want them to treat me.

So when I found out that there was a motion picture playing in theaters about Mother Teresa my interest was peeked.  Check out this trailer for THE LETTERS - THE EPIC LIFE STORY OF MOTHER TERESA:



THE LETTERS which arrived at movie theaters across the United States on December 4, 2015 portrays Mother Teresa through personal letters she wrote over the last 40 years of her life.  The story is told from the point of view of a Vatican priest who recounts Mother Teresa's life's work, her religious zeal, and this woman's unbreakable spirit.

This PG rated film stars four-time BAFTA nominated  British Actress Juliet Stevenson as Mother Teresa, Academy Award Nominee Max Van Sydow and Golden Globe winner Rutger Hauer.  THE LETTERS was written and directed by William Riead.

For more information about THE LETTERS - THE EPIC LIFE STORY OF MOTHER TERESA visit thelettersmovie.com, stop by facebook.com/thelettersmovie, or visit @thelettersmovie on Twitter. #TheLetters

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of The Letters (Film). The opinions and text are all mine.

PlayStation Television Ad Captures Nostalgia That Makes Fans Passionate About Star Wars

It's an exciting time to be a Star Wars fan!  A hit television series, Rebels, just kicked off its second season, brand new Star Wars video games are hitting store shelves (Disney Infinity 3.0 Star Wars Saga & Electronic Arts' Battlefront) and of course a new movie, The Force Awakens, premieres in theaters across the United States on December 18, 2015.  While there has been a lot of buzz about the trailers for the movie, I have to say that this television advertisement for Sony's PlayStation really has been the most impressive marketing piece I've seen so far as it really captures the nostalgia that fans have for Star Wars which really is "The Force" behind the ongoing success of the brand.  If you haven't seen this ad yet, check it out!



That orange '70/'80s era carpeting so hits home for me in the scene with the kids playing with their Kenner Star Wars action figures.  These new additions to the Star Wars saga are arriving at a great time for my family as my kids are just at the right age for me to share my passion for these characters and stories with them.  Things are a bit different now though as when I was their age I had pretend lightsaber duels with my friends using flash lights like in the PlayStation advertisement but now my kids have high tech light up light saber recreations that make sound effects when you joust them together.  Some things don't change though as just like his dad who took a Empire Strikes Back lunchbox to school my son carts a Star Wars: Rebels one to first grade with him every morning.  My daughter opted for a FROZEN lunch box but she does have a cute Chopper plush she hangs from her school backpack.

I've been a fan of the comic books, novels, toys and movies revolving around George Lucas' original trilogy of films since watching them as a kid when they originally came out.  My kids aren't as much into those characters but love the new generation of characters in the Star Wars: Rebels animated shows.  We really are looking forward to watching The Force Awakens when it arrives at theaters and sharing in enjoying it for the first time together as a family.  Who knows maybe The Force Awakens will become the favorite part of the Star Wars saga for all of us?!



So what are you looking forward to the most in the upcoming Star Wars film?  For my kids it is getting a better peek at BB-8.

While for me it is seeing the return of "old friends" on the silver screen.

Oh yes and I'll admit we've purchased the Disney Infinity 3.0 Star Wars video game and pre-ordered Battlefront for our PlayStation4 so we will definitely be in a Star Wars frame of mind when the movie opens!