There is so much great content being produced out there, it’s hard to keep up.

My friend Joseph recently turned me on to a series called Abstract on Netflix—an homage to creativity. After about three minutes of episode 1, season 1, I was hooked.

We took our daughter Shea to see Hidden Figures when it first came out. So good, for so many reasons. Shortly thereafter, I watched Beasts of No Nation, another Netflix original, starring Idris Elba. This one is extremely graphic and heavy, but worth watching to keep our (unconscious) entitlement in check and put things into perspective. Violence is nothing new to society but this film makes you take a step back and see how the cycle starts and begins anew with each generation, unless each generation takes measures to offer a solution like kindness, truth, nurturing, education, and true leadership early on. The setting is western Africa but the theme is a very simple one that applies anywhere—boys being taught by men that violence and weapons and indiscriminate killing are power; that passion, emotion, and empathy are weakness. Again, different time and place than what’s happening right here our own nation. Yet, somehow the themes of shouting, verbally steamrolling, fighting, insulting, humiliating, dominating, or physically forcing one’s opponent(s) into submission are alive and well. Bullying, as it were—which brings me to another film that is beyond words. A Brave Heart: The Lizzie Velasquez Story. If you haven’t seen this film, make the time. It was directed and produced by my friend Erik’s girlfriend Sara, was released at festivals last year, and can be streamed on-demand.

It’s easy and common to make people feel different. It’s rare to make them feel special. Probably not all that rare but, often without even realizing they’re doing it, people are constantly finding reasons to separate and alienate. At least, this has been my experience for much of my life. This film shows just how cruel people can be but, at the same time, demonstrates that belief in oneself is the ultimate determinant in everything. Thank you, Sara, for making this film and doing your part to advocate for girls, women, and humanity whenever and wherever you can.