Full Speech: Jim Carrey's Commencement Address at the 2014 MUM Graduatio...

I rediscovered this video, having first seen it about a year ago. It couldn't have come at a more opportune time.

Jim tells the story of his dad working at a job he hated--a job he eventually lost.  The "playing it safe route" had no guarantee, Jim decided, so he might as well do something he loved. "You can fail at what you don't want so you might as well take a chance on doing what you love." --Jim Carrey.

He follows "The Church of Freedom From Concern.

I've been going through some doubts recently. Am I on the right path? Where is my audience? How can I be true to myself, sometimes making darker pieces that don't seem to be commercial, but which I feel compelled to make? How do you watch others gallop ahead, discover the things you knew first, years ago? When you say, I knew that, I did that, you then appear disingenuous? I promise you, I don't think of these things all the time, but I would be lying if I said sometimes those feelings aren't triggered.

And then I happen to see this video again and Jim says, "Your need for acceptance can make you invisible in this world." "Relax, and dream up a good life." And it reaffirms that I am on the right path, my path. I want it sped up, of course. I want some sign that I'm supposed to take this fork and not that fork in the road, but I guess I just have to continue to "Put One Foot in Front of the Other" as the Winter Warlock sings in "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town." (I've posted that clip before in the last few years, just have to every once in awhile remind myself!)

Back to Jim Carrey and more of my favorite quotes of his:

"...Letting the universe know what you want and working toward it while letting go of how it comes to pass. Your job is not to figure out the how (this totally sounds like "The Secret") it's going to happen for you, but to open the door in your head and when the door opens in real life, just walk through it. And don't worry if you miss your cue, there's always doors opening."

"I am just making a conscious choice to perceive challenges as something beneficial so I can deal with them in the most productive way."

Really, listen for yourself. I think I'm going to every day for awhile!

Robin Williams

Goodbye, Robin Williams.  My heart aches for you.

You were a part of my whole life from "Mork and Mindy" forward.  It was your darker roles that showed, in my humble opinion, your talented soul.  I mean, who could imitate your manic comedic genius, perhaps only Jim Carrey comes close to that?  Steve Martin also, had that crazy body movement, but slowed down to the nth degree in comparison to you.  But it was the sweetness of your soul, the sadness in your twinkling eyes--how could those two things be combined?--that showed your gentleness and awesome talent.

I remember your malevolent turn in "Insomnia" with Al Pacino and Hilary Swank that shocked me at your depth.  I saw them all--"The World According to Garp," "Good Morning, Vietnam," but that was the one that exposed me to what was inside of you.

And I will never forget my favorite part of "Good Will Hunting."  Your comment to Matt Damon's "Will" about living life, loving a woman, seeing Michelangelo's creations in person...you were so touching.

I'm so sorry you had pain in your life.  Isn't it amazing how many comedic geniuses have that ache touching them inside?  I hope you are at peace, dear Robin, and your pain has ended.  Thank you for all your gifts that you shared so generously with this world.

"Good Will Hunting" - Bench Scene

One day later, here's the best article I have read so far on his struggle:  Robin Williams.

Later still, this sane and compassionate one from Flavorwire:
Robin Williams and the Myth of Battling Depression
and this from The New Yorker: "Suicide: A Crime of Lonliness."

RIP Philip Seymour Hoffman SOLD

I was watching some preliminary Super Bowl shows and was getting a little bored by some chic singing in leather so I did a little channel surfing and ended up on the E Channel which was doing a "Sex in the City" marathon.  My excitement fell off immediately as I saw a banner running at the bottom of the screen.  "...found dead in his NYC apartment."  And I didn't know who it was.  I kept reading, but there was no name yet, and eventually the message ran in a loop, and I saw it..."Philip Seymour Hoffman."  I couldn't believe it...and then I felt immediate devastation.  He was one of my very favorite, favorite actors.  I remember seeing him in "Scent of A Woman" and being impressed.  However, I think the movie where I became thunderstruck by his talent was, "The Talented Mr. Ripley." I thought, wow, this guy is incredible.  Nuanced beyond belief.  And that did it.  I followed him from that moment on, and he never disappointed.  He became my modern day, Al Pacino.  Not in looks, of course, but in his ability to swing from any movie role and off onto a Broadway stage as well, just as Al does.  He could sink deeply into a sinister role, but just as brilliantly be funny, arrogant, and tender in something like, "Along Came Polly."

I said to my husband, I just can't believe it!  This guy was so phenomenal...he had the admiration of his peers, an academy award, so many nominations.  But I know that means nothing if you are haunted by inner demons.  And he was so good that one has to think that there had to be so much pressure on him to be continually phenomenal with every role.  That expectation had to take a toll.

I remember last year when there were news reports that he had went into rehab...that he had snorted heroin 3 or 4 times, and he realized he had better go into rehab before it got worse.  I had been surprised by that news, but was so glad he gotten help.  At that time, I don't remember there having been reports of his former struggle (up until his early 20's) with addiction.

I have been reading articles on him all night, and their reader comments.  Articles quote this one and that one with our modern day form of condolence--the Twitter tweet of sorrow.  No article that I've seen, however, has quoted Jim Carrey's tweet, which I think is probably the most accurate one of them all:

"Dear Philip, a beautiful beautiful soul. 

For the most sensitive among us the noise can be too much. 

Bless your heart."

I'm so sad tonight and still really, in a state of absolute shock.  And I'm so sorry for the loss of you, Philip...unbelievably talented, shooting star of depth and heart-rending emotion.

Article link below from the New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/03/movies/philip-seymour-hoffman-actor-dies-at-46.html?hpw&rref=arts

and another great one from "The New Yorker":

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/movies/2014/02/philip-seymour-hoffmans-genius.html