I still remember what a good impression the movie Before Night Falls made on me a couple of years ago. The movie, realized by the painter and now director Julian Schnabel, proves that creativity can be and should be used in diverse ways. The movie – with the brilliant Spanish actor Javier Bardem – is about the life of Cuban writer Reinaldo Arenas. His journey from Cuba to New York City in search of artistic, political, and sexual freedom is moving and inspiring.

In Schnabel’s latest movie, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, he comes back stronger, more poetic, and more meaningful. The movie is about the life of French journalist and editor of Elle magazine, Jean-Dominique Bauby. At age 43, Bauby suffered a massive stroke that left him paralized. His only way to communicate was by blinking his left eye. As we see Bauby’s world through his one eye, the colors are beautiful, dream-like, and the story seen through him is almost impossible to believe. Although Bauby couldn’t move, I loved (and I’m still thinking about) the part when he realized “he still had his imagination and memories“. Amazingly, with assistance, he was still able to write the book The Diving Bell and the Butterfly: A Memoir of Life in Death.

The story reaffirms that no matter what our lives turn out to be – who we are, what we do or what we have – there are plenty of butterflies right in front of us. It is up to us to allow them to lift us up and light the way!

The first page I read when I get my Runner’s World magazine is the section called I’m a Runner. It’s always nice to read how other people incorporate running into their busy lives.

I have a long list of reasons why I love to run, but here are a few. For those of you who just started running, I hope this keeps you moving forward.

*Running is similar to making art. It’s all about dedication. Making time for it, going for it with your heart, and enjoying the experience.

*I run in the morning because I love to start my day with a beautiful sunrise. Forrest Gump describes running in the desert: “when the sun comes up… I couldn’t tell where heavens stopped and the earth began“.

*Running is a source of inspiration. It’s the best studio space I’ve ever had!

*Running is like a minimalist performance: a good pair of running shoes and your inner strength is all you need.

*Running is balance. Having a healthy and active body is as important as having a healthy and active mind.

*I run because as with art, I can’t imagine my life without it.

Photo: NYC Marathon 5 Borough Gloves. These are great for chilly days.

This week has been loaded with information and like the storm we had in New York yesterday – powerful and abundant. I heard wonderful stories from artists talking passionately about their work to strong women talking about their new lives after being incarcerated. Wow!

It was interesting to see how everyone’s experience had something in common – a crucial moment. What do we do when we have a new opportunity in front of us, a new relationship, a new job, a new route, a headstand or simply a new idea or direction in our studios. Do we take the risk of going for it?

All the stories I heard this week were from people who took a risk and it was all worth it. I thought about the sweet movie, Chocolat, when the priest says something so simple and true:

“I think we can’t go around… measuring our goodness by what we don’t do. By what we deny ourselves… what we resist and who we exclude. I think we’ve got to measure goodness… by what we embrace… what we create… and who we include.”

This morning, I ran through Carroll Gardens – a beautiful Italian neighborhood known for its nice brownstones and gardens. But today, I saw beauty in everything: the flower boxes, figures of the Virgin and Saint Anthony, pumpkins and American flags. It was as if I was seeing everything in high-definition!

I thought of one my favorite movies: Amelie. The movie is visually beautiful. The colors are so intense. But the best part is the wonderful story about how valuable are the simple things in life.

“This whimsical, magical picture will put a smile on your face and a warm feeling in your heart”. – DVD Central.