Romantic comedies targeting 18-35 year-olds are invariably raunchy, sexy and overloaded with F-Bombs, but I find most of them hilarious and, more importantly, concluding with a important message that I hope isn’t lost in the muck of rudeness, incivility, and dysfunctional behavior. In “She’s Out of My League,” adorable Alice Eve develops a liking for Jay Baruchel who plays a scrawny quasi-nerd. His friends and annoying family reinforce his own belief that she is way too good for him. In the end, his cruelist friend becomes enlighted, discovering that a total babe like Alice can actually overcome Jay’s physical shortcomings and find him attractive because, well, he’s a really nice guy with a sense of humor and humanity.
It’s the ancient formula–boy wins girl, boy loses girl, boy wins girl back–but it’s refreshing to see his all his friends, family members and other uncouth clowns pleased that the two are meant for each other. I know that crassness of the movie is intentionally outrageous just to get a laugh, and much of it is funny, but if you try to duplicate it at home, you’re going to get smacked.
My wife and I just returned from a week in Mississippi, including four days in Oxford, home of the U. of Mississippi (Ole Miss). The state and the University are known for good looking girls and Miss America contestants, but looks aren’t everything–nor are they the only quality these young ladies possess. They smile broadly and say hello as they pass by. At restaurants and bars, they engaged us in long conversations with undivided attention, even when we were among the oldest people there. They speak with energy, enthusiasm and optimism. Most of them get dolled up on Friday and Saturday nights, no matter where they are going.
The young men are just as friendly, and oh so polite. When they enter a building, they check to see if someone is behind them and, if so, hold the door for them. They never say yeah, but yes sir, and yes ma-am. Their old-fashioned Southern hospitality and manners make a very positive impression.
hypersoccorfan
When people try to act and look like others in order to fit in or be popular, someone motherly advises them to just be themselves. I get the point, but maybe just being yourself is an easy way to avoid making a few improvements. I think we all have a similar definition of a nice, likable person. Perhaps a person who has character, consideration, kindness, honesty, a sense of humor, and shows interest in other people and their activities. In other words, an assortment of any number of admirable qualities.
If each of us made a list of all the qualities we like to see in other people, how many of those qualities do we have ourselves?
I think everyone should strive to be a better person. We all have some shortcomings that we simply can’t change or fix, but in other areas we can do better. The purpose is not just to be better liked, but to like yourself as well.
