Our first trip was a wonderful visit. We were teased for bringing a baby so young. Some people suggested it was a waste and that he would never remember it. It was far from a waste, not because he remembers it, but because we do. We made sure to go at a time of year that was not too warm or cold. Our infant was comfortable in his baby wrap or stroller, and we walked the park. Without the focus on rides and fast-passes, we were able to enjoy the fall decorations, giant pumpkins and parade. We did take him on his first ride, Snow White. He was like a little hood ornament on our laps with a Mickey knit hat. It was a moment we’ll never forget.

That first visit involved a massive diaper blow-out, lots of time at Disney’s Baby Care Centers, nursing on park benches, and listening to the drum beats of Adventureland.

Based on our visits, I would suggest bringing the following:

• A good stroller. Make sure it’s one that reclines for napping, and has a good sun-shade (Disneyland rentals have poor shades). You can place a bike lock through the wheel and the frame to prevent theft.
• Several outfits. I can’t tell you how much money we spent on Disney baby clothes due to failed diapers and our limited clothing reserves.
• Extra diapers and wipes. It’s good to have your own, but if you’re caught short, the Baby Care Centers in California Adventure (by the New Cars Land), and at the end of Main Street have diapers, wipes, and even formula. Baby Care Centers also sell Pedialyte.
• Bottle sterilizers if you use bottles. You can microwave them in your room or at the Care Center.
• Baby sunscreen, hats, and extra hats. (Actually, these suggestions go for parents, too.)
• Thermometer, nasal suction, nasal mist, infant ibuprofen or acetaminophen, and your baby’s insurance card. On one trip our infant ended up getting his first illness. There are pharmacies near Disneyland, but you have to take a taxi.

If you have the budget to stay at a Disney resort property, there are some wonderful services for families. There is pharmacy room service that will deliver prescriptions or supplies. There are on-call doctors. And don’t forget about Amazon. If you are on a long visit, you can overnight an Amazon order to your hotel, and they will keep it at the front desk.

The Disney resort hotels also have pack and play playards available in the rooms. Sound machines can help with noisy hotel hallways and fireworks that go off late at night. Setting up the playard away from windows helps keep baby asleep during the late evening fireworks shows.

Don’t forget to enjoy the park yourselves, too. Babies are allowed on Pirates of the Caribbean, Little Mermaid, It’s a Small World, Haunted Mansion, and my favorite, the Jungle Cruise, just to name a few. Most restaurants let you bring your stroller in with you. The monorail also allows strollers, while Disney transportation busses ask you to fold up the stroller while riding.

If you’re looking for ways to save on costs, we found that buying a Disney annual pass was the best investment. It offers 15% off all food except small vendor carts, 20% off all merchandise, and free admission for a year, with no blackout dates. For a frequent visitor this was the best way to go. It also provides special room rates.

If you’re flying, I suggest using John Wayne airport in Orange County or Long Beach airport. Los Angeles is close to Disneyland, but rental cars and transportation to and from the airport were more difficult.

The most important thing we learned from our time at Disneyland was that we could bond with our baby and still have fun on vacation. It was a worry-free place. We smelled more flowers, and found more secret pathways, wishing wells and hidden treasures as we walked with a stroller than we ever would have without. We’ve loved our times at Disneyland with our baby, and look forward to many more.

Dustin is a daddy of a one-year-old and soon-to-arrive newborn. He and his wife are lifelong Disney fans.

I’ve been to Disneyland and Walt Disney World more than two dozen times, but it wasn’t until I took my children to Anaheim that I began to appreciate Disney’s inspiration. In his 1955 dedication of Disneyland, Disney said, “Here, age relives fond memories of the past, and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future.” He didn’t mention crowds or commercialization. He didn’t mention licensed shows and souvenirs. He focused on the intangibles: making memories, taking your time, sharing an experience … things that matter more than any 10-inch plush toy. But to relive fond memories and savor the moment, you first have to remember what it’s like to be a kid. Then start acting like one.

When we first decided to take our son to Disneyland, we immediately thought of booking a high-priced resort, making expensive meal reservations and taking an extra suitcase to bring home all the souvenirs. Then financial reality set in, forcing us to re-evaluate the purpose of our trip.

In spite of the name Disneyland “Resort,” it’s still the rides, parades and setting that matter most to kids, not the hotels. I’d personally love to stay at the Grand Californian, but most of the nearby Good Neighbor Hotels offer decent amenities, some include continental breakfast, and at least six of them are closer to Disneyland’s front gates than Disney’s own on-property resorts that cost two times more. The fact that our swimming pool was tiny didn’t matter to a child more concerned with Splash Mountain than splashing in the deep end.

Likewise, we debated reserving a spot at a character breakfast, but donuts, cold cereal and orange juice were perfectly fine — in fact preferred — by our son. Sure, Mom and Dad wanted a change of menu after a few days, but it couldn’t get any better in his mind, and his sister felt the same way when we took her to Disneyland two years later.

Having been to the Disney theme parks so often, I inherently want to power through every ride. That doesn’t fly with kids. If you’re always “go-go-go,” you exhaust the kids and miss half the magic of the themed lands and environmental audio. Slow down, appreciate the scenery, maybe even miss a few attractions, and let the park memories come to you.

For example, when we ask our kids about Disneyland, they remember watching the train pull into the station more than they do riding it. They recall eating ice cream near It’s a Small World as fondly as they reminisce about sitting in the boat’s front row. They talk more about the horses on Main Street than they do the parades. The simplest things made the biggest impressions on them, a realization that in turn made a big impression on me.

After 30-plus years of planning my own Disney experiences, I visited as a parent and realized I needed to focus instead on being part of my kids’ experiences. By helping them create their fond memories, even the simplest ones, I forged some of my most precious memories as well. Apparently the father sitting on that 1950s park bench really did know best.

Jonas has been to the Disney Parks 26 times and is regularly asked for Disney-related tips. His kids often request his Park-music lullabies.

Even if you aren’t very creative, you can ditch the wrap, boxes and tissue and have some fun this year with your gift giving. Here is a list of personal gift-giving ideas that are both budget- and eco-friendly.

1. Make a Reusable Bag. From household fabric (or old clothes), make mom a bright and colorful reusable bag. With a little fabric paint, you can personalize it or have the kids help create a design. (Hint: Can’t sew? Fabric glue works great!)
2. Say it with Flowers. Locally grown flowers from a local farmers’ market are a great choice. We all love flowers.
3. Plant it. Bring mom a flowering plant, seedling, vegetable or fruit plant and offer to plant it yourself!
4. Think Photos. Be creative and make your old photos come alive. You can make a card, collage or scrapbook, or even decoupage photos on something you already own. If your budget allows, schedule a photo session for some family portraits.
5. Think Paint. Find an object you aren’t using any more and bring it back to life with a little paint, or simply paint a terracotta pot and plant some flowers in it. Then again, if you really have the energy, offer to help mom paint the bathroom she has been dying to redo.
6. Think Green. Stock mom up with some eco-friendly light bulbs and power strips and “wrap” them in a reusable bag. To make mom really happy, offer to install them yourself!
7. Think Entertainment. Rent an old movie or get mom some tickets to an event or a show. Better yet, take her yourself!
8. Think Attractions. Take mom on a picnic at a local botanical garden or park in your area. You can buy her a membership to one of your local attractions or museums that you think she might enjoy.
9. Think Education. Has mom always wanted to take a class or cooking lesson? Now is the time! Sign her up for cooking or yoga lessons or a self-defense class. You can even join in on the action.
10. Think Food. Find wholesome snacks or organic goodies at your local health food store or farmers’ market. Nowadays, many large retailers also have an organic section. She might also enjoy a new cookbook. Check out some of the local thrift shops—they are filled with them.
11. Think Clean. Give mom a basket full of eco-friendly cleaning supplies. Then put them to good use and offer to clean her house.
12. Think Spas. Offer some one-on-one time. You can create your own home spa atmosphere with scented candles, offering to give mom a manicure, pedicure or even a massage. What gal doesn’t love a little pampering? If your budget allows, treat mom to a gift certificate to a local spa.

Finding a budget- and eco-friendly gift for Mother’s Day doesn’t have to be difficult. Get a little creative and give her something she will remember and continue to use in the future!

Kara Ferraro is a publisher and a mother of two elementary school children. She is always looking for low-cost and creative ways to give gifts and reduce her own carbon footprint.

Get the Graduate’s Input

Since this party will be all about one special student, that student should have some say in the events. Although graduating from any program is a major accomplishment, the graduate might be modest and might not want to be in the spotlight. Let them know about your graduation party planning, and find out how they feel about it. A party where guests mingle and offer tips and advice in a guest book might be all the graduate wants.

Choosing a Theme

While the obvious theme of your party is going to be graduation, there may be other elements to consider. What are the school’s colors? Is it a medical school or Bible college, or does it have other significance that would lend itself to the decorations? Is your event going to be formal or lighthearted? Once you have chosen a theme (with the graduate’s blessing), you can then move on to choosing a location and refreshments.

Decide Where the Graduation Party Will Be

When deciding on the party’s location, your top options may be the student’s home or the host’s home. This works well for small graduation parties in which the guests are family members and close friends. If you plan to invite many people to the event, you might want to consider larger facilities. Fire halls, banquet rooms at local restaurants, local churches and even senior citizen groups have rooms that can be rented, many inexpensively.

If you want the event to be catered, you may want to go with a banquet hall at a local facility that can provide the refreshments or a full meal. However, make reservations early, as many venues fill up quickly during graduation season.

Send Invitations

You will want to send out your graduation party invitations at least two or three weeks ahead of time. If you expect out-of-town guests, you may want to mail those even earlier. You can order custom invitations or make them yourself. Be sure to include the date and time, along with clear directions to the graduation party.

Also let guests know which school the student is graduating from, and if it’s a college or university, the student’s major and degree. Guests who don’t know the student well will automatically have conversation topics, especially if they attended the same school. If you are preparing a special theme or gift for the student, such as a money tree, make sure the invitation recipients are aware of it.

Decorating for the Graduation Party

The decorations should reflect the student’s achievements and the theme. You may want to make a display board of what the student has accomplished while in school. Just be sure to let the student know that this is your plan. If it is for a high school graduation, consider pictures through the years, but use caution with baby photos, as someone crossing from teen years into adulthood might find that embarrassing.

Decorate the room in the school colors or following the theme of the graduate’s future career. You can go all out with streamers and balloons, or you can stick to what you might set up for a buffet or sit-down meal. If the graduation is earlier in the day, you can host a simple event with a cake and light refreshments.

Celebrate the Person

Don’t get so caught up in the planning that you forget the reason you are having the party in the first place. The graduate should be the focus and should always have ideas about the graduation party, unless of course it is a surprise party. Have the student share something they have learned over their school years. Provide a guest book or scrapbook where guests can write down their thoughts and special wishes for the graduate. You could also ask guests to provide something practical like recipes, which are handy whether the student is leaving home for the first time or starting a new post-college life.

Take lots of pictures, and set out disposable cameras for guests to join in the fun. If you have a computer, consider putting together a slide show of the student growing up or through the time frame they were in school. Make it special, and make the party fit the person.

Portland-based Shamanic practitioner Rebecca Singer teaches women to connect with this deep inner knowledge, and to march to the beat of their own drum while growing families, careers, and communities. With minimal support from her family, Rebecca raised her son as a single parent while living internationally, working with at-risk youth and supporting the needs of those on the threshold of change.

The skills Rebecca teaches women about childbirth and parenting are profound. She says, “Nothing connects a woman more to her power than birthing a baby. It’s a breaking open of a woman into her own wisdom. Too often, the focus during pregnancy is on ‘what if something goes wrong’ rather than on a woman’s instinctive ability to give birth. Today many women choose C-sections so their bodies won’t have to go through a natural birth. I loved being in labor. There was this deep sense that I knew what I was doing.”

Connection with the Earth can seem like an idealist state, but Rebecca demonstrates how it must be a priority in our fast-paced society. “When our bare feet hit the ground, our breathing and heart rate slows down, our eyes can focus, and our expectations and demands get a chance to fall by the wayside. Children desperately need this time away from technology to connect with the natural rhythm of nature, and so do we as mothers. It drops us into our bellies and allows us to relax and remember who we are.”

Which leads to a common question: How can a mother be fully present for her children without abandoning her own needs? Rebecca points out, “It’s so important to connect and build friendships with other healthy women who love being women. Find a group of mothers who can laugh and cry about the absurdities of parenthood. Seek out those who don’t compete or criticize. And then trust yourself completely. No one knows how to raise your child better than you.”

Every good mother wants her children to grow up happy, to be good to others and to live their own passion. This calls for parenting that is fierce, unconditionally loving, and that provides children with clear and consistent limits. “Mothers must be ready to defend their children and also be able to listen to constructive feedback about their children. Ultimately, it’s up to us as mothers to negotiate with anyone or anything that dims our child’s spirit. Good parenting is about protecting children, teaching them about their own inner knowing and strength, and then letting them go.”

As kids hit the teenage years, parents must shift as well. Rebecca helps moms in this stage learn how to check their reactivity to common situations. She believes, “Not every teenager is going to be difficult. It’s a psychological set-up in our culture to expect teens to be a challenge. Friendships can feel fake and unsatisfying at this age and kids can feel isolated, and it’s hard on their spirit. Home must be a place where they can be fully themselves. Establishing safety in your home means making yourself available to really listen and communicate without judging.

Mothering a teen means making yourself available to communicate, understanding and accepting their need to become independent from you, and allowing them to show you what kind of support is needed. Most of all, teens need to see their mothers modeling acceptance, confidence and comfort in their own skin.”

Eloquently, Rebecca reminds women, “Mothering is a season of life in which we are called to be entirely present and dedicated to the wellbeing of another person. Happy childhoods are not created by doing more, achieving more, or having more. It’s about being fully available to your child. Learn how to go inside, listen to your gut, and listen to what your child is telling you he or she needs. And if you don’t know how to do it, get some help. Forget the people who want to tell you what to do; choose the people who can teach you how to trust your instincts and love yourself.”

As a Shamanic healer who works on three continents, Rebecca is the embodiment of a fearless warrior. But when she speaks about her adult son, Liam, there’s a softness that illuminates her mother’s heart: “I have to say of all my experiences in life, raising my son was the best … the absolute best.”

The reality: while you may have zero interest in cooking as your due date nears, your nutrition is still as important as ever. According to registered dietician Pamela Schoenfeld, good nutrition in the third trimester is vital to both mom and baby: eating well in the final weeks of pregnancy gives you sustained energy for labor, increases the quality of your breastmilk and helps you avoid third-trimester ailments like anemia, gestational diabetes, fatigue and swelling. And during the third trimester, your body is providing your baby with stores of essential nutrients, like calcium and iron, for its first months of life.
While you’re waiting for your bundle of joy to make his or her debut, fill your plate with essential nutrients like these.

Iron: Pumping It

One of the biggest nutritional challenges in late pregnancy? Consuming enough iron to keep up with your blossoming body—and your baby’s demands. “In the third trimester, your blood volume increases, so iron is the name of the game,” says Paola Mora, registered dietician with the Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine at Montefiore Medical Center. When expectant moms are low on iron, they run the risk of anemia, a condition that causes fatigue and dizziness. “We also worry about hemorrhage during delivery, because anemic blood won’t clot as well,” says Mora.

Your own well-being isn’t all that’s at stake: your iron consumption affects your baby’s health, too. “A mom provides her baby with full stores of iron for the first six months of life,” says Mora. And research shows that pregnant women with low iron are more likely to deliver prematurely and have low birth weight infants.

How much?
A typical prenatal vitamin contains 27 milligrams of iron—150 percent of the iron you need—so keep on taking it. In addition, aim to consume at least 3 sources of iron per day.

Find it here:
Red meat, low-fat poultry, wheat bran, enriched rice, seeds and beans are good sources. Maximize iron absorption by consuming it with foods high in vitamin C.

Protein: The Baby Builder

Protein is essential throughout pregnancy, but it’s especially important in the final stages of pregnancy, when your baby is growing rapidly and adding layers of cute baby fat. The amino acids in protein form the basic building blocks for cell growth, fueling your body and organs as they grow to accommodate the needs of your baby. Consuming enough protein also helps to stabilize blood sugar, which is especially important to women at risk for gestational diabetes, notes Schoenfeld.

How much?
Pregnant women should aim for 70 grams of protein per day, about 35 grams more than the recommended daily limit for non-pregnant gals.

Find it here:
Meat and poultry, dairy foods and legumes are protein powerhouses. A medium-sized chicken breast has 30 grams of protein, ½-cup of tofu packs 20 grams, and ½-cup of cottage cheese has 15 grams.

Calcium: Got Milk?

Late pregnancy is not the time to skimp on your calcium: all of the calcium in your baby’s skeleton is laid down during the third trimester, says Michael Hobaugh, M.D., Ph.D., chief of medical staff at La Rabida Children’s Hospital. Consuming enough calcium also helps to get breastfeeding off to the best possible start; in order to produce the perfect food for your little one, your body will pull calcium from your own bones if your own stores are insufficient.

How much?
Dieticians recommend 800 milligrams of calcium daily for pregnant women.

Find it here:
Dairy foods like yogurt, milk and cheese all contain at least 300 milligrams of calcium per serving. Many non-dairy foods are also calcium rich, including salmon, oatmeal, tofu, rhubarb, spinach, almonds and calcium-fortified orange juice.

Magnesium: Mighty Mineral

While you’re boning up on calcium, don’t forget its super sidekick: magnesium. This mineral aids calcium absorption and performs a host of other important functions. Magnesium helps build and repair body tissues, relaxes muscles, eases leg cramps and may help prevent preterm labor.

How much?
Pregnant women should consume 350-400 milligrams per day; breastfeeding moms should aim for 300-350 milligrams per day.

Find it here:
Black beans, artichokes, barley, pumpkin seeds, oat bran and almonds all provide at least 100 milligrams of magnesium per serving.

Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA): Mental Muscle

During the third trimester, your baby’s brain is burgeoning, adding mass and forming millions of neural connections. So consuming enough DHA—linked to better cognition in infants in numerous studies—is as important as ever, says registered and licensed dietician Gina Hill, Ph.D., associate professor of nutritional sciences at Texas Christian University.

How much?
The Journal of Perinatal Medicine recommends 200 milligrams of DHA per day during pregnancy.

Find it here:
Now that many grocery store staples like eggs, milk and juice are fortified with DHA, it’s not hard to meet your daily requirement. Hill likes expectant moms to have two servings of fish per week. Many obstetricians now recommend DHA supplementation; check with yours to see if you should pop a daily DHA pill.

Malia Jacobson is a nationally published health writer.

Instead of thinking about wellness as a solo activity, why not make it a family affair? It’s a great opportunity to spend more time with the people you care about and make wellness a priority for your entire family. Family members can also be great motivators and help you stick to your fitness and nutrition goals. It’s like having a personal trainer in your own home.

Here’s my invitation to take the first step toward family fitness: Join me on Saturday morning, June 9, for the fifth annual Regence Grand Floral Walk at the Rose Festival. It’s Portland’s own family-friendly fitness parade, and it takes place right before the Spirit Mountain Casino Grand Floral Parade. Walkers of all ages and fitness abilities are welcome. Dress up in your best floral finery (prizes awarded for best individual, best group and best decorated stroller), and walk the parade route as you’re cheered on by hundreds of thousands of parade spectators. Not only is the walk a great time, but it also connects you to a great cause. Part of the walk’s proceeds goes to The Dougy Center for Grieving Children and Families.

After kick-starting your family fitness at the walk, here are some other tips to continue on this wellness journey.

• Have a family pedometer walking challenge and see who walks the most steps each day.
• Pick an exercise to perform during each commercial break when tuning in to your favorite television shows: jumping jacks, push-ups, chair dips, squats, crunches or running stairs.
• Check out an exercise video from the library to do as a family, or sign up for a group exercise class at a local gym or community center.
• Plan a fitness scavenger hunt by hiding a piece of fitness equipment around the house (ball, jump rope, band, weights). Every time someone finds that piece of hidden equipment he or she has to do one minute of exercise with that particular piece equipment and then re-hide it in a new spot for the next person to find.
• At the grocery store, go on a scavenger hunt to find one fruit or vegetable of each color in the rainbow (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple), then incorporate them into your family’s meals this week.
• Look up CPR or First Aid information and run through a practice scenario with family or friends to refresh your skills.
• Do a service project together as a family, such as picking up trash at a local park — good for your health and the community.

The key to wellness is making it part of everyday life — make it fun, make it frequent and make it part of your family time.

Emily Boscacci is a workplace wellness coordinator at Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon. She is a certified personal trainer and works to help people meet their health and fitness goals.

“We tend to underestimate how … stress and change can affect a dog’s behavior,” says SueZanne Thibodeau, a certified humane education specialist and owner of Sympawtico Dog Training. Thibodeau also facilitates the Dogs & Storks parent-education program at Shawnee Mission Medical Center in Kansas, teaching expectant parents how to help the family dog with the transition.

Manners are a must.

Teach your dog appropriate behaviors including basic commands like: sit, down, stay, come, drop it and leave it.

“Make it fun. No prong collars, choke collars or shock collars. Instead use treats and toys to help motivate the dog,” says Kristyn Savage, a certified dog trainer and co-owner of Beyond the Dog in Kansas City, MO. “Before the baby (arrives), sit in the chair that you will be nursing or feeding in and have the dog do the obedience in those areas.”
Keep treats near the changing table and nursing station to create an association between pleasant experiences and baby.
When Ali Foulk was expecting her son Hans she worried about her German Shepherd Blondie’s fearful behavior. Following Savage’s advice, Foulk turned what could have been a dicey situation into a positive one.
“My son is now two years old and loves our dog. (Blondie) is extraordinarily gentle with him. (He) can give her a sit … or down command, give her treats and throw balls. Playing together entertains both of them and fosters confidence and language development in my son,” Foulk says.

Prepare for the commotion.

Toys dropping on hard floors, swings moving and baby crying may alarm a dog, especially one sensitive to sounds. Purchase a CD or download a soundtrack of a baby crying from iTunes or Google. Play the sounds at a low volume for your dog while offering treats. Over time increase the volume of the cries.

Establish boundaries.

Manage your dog’s access to your baby and her accouterments, like the diaper receptacle and toys, with baby gates and closed doors.

Christina Thomas started preparing her two mixed-breed rescue dogs for the arrival of her baby, Makayla, long before her daughter’s birth. She trained her dogs to go to a “safe” space, like their dog beds, when they want to be left alone.

“They aren’t allowed to be protective of their space, but they know it is a safe area and that we will always make sure they can rest peacefully there,” Thomas says. “The dogs now trust that they won’t be hurt by our daughter so both are very accepting of her.”

Welcome home!

Before coming home from the hospital, send your husband or a relative home with a blanket that smells like your baby. Introduce the new scent to your dog with treats and praise.
Before you arrive home, have a friend or relative crate your dog or put her in a safe room.
“You don’t have to introduce your dog to your baby on the day you come home from the hospital. In fact, for most people that’s a really bad idea,” Thibodeau says.
With hormones soaring, you may feel anxious or stressed when first coming home with your baby. Dogs can sense your stress, which raises their stress levels.

When you feel calm, have your husband control your dog on a leash, and hold your baby while seated. Since a dog learns about the world through smell, allow her to sniff the diaper area and your baby’s feet (cover your baby’s feet with booties or socks). Avoid the baby’s head, face and fingers.

Watch for subtle body language, including tongue flicking and looking or turning away—early signs that your dog feels uncomfortable and wants to disengage. Immediately consult with a certified dog trainer experienced in behavioral modification if your dog exhibits any aggressive behavior.

Never leave your dog alone with your child. Even a well-trained dog could bite a child who is climbing on it or pulling on its tail or ears.

Additional resources include www.DogStarDaily.com, “The Other End of the Leash” and “For the Love of a Dog” by Dr. Patricia McConnell, and “Living with Kids and Dogs … Without Losing Your Mind” by Colleen Pelar.

Life presents few dull moments for Christa Melnyk Hines, a freelance writer, and her husband who are blessed with two freewheeling little boys and a pair of playful dogs

I had the rare opportunity to hang out with my friend Karen yesterday. Yes, we’ve both been busy. But it was her birthday celebration and so we did what she wanted to do. We went and saw a movie, Blue Like Jazz. I had not read the book so I was not really sure what the movie was about. Since there was literally nothing else we wanted to see, this seemed like the only option. I was pleasantly surprised. I loved it. I like that it was a newbie cast, (Marshall Allman, Claire Holt), creative, thought-provoking and non-contrived. Everything in Hollywood films these days is SO predictable. The acting was fantastic, too. Don, the main character, was very believable and endearing in his simultaneous coming of age and coming to Jesus quest. I’m not sure how much longer this will be in theaters before going to DVD, but either way, I’d recommend seeing it.

The film follows the journey of a young man who had been raised a Southern Baptist and leaves the nest of Texas for school and travels to none other than Portland, Oregon and Reed College to explore himself and his identity. The question of existence, meaning and the role of religion is thoughtfully presented, never truly steering the viewer towards whether having a belief or not is the right and only way. As a storyline or film, the discussion or concept of God alone could have meant disaster.  People are mostly dogmatic when it comes to religion and politics and this could have come through.

I guess I enjoyed that thankfully there was a film open to presenting the idea of thinking about things for yourself. Perhaps one of my biggest gripes about today is that people seem tired, disengaged, burnt out. Not everyone, not all the time, but in general, rich, deep thoughtful discussions about art, love, fear, god, or passion seem generally absent from the way we engage with one another. Life and daily interaction is mostly full of neat and tidy 1-sentence sitcom replies. Even if we disagree with others, I think it’s a major purpose in life to discover our own truths. What we know, see, feel and experience as true.

I know we can’t sit around philosophizing about the meaning of life every day, but once in a while we can stop and reflect, or ask ourselves the deeper more difficult questions. For some people, the answer (either yes or no) to the question, “Do you believe in God?” is as clear as glass. For others, there’s an ongoing uncertainty. Blue Like Jazz goes a step further and asks the question, “Why?” or “Why not?” I liked that.