Seven Things I Gleaned from Watching "Jeepers Creepers II"

When I was a kid, I enjoyed watching horror movies. I remember going to Erol’s with my mother and brother to rent VHS tapes—I’ve really dated myself with this one. My brother and I would typically ask to rent the “Friday the 13th” and “A Nightmare on Elm Street” movies. I’m not really sure where my like for the genre derived from; however, I am wondering if it was influenced by Michael Jackson’s Thriller video, but I digress. Whatever the reason, I developed a like for the movies, which explains why I’d be drawn to the “Jeepers Creepers” franchise. It is obvious that I like part two of the sequel. I also like “Jeepers Creepers”; however, I’m torn with “Jeepers Creepers 3.” This post isn’t about my critique of the series; however, I do have some thoughts I may share at another time.

“Jeepers Creepers II” is an American horror film written and directed by Victor Salva, which was released in 2003. I believe I saw it for the first time in 2004, but I didn’t notice any important life lessons until I watched it again recently. It is possible I didn’t grasp anything from the movie back then because it was during the days of “Blockbusters and chill.” I watched the movie for the first time with my first love—but once again, I digress.

I find the movie entertaining mainly because of how the characters react to their initial interactions with the Creeper. I think it is pretty well written considering the genre typically calls for creating imaginative characters and situations. I’m also drawn to the subtle humor that is woven into the dialogue. But what I like most is the life reminders I gleaned from watching it.

Four of the seven lessons transpired during the first seven minutes of the movie. The seventh lesson, and what I would consider the underlying message I got from the movie as a whole, is reinforced and reiterated multiple times throughout the duration of the film. I’m not sure if Mr. Salva intended to highlight or reinforce these thoughts, nevertheless, his creation invoked them in me.

1. Respect your parents

   If you’ve read other posts from this blog you probably know what the first lesson reminded me of— the fifth commandment: “Honor thy father and thy mother, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. “— Deuteronomy 5:16

2. Be careful/mindful about what you say to people—it may be the last time you speak to them

   I am guilty of taking a lot of things for granted and I realize I need to do better. Sometimes I am conscious of the fact that tomorrow is not promised, but most of the time I have an expectancy of living through the night and waking the next morning. I’m not saying it is necessarily “wrong” for me to have this mindset, but I need to be more mindful of the fact that I will leave this earth one day and the same goes for everyone else I know. I need to ensure my words are kind and loving. And even if I have a disagreement with someone and I become angry, it behooves me “not to let the sun go down upon my wrath.”

3. If something feels/looks odd or off to you and you think you should leave—don’t hesitate—go

   In most instances in my life when I had the feeling that something was off, I was right. Unfortunately, I’ve had some situations when I either tried to rationalize what happened or ignored it altogether. That is not a good practice, especially if you are in potential danger—physical or otherwise. I believe this applies to relationships—regardless of who it is (friend, partner, or spouse). If the interactions with the person or event make you uneasy—leave. Bottom line, get off the “x” and sort it out later.

4. Ask for help as soon as you realize you need it

   I am guilty of hesitating to ask for help when I needed it because of pride. We all need help sometimes, so don’t shy away from asking for it.

5. Provide help as soon as you are asked

   Slight spoiler alert: In the movie, when one of the characters recognizes he is in danger, he calls for his older brother, but he does not respond right away. I wonder if the outcome could have been different had the brother responded sooner? Let’s be quick to help our friends and family when we can. A delayed response can potentially cause harm.

6. Fear can be detrimental

   Another slight spoiler alert: The Creeper is drawn to fear and the more his prey demonstrates it the harder it pursues to the demise or detriment of the person. Fear can keep us from following our dreams. It can lead us to believe we’re not capable or worthy of getting what we want. Fear can even prevent us from leaving a bad situation or environment. It can cause us to think we’ll encounter much worse. So instead of venturing out into the unknown, we stay with the devil we know. Don’t give in to fear, it will keep you from reaching your full potential.

7. Keep fighting even when you come face to face with what scares you

   Another slight spoiler alert: As I mentioned earlier, the Creeper is drawn to fear, and there is one character the Creeper showed it wanted him the most. At one point in the movie, this character came face to face with the Creeper and his fear of it. This scenario happens in life sometimes.

   “For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.” — Job 3:24

   When this happens remember…

   “God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” — 2 Timothy 1:7

MHIL Gratitude Journal: Entry No. 9; The Importance of Recognizing the Pervading Tone or Mood of a Place

My recent life lesson occurred to me during the wee hours of this past Wednesday morning. This tutorial derived from some overwhelming feelings of anxiety I experienced on Monday, which made me realize I needed to take a pause and focus on self-care. While I was home on Tuesday, I was deliberate with my thoughts and actions. I purposely avoided thoughts surrounding work or anything that could potentially cause angst. Although I recognize the importance of keeping my mind on positive and joyous things, this particular situation needed additional ammunition.

Putting forth the effort to think about good things worked for a while, but fear found its way back to the forefront of my mind. When I realized what was happening, I decided to pray. During my prayer, I was reminded of 2 Timothy 1:7 and I had to repent because fear does not come from God. As I reflected on the why behind my anxiety I realized I brought this trouble on myself. I created an atmosphere of doubt and fear. I did this with the words I’ve spoken and the thoughts I’ve pondered and embraced. I used phrases like “I can’t” and “I’m afraid.” So why should I be shocked at the manifestation of my words? Once I acknowledged my blunder, I realized what needed to happen. I needed to change the atmosphere by changing the narrative.

I told myself I couldn’t and I believed it. So when it came time to complete the action, I couldn’t do it because I created an environment of failure. “As a man thinketh, so is he.” Not only did I sabotage my productivity at work, I believe I may have done the same thing in the dating realm. During my time of self-reflection, I remembered the response I’ve given to the “why are you single?” question. I said, “I’m afraid of repeating the mistakes of my past.” Although I don’t want to make bad choices in future relationships, I see I had already attached fear to my circumstances before anything could even transpire simply by the words I chose to speak.

I was already aware of the fact that the power of life and death is in the tongue—Proverbs 18:21—but I messed up and allowed myself to take the path of doubt and fear. I appreciate my moment of clarity. It enabled me to see I can perpetuate an atmosphere that is bad or good by my speech and thoughts. When I would have used negative words to describe what I’m facing, I’ve decided to use positive ones in their place. In the past, I said, “I can’t,” alternatively, I will say, “I’m still learning.” And instead of attaching myself to fear, I will say, “I am building my confidence.”

I’m a work in progress. Now that I know better, I will do better.

I Joined WooPlus and I'm Not Sure If It Was a Good Idea

During my adolescent years, I wanted to be popular and viewed as one of the prettiest girls in school who all the boys liked and secretly or openly expressed interest in. Well, I wasn’t popular nor was I classified as one of the prettiest girls in school. And I don’t think I need to state how I wasn’t the object of affection for the boys in my class.

Now that I am older, I don’t feel the need to be viewed as one of the prettiest women anywhere, nor do I seek to be popular—well, maybe as a writer, but I digress. I am more interested in being found by someone who accepts and loves me as I am, which includes my personality and non-physical attributes.

As you can tell by the title of this post, I joined the dating app WooPlus. I learned of its existence through one of my male friends who inquires about my dating life regularly. I initially decided to check it out for a suggestion story on the Diary of a Stylish Buxom Beauty blog, but then I thought, what harm would it do to check it out for personal reasons too?

So far, it doesn’t seem to be that different than meeting people in person. In all honesty, I’m not sure what I expected. However, I didn’t expect to receive the number of interests that I’ve gotten so far considering I haven’t completed my profile. The only things I’ve posted are my name and photo, which makes me conclude the “likes” I’ve gotten are shallow and superficial. Furthermore, one of my “suitors” asked, “Do you have a big booty?” I realize this is a plus-size dating app and the people who join are attracted to and prefer fuller figures, but could you ask about where I work, if I believe in God, or what interests me before we discuss whether or not I have a donkey? Please? I do, but that is beside the point.

The more I think about it, joining the app may not have been a bad idea after all. It has reinforced my expectations of a potential partner. I want someone who will invigorate me, which comes from learning about me. I don’t necessarily think WooPlus doesn’t offer a platform that can fulfill this requirement, and what I’ve experienced thus far was beneficial nonetheless. I know what I want and I’m not interested in settling for less.

November Eleventh: "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here"

Earlier today, I learned about Singles’ Day, which is a Chinese unofficial holiday and shopping season that celebrates people who are not in relationships. It is also considered to be the biggest shopping day in the world. When I initially read about it, I was interested in writing about it and sharing my potential plans to celebrate. Why not? I’m single and I love to shop. But to my astonishment, I’m not excited about celebrating my singlehood.

This is strange because I haven’t been very forward-leaning when it comes to the idea of dating and being in a relationship. Don’t get me wrong, I made some strides earlier this year, which I shared and I think the “walls of Jericho” I built around my heart came tumbling down. But did it happen too quickly?

Last week I was asked, “What’s the fastest you’ve ever fallen for someone?” Well, I fell for someone in about five minutes—I guess I’m not beyond redemption. But I can’t help but wonder how he got past the walls? How did you get here? Furthermore, now that my heart is exposed and unprotected, will a Trojan horse come galloping in?

My hopeful Galahad is an unexpected blast from the past. Our paths crossed 26-years-ago, and unbeknownst to me, he had a crush on me when I was the ripe age of 19. He revealed this information to me fairly recently and now I am the one who is smitten. And although I am in a state of the unknown, I am doing my best to identify the good. Right now I don’t know if he is my knight in shining armor or a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Nevertheless, I will celebrate the fact that I am able to let go of the past and let someone in.

So, how will I celebrate Singles’ Day? Lord willing, I will focus on all the blessings that have been given to me and celebrate the one who makes all things possible. God is in control and my life is in His hands. It doesn’t matter if I am single or boo’d up, I have purpose and it will prevail. I also know the one for me will be revealed in due time. And now that I have a reason to shop—let’s see if that Michael Kors bag I’ve been thinking about is still available and on sale.

MHIL Gratitude Journal: Entry No. 8

“You know, but do you understand?”

— Unknown

At this point in my life, I believe I recognize the difference between knowledge and understanding. When I was younger, I saw the two words as interchangeable, but now I know and understand better. Knowledge is facts, information, and skills one acquires through experience or education. Understanding is comprehending or grasping something mentally. As strange as it may sound, you can know something without understanding it.

When I created the gratitude journal, my intent was to focus on specific life events that make me a better person. Although I am eternally grateful for my life “staples,” I didn’t want to write about them in the journal. However, like most things in life, I experienced something that allowed me to see it would be very remiss of me not to express my appreciation for them. So, I decided to revise the purpose of the journal.

A little over a week ago—Thursday to be exact—I turned 45. To be honest, I haven’t fully digested the fact that I am in my mid-forties, and it is also hard for me to embrace the fact that the tiny human wrapped in white blankets in the photo above is me.

I entered this world on Thursday, August 5, 1976. All of the days I’ve seen haven’t been filled with butterflies and rainbows, but I realize they could have been worse. I recall a more than pleasant childhood. All my needs were met and I got more than a fair share of my wants too. I was blessed with loving God-fearing parents, and a brother who is my knight in shining armor. I survived the heartbreak of my first love, a failed marriage, and the loss of two babies. You could say I’ve had my share of ups and downs, but I’m still here.

I now understand I have a purpose and with that comes difficult moments, which were designed to teach me where my help comes from. I’m not just aware of who my help is, I also understand He has been with me from the very beginning. He knew me before He formed me in my mother’s womb 45 years ago.

I am grateful for knowing God is, and I’ve come to know and understand I can’t live without Him.

“For in him, we live, and move, and have our being…”

- Acts 17:28 KJV