Movie Quote Monday – Apollo 13
Little in this world is impossible. You simply choose…and then work to make what you want happen.
Jim Lovell: From now on, we live in a world where man has walked on the moon. It’s not a miracle…we just decided to go.
Sometimes everything goes exactly as we wished. And sometimes everything falls apart. Then we choose again, whether to give up or keep trying.
Fear, confidence, self-esteem, faith, joy, gratitude – those are choices, too. I don’t like to admit they are, but that doesn’t make it less true.
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Items of Interest:
Apollo 13 transcript (very long, mostly boring, extremely interesting; see 02 07 55 19 for explosion moment)
Houston, We’ve Got A Problem (1972 NASA documentary; 28 minutes)
Movie Quotes with Meaning (click here for more movie quotes)
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steadily skipping stones 
Thank you so much for posting this. I had a major disappointment this weekend and am struggling to fight my way through. Your words helped a lot.
I’m truly sorry to hear that, but I’m glad this helps. I am trying to keep this positive, forward-momentum focus myself. We can do it!! Whatever it is.
Thanks for the reminder that we can make decisions and then make things happen with commitment and determination.
It’s a good quote, isn’t it? I was watching that movie last week and it just struck me how true that is. I certainly needed that reminder myself.
Funny… in all the times I’ve seen that movie, that line has never stood out for me. It’s fantastic. I learned somewhere in my 20s that our successes and failures, large or small, are made of the choices we make or neglect to make… I don’t know why this line didn’t jump out at me. I always just remember, ” All right, there’s a thousand things that have to happen in order. We are on… number… eight. You’re talking about number six hundred and ninety-two.”
It’s such a small line, and I never paid attention to it, either. But then it just hit me, wow! I think things attract our attention, or don’t, depending on where we are at the time – what’s on our minds, what we’re dealing with, etc.
Apollo 13 is one of a handful of movies that I think are near-perfect – direction, casting, script, editing. I understand that there was artistic license taken, and that’s okay with me. The story is better for it, and ultimately, it’s a movie, not a documentary. For example, I know “Failure is not an option” was never said by Kranz, but that’s okay. It was a great line.
Your pick is great, too. So many times we’re looking ahead, maybe even borrowing trouble by doing so. I know I don’t focus on the present as much as I should. One step at a time, and give your attention to what is happening now. I love that movie.
Thank you for posting this ! I’m facing a challenging choice, and this inspires me to be courageous. And not the wimp I feel strongly inclined to be….
I love your photos. Isn’t it great to have an outlet for each creative urge?
Melissa
I had to make myself go simple with that post, but it was the right way to do it. I think it’s a great quote and deserves all the attention. I know what you mean about being a wimp when faced with challenging choices. My tendency is to do nothing and keep on the current course. Like you, I’m trying to break that. I keep talking on this blog about being brave, and that’s basically what I mean. I think it is brave to do something you are not inclined toward, something that feels awkward, uncomfortable, exposed, etc. It feels difficult because it is.
Yes, it is great to have that other outlet. Thank you for your compliment, too. I already love doing that photo blog.