The Collection Of Extraordinarily Ordinary Moments

My friend Ginger sent me a link to an interview last week that included this quote:

"Well, that's what life is — this collection of extraordinarily ordinary moments," Alexander Payne says. "We just need to pay attention to them all. Wake up and pay attention to how beautiful it all is...If you were falling in love and you could go back in time and relive a day and see the banal things you did that you'd forgotten about, you'd weep, looking at that day," Payne says. "Somewhat dramatic things happen, and you don't even always notice them — that's what life is."

From the interview, "Those moments, unless you write them down or photograph them, drift off and away. They just go by. But movies — mindful ones — can make us stop for a while and notice what happens."

Full text of the interview available here. Listen to the interview with Alexander Payne here.

Are there movies or books that make you more mindful in your everyday life?


HEIDI SWAPP is celebrating the launch of her new website today with giveaways, tutorials, freebies, videos and inspiration starting at 11am EST. Hourly fun stuff. Love that.

Sign in or sign up to comment.

51 thoughts

  1. Karina says…
    03/01/2012

    Ali !!!
    This is the first time I comment in your blog, but I've been a follower since a loooong time ago. There are three things I want to say :

    1 ) I love this post. I can see I am not the only one who has ” those ” days :-)
    2 ) THANKS SO MUCH for all your work, you REALLY ARE an inspiration - not only for me, but for many people.
    3 ) Now I have question that has nothing to do with this post ( sorry !!! ) : I recdive weekly the 52 --- Lifts. I made a mistake, and deleted # 2, 3, 4 and 5, thinking that I was going to be able to find them in your blog, but ... Could you please tell me where those are ? I don't want to miss any of them !
    ThNks in advance

    Reply 2 Replies
    1. Karina says…
      03/02/2012

      Thanks, Ali, thanks so much !!!

    2. Ali says…
      03/01/2012
  2. Karina says…
    03/01/2012

    Sorry, I forgot tu type the word ” creative ” !!!
    Thanks again,

    Karina

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. Donna says…
    03/01/2012

    Beautiful! I missed it on NPR so thanks much for bringing it to our attention.

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Leslie cannon says…
    03/01/2012

    "the Gift of an Ordinary Day"-Katrina kenison. She has such a way with words-expressing the most poignant feelings, especially those of us moms. My favorite gift for moms of seniors. Get the Kleenex ready.

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. sharon says…
    03/01/2012

    ALI,
    I love this project "5" we made it at Creative escape and I get so many compliments. Back to your post on 52 Creative Lifts i had that day today just wanting to not motivate or do anything...I did the
    launch party at Heidi Swapp but not much more feel out of sorts but I did so much yesterday that I ran out of juice...you know what ...I mean I just have to pace myself...some family emotional issue and worry is a detour for me....I just gave it up and turned to One above....i so want to do just a ordinary day but I wonder is there really such a thing!!! LOL hugs, blessings
    az
    Sharon Phoenix

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. Kary in Colorado says…
    03/02/2012

    I woke up to this interview the other morning on my radio (Susan Stamberg is amazing) and as soon as the kids were off to school, I went to my mac,looked up the transcript, wrote down this quote and put it on the title page of my Project Life! Love it. May we all "wake up and pay attention to how beautiful it all is."

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. dawn says…
    03/02/2012

    Hi Ali,
    Thanks for this post and link. For me I am reminded of this by reading your blog and a few others that have changed the way I see my everyday. Thru your blog and the others I've slowed down more and really look and treasure the little things everyday. I feel that I've grown into being a better mom, wife, person and that I'm doing the right thing by telling our story.

    I can't tell you how many people can't believe that I scrapbook, take all these pictures and especially about project life. They just shake their heads and say it's wasted time. Thank goodness I don't listen to any of that and I can't imagine not telling our story.

    Just reading thru our PL over the last 3 years and seeing these everyday moments that I have told makes me so happy. Each Sunday I sit down and do this it reminds me again of how awesome my family is and what a great life we have and it's all right there for us to see. This is what inspires me daily, just looking for that right moment to capture and remember forever.

    Thanks again for all you do!

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. Jana says…
    03/02/2012

    One of my favorite movies - Amelie - deals with an extra ordinary life that embraces each unique nuanced detail! Life truly is a wonder... xo

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. Naomi says…
    03/03/2012

    Definitely Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium! We watch it at least once a month with our family ... it's amazing.

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. end of march favorites « gotcurls says…
    03/28/2012

    [...] “this collection of extraordinarily ordinary moments” [...]

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. collection of ordinary moments | Pour Cette Temps says…
    08/12/2012

    [...]  Alexander Payne, ExtraOrdinary Moments Share this:TwitterFacebookLike this:LikeBe the first to like [...]

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. day in the life | katie tieman | blog says…
    11/08/2013

    […] Note | Quotes from an interview with Alexander Payne, read on Ali’s blog. […]

    Reply 0 Replies

Sign in or sign up to comment.