Podcast appearances and mentions of hallie meyers shyer

Hollywood And Horsepower Show with Mark Otto Guest, Billy Koch Grandson of Film Producer Howard Koch Billy Koch is known for Jerry Maguire (1996), Little Nicky (2000) and Wayne's World (1992). Son of Rita (Litter) and Hawk Koch. Father of Cooper Koch and Payton Koch. Brother of Robby Koch and Emily Koch. Brother-in-law of Annie Meyers-Shyer and Hallie Meyers-Shyer. Grandson of Howard W. Koch. He is of Russian Jewish and Polish Jewish descent.

If life isn't kicking your ass, it's not doing its job. Written and directed by Hallie Meyers-Shyer, Goodrich is the comedy film starring Michael Keaton and Mila Kunis. Art dealer Andy Goodrich's (Michael Keaton) life gets upended when his younger wife leaves him and enters a 90-day rehab program while also threatening divorce. Andy takes charge of their 9-year-old twins, thrusting him into the world of modern parenthood for which he is deeply unprepared. With his career falling by the wayside, he soon leans on his pregnant daughter (Mila Kunis) for support, ultimately becoming the father she never had.

Director Hallie Meyers-Shyer discusses her new film, Goodrich, with fellow Director Max Minghella in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, she discusses creating the titular role with Actor Michael Keaton in mind, having audiences react in the way she hoped after modeling the film off of personal experiences, and assembling a crew that helped her craft her desired feel for the film. The film tells the story of Andy, whose wife unexpectedly checks herself into rehab, leaving him to take care of their two young children. When Grace, his daughter from a first marriage, steps up to help him, she watches him evolve into the father she never had. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/Events/2024/Dec2024/GoodRich_QnA_1024

This week, after John briefly discusses "Goodrich", the new Michael Keaton picture written and directed by Hallie Meyers-Shyer, the boys take on another Hitchcock classic to highlight the film year 1959. Chosen by our random year generator, 1959 was a doozy for world and civil news, making a mistaken identity spy thriller the perfect film to highlight. You'll have to listen to see if the boys think this film sits on the Mount Rushmore (get it?) of Hitchcock's classics. Our phone number is 646-484-9298. It accepts texts or voice messages.  0:00 Intro;4:48 “Goodrich” mini-review; 7:09 Gripes; 12:39 1959 Year in Review; 26:28 Films of 1959: “North By Northwest”; 1:04:16 What You Been Watching?; 1:14:14 Next Week's Movie Announcement Additional Cast/Crew: Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, James Mason, Jessie Royce Landis, Leo G/ Carroll, Martin Landau, Bernard Herrmann, Ernest Lehman, Gerald Devries, Herbert Coleman, George Tomasini, Robert Burks, Andie MacDowell, Mila Kunis, Laura Benanti, Carmen Ejogo, Michael Urie. Hosts: Dave Green, Jeff Ostermueller, John Say Edited & Produced by Dave Green. Beer Sponsor: Carlos Barrozo Music Sponsor: Dasein Dasein on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/77H3GPgYigeKNlZKGx11KZ 
Dasein on Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/dasein/1637517407 Additional Tags: The Wizard of Oz, Michigan kicking GM's ass, Michael Moore, Syrian Aramaic, Matilda, The Sopranos, Star Wars, Acolyte, Uncle Buck, Godzilla Minus One, Auckland, New Zealand, Wilhelm Yell, Wilhelm Scream, Prince Charles, King Charles, John Wayne, Charleton Heston, Preparation H, hemorrhoids, Harr yDean Stanton, CVS, Duane Reade, Walgreens, Road Rash, The Lion King, Pivot, Ross, Friends, Couch, NASA, Killers of the Flower Moon, Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert DeNiro, Martin Scorcese, Lily Gladstone, Jesse Plemmons, David Ellison, David Zazlav, Al Jolson, Oscars, Academy Awards, BFI, BAFTA, BAFTAS, British Cinema. England, Vienna, Leopoldstadt, The Golden Globes, Past Lives, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, The Holiday, The Crown: Season 6 part 2, Napoleon, Ferrari, Beer, Scotch, Travis Scott, U2, Apple, Apple Podcasts, 101 Dalmatians, The Parent Trap, Switzerland, West Side Story, Wikipedia, Adelaide, Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Melbourne, Indonesia, Java, Jakarta, Bali, Guinea, The British, England, The SEC, Ronald Reagan, Stock Buybacks, Marvel, MCU, DCEU, Film, Movies, Southeast Asia, The Phillippines, Vietnam, America, The US, Academy Awards, WGA Strike, SAG-AFTRA, SAG Strike, Peter Weir. 

In filmmaking, finding the right actor can make all the difference, and for Hallie Meyers-Shyer, Michael Keaton was the only choice for the lead role in Goodrich. This episode delves into the creative journey of writing and directing a deeply personal film, navigating the challenges of independent production, and discovering the heart of the story during editing. It also explores how persistence, vision, and collaboration are essential in bringing a project to life. Hallie Meyers-Shyer is a writer and director known for her heartfelt and character-driven stories. Following in the footsteps of her legendary filmmaking parents, Nancy Meyers and Charles Shyer, Hallie made her directorial debut with Home Again in 2017. Her latest film, Goodrich, is a personal story inspired by her family dynamics, with a lead role written specifically for Michael Keaton. Hallie is passionate about crafting films that blend humor and emotion, creating stories that resonate on a deeply human level.   In today's episode, No Film School's GG Hawkins and Jason Hellerman speak with Hallie Meyers-Shyer to discuss: Insights from the LA Director's Lab, a workshop that offers directors a space to practice their craft and experiment with creative risks Why Michael Keaton was the perfect fit for Goodrich and how she wrote the role with him in mind The personal inspiration behind the story, rooted in Hallie's experiences with her own family How to keep pushing forward with a film project, even when financing falls through The importance of outlining in the writing process and how it provides freedom in creativity Hallie's experience working with a tight-knit team and storyboarding the entire film The emotional discoveries that shaped the film during editing and how the film revealed itself as more than just a comedy   Memorable Quotes: “I work hard to fully flesh out each character and make them not just servicing the thing that you want to get across in that scene and make them people with a lot of layers and things.” (15:06) “I kind of always felt this was going to be an independent movie, even though it sort of would have been a studio movie probably 30 years ago.” (18:24) “I had Pinterest boards for costumes. I had Pinterest boards for every location. I also had a really long time to work on this movie, so I had about six years of images pulled.” (26:27) “I love editing. I just love it. It's one of my favorite parts, if not my favorite part.” (36:02) “Something I noticed about Michael Keaton in the editing room (…) is he brings the first scene of the movie into the last scene of the movie.” (37:15) “I know many super talented writers who can do multiple projects at once. I admire it. I cannot do it. I am so fully immersed in what I'm writing.” (46:27) “I think it's so important for human stories, personal stories about people and emotions and whatever your life story is, get it out there, keep at it, be your biggest champion, make it happen.” (51:52)     Resources: Follow Hallie Meyers-Shyer on Instagram   Hallie on IMDb   Goodrich on IMDb   Hollywood Camera Works trainings     Find No Film School everywhere: On the Web https://nofilmschool.com/   Facebook https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschool   Twitter https://twitter.com/nofilmschool   YouTube  https://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschool   Instagram https://www.instagram.com/nofilmschool   Send us an email with questions or feedback: podcast@nofilmschool.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

GOODRICH MOVIE REVIEW What if you were so into your life's work that the life you were living happened as if you were on the outside looking in? What if you were SO into your work that you'd often step away from the outside looking in completely? Written and directed by Hallie Meyers-Shyer, Goodrich is… Read More »Screener Squad: Goodrich

GOODRICH MOVIE REVIEW What if you were so into your life's work that the life you were living happened as if you were on the outside looking in? What if you were SO into your work that you'd often step away from the outside looking in completely? Written and directed by Hallie Meyers-Shyer, Goodrich is… Read More »Screener Squad: Goodrich

Danny welcomes Hallie Meyers-Shyer, writer/director of the new Michael Keaton movie GOODRICH. Hallie is also daughter of the legendary Nancy Meyers. Danny and Hallie talk about her appearing in movies like Father of the Bride and The Parent Trap, plus making Goodrich, working with Michael Keaton, and more. ORDER DANNY'S NEW BOOK: https://linktr.ee/jolliestbunchDANNY'S (OTHER) BOOK: Smarturl.it/unrememberTwitter: @DannyPellegrinoInstagram: @DannyPellegrinoYouTube: www.YouTube.com/DannyPellegrino1TikTok: @DannyPellegrinoPatreon: www.Patreon.com/EverythingIconic Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special episode of Excuse My Grandma, Kim and Grandma Gail sit down with writer and director Hallie Meyers-Shyer to discuss growing up in Hollywood and how her unique upbringing shaped her views on love and relationships. They dive into Hallie's experiences working on films from a young age thanks to her parents, legendary filmmakers Nancy Meyers and Charles Shyer. Hallie also gives a sneak peek into her new film, Goodrich, starring Michael Keaton and Mila Kunis - in theaters on Friday, October 18th. Plus if you want to check out the body moisturizer and sunscreen we've been loving, get OneSkin for 15% off at oneskin.co using code EXCUSEMYGRANDMA. ------ YT License Code: XVKDUF3AHYCMNBTA

Writer/director Hallie Meyers-Shyer reflects on the creation of Goodrich, set to release this Friday, October 18th. In this episode, she delves into the emotional and personal stories that inspired this heartwarming tale of a complex father-daughter relationship. Hallie discusses the casting process and how the legendary Michael Keaton, known for his talent in both comedy and drama, became an essential part of bringing this dramedy to life. The film was produced by Hollywood Gold host Daniela Taplin Lundberg and offers firsthand insights on the difficult but worthwhile process of making and releasing a theatrical movie in today's landscape. Get your tickets now! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When you split up with your husband and are faced with the challenge of starting a new life, do you up and move away? Do you try to find yourself? Do you invite three sweet well-mannered boys into your guest house and use them for child care / tech support / sex? Well, if you're Reese Witherspoon in the 2017 Hallie Meyers-Shyer romantic (?) comedy Home Again, you sort of half-heartedly do all of the above at various points but don't really commit to any of them. Pull up a Pottery Barn cushion and join Leigh, Brendan, and Chris as we hang up a bedsheet in the back yard and dig into what exactly makes this movie tick. Is it the Meyers-lite vibes? Is it the lack of focus on any particular moment in the protagonist's life? Is it that these boys have barely two traits to spread between themselves? In a word, yes. In another word, KITCHENS! Continue reading →

When you split up with your husband and are faced with the challenge of starting a new life, do you up and move away? Do you try to find yourself? Do you invite three sweet well-mannered boys into your guest house and use them for child care / tech support / sex? Well, if you're Reese Witherspoon in the 2017 Hallie Meyers-Shyer romantic (?) comedy Home Again, you sort of half-heartedly do all of the above at various points but don't really commit to any of them. Pull up a Pottery Barn cushion and join Leigh, Brendan, and Chris as we hang up a bedsheet in the back yard and dig into what exactly makes this movie tick. Is it the Meyers-lite vibes? Is it the lack of focus on any particular moment in the protagonist's life? Is it that these boys have barely two traits to spread between themselves? In a word, yes. In another word, KITCHENS! Continue reading →

Happy WHOlidays! Is Jennifer Aniston Secretly Dating Jason Sudeikis, John Mayer and Gerry Butler at The Same Time? Life & Style seems to think so — sounds fun! Why Alec Baldwin tweeted at us (and then deleted: catch us on It's Been a Minute!), why Gleb and Chrishell are on vacation together (sorta), everyone's new fiancés (Casey Cott's, Ariana Grande's & Gabourey Sidibe's), Tyler Perry's mid-life crisis reminds us he has an ex-girlfriend (who?), Hallie Meyers-Shyer feuds with Vulture over her a loving tribute to her mother and FKA twigs takes Shia LaBeouf to court. Next week? The 2020 Annual Who? Mes. Don't forget: You can call us at 619-WHO-THEM, and/or subscribe to our Patreon here for a ton of bonus content including episodes, movie commentaries and a VIP hotline. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's Nancy Meyers week over at vulture.com, but Nancy's daughter didn't find all of the reporting to be...flattering. So we're popping in for a mid-week recap of what went down between Rachel Handler and Hallie Meyers-Shyer on social media. It's absolutely worth checking out all of Rachel's articles and interviews--especially if you're a Nancy fan. While Hallie has gone private on instagram all of the screenshots are still up on twitter if you want to reference the primary sources. While we could go on and on about Nancy Meyers in general, we wanted to focus on the role of social media, nepotism in hollywood, and why sometimes these thoughts could be better off sent to a group text.

In the final special bonus episode of our mini-series on the films of Nancy Meyers, Griffin and David invite Richard Lawson (Vanity Fair) to weigh in on her daughter Hallie Meyers-Shyer’s directorial debut: Home Again. But what if boys were nice? Was this movie filmed exclusively inside a bottle of white zinfandel? What is the future of the romantic comedy in the major studio system? Together they discuss alternate realities, finding the next Sam Smith, Nancy Meyers’ involvement in inventing rap rock and Reese Witherspoon for mayor. This episode is sponsored by [Robinhood](http://check.robinhood.com). Music selection: “Parting of the Ways - Part 1” by [Kevin MacLeod](https://incompetech.com/) Licensed under [Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)

Welcome to a bonus episode of Ctrl Alt Delete, recorded live at the Soho Hotel after a screening of Home Again, a film with the amazing Reese Witherspoon playing the main character Alice Kinney. Recently separated from her husband, (played by Michael Sheen), Alice decides to start over by moving back to her hometown of Los Angeles with her two young daughters. During a night out on her 40th birthday, Alice meets three aspiring filmmakers who happen to be in need of a place to live. Alice agrees to let the guys stay in her guesthouse temporarily, but the arrangement ends up unfolding in unexpected ways. Alice's unlikely new family and new romance comes to a crashing halt when her ex-husband shows up, suitcase in hand. It's the perfect escapism film, to watch with mates and have a night-in. I also loved how unexpectedly funny it is.The film was written and directed by Hallie Meyers-Shyer and produced by Nancy Meyers (who directed The Holiday and The Intern, both so good). The film is a modern romantic comedy about love, friendship, and the families we create - themes I wanted to explore further on the podcast.So after the screening, I interviewed my friend and author Kate Leaver, who's book The Friendship Cure comes out in March. She moved from Sydney to London post-break up and knows a lot about friendship, so I wanted to theme this episode around moving away from home, moving to a new place and starting afresh. Thank you to Sony Pictures Home Entertainment for making this live recording happen, and just so you know, the DVD and Blu Ray of Home Again is available now, from Feb 5th! Thank you also to the brilliant Shola Aleje who produced this live episode.*This episode is sponsored by Sony Pictures at Home*. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We're back, baby! This week we're breaking down the final installment (for now) in the Nancy Meyers canon: Home Again. Produced by Nancy and written and directed by her daughter Hallie Meyers-Shyer - of "Want me to deck her for ya?" fame - this movie is the cinematic equivalent of Nobu leftovers. Join us as we try to make sense of this well-meaning mess and stay tuned until the end for details on the upcoming Nora Ephron edition of the podcast! Don't forget to like us on iTunes and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ohyounancyhuhpod/

This this special episode of Badass Extra we speak to the Producer and Director/Writer of Home Again, the new movie staring Reese Witherspoon and Martin Sheen. We saw a preview and it's rather good, a solid romcom with lots of warm messages about life, love and family. It's on general release on the 29th September. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

~The Simple Sophisticate, episode #176 ~Subscribe to The Simple Sophisticate: iTunes | Stitcher | iHeartRadio " . . . bring women to the front of their own stories, and make them the hero of their own stories." —Reese Witherspoon at the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards ~Spoiler Alert: The ending of Hallie Meyers-Shyer's new film Home Again will be shared. The power of a Hollywood script which makes it to the silver screen as well as to the small screen better known as our television sets is unconsciously more powerful than most viewers realize, especially younger viewers unaware of the biases, exigence and purpose of the writers and creators as well as producers. Novels as well must be sold to a publishing house, and if the publishers do not believe they will be able to sell the plot to readers, the manuscript isn't accepted. In other words what determines the plots that will eventually be published, produced and brought to consumers is what will sell. But the obvious flip-side is we need to become savvier consumers of entertainment. The good news is producers will listen to noticeable shifts. For example, in 2016 movie ticket sales indicated that the largest growth in sales was taking place with Latino moviegoers, as a result (or possibly, due to) films began offering more diversity in their casting than in previous years. I share this example because when Reese Witherspoon accepted the Emmy with the ensemble for Big Little Lies last weekend (she starred and was an executive producer of all seven episodes), I had to give her credit. She lives what she desires to be brought to the forefront in Hollywood films and series: women being the heroes in their own stories. For example, she started her own production company Pacific Standard with Australian producer Bruna Papandrea (Wild & Gone Girl), branched out on her own with Hello Sunshine, a digital media company and is bringing to the screen a few titles you might recognize Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine and Something in the Water. And as I shared in episode #174 of the podcast in my review of Home Again, a film produced by Nancy Meyers and written and directed by her daughter Hallie Meyers-Shyer, it was the ending of the movie which again revealed that Reese is indeed serious about changing the default in Hollywood that is long over-due for a change. Home Again, as she describes it in a recent interview with The New York Times, isn't a romantic comedy, but rather a modern comedy. A comedy in which, in this case, a woman becomes the hero of her own story. She doesn't end up with a man who saves her from a supposed life that is empty without one, rather her character Alice Witherspoon chooses to divorce her husband (not because he cheated and not because he was abusive) because their ways of living life, of making the most of the one journey they have the opportunity to live had strayed into two completely different directions. The love, the fondness was there, but it had changed. Her character sets boundaries, enjoys herself, supports her daughters, chases her dreams and creates a life of everyday moments that she savors on her own terms, not Hollywood's (well, in this case, yes, technically it is Hollywood, but she is now a part of Hollywood and so is Meyers-Shyer and they are changing what the definition of a happy ending). Recently a good friend of mine who is nearing forty (as I am as well) shared that all was well in her life except the missing piece - a man. And having just stepping out of a relationship, that I can honestly say I wasn't looking for but was delighted to have been in, a good life is determined by one and only one person, the person living it. I continue to urge readers and listeners to fall in love with their lives, to cultivate a life you enjoy living regardless of your relationship status because whether you are in a relationship or not, your issues, the hiccups you haven't dealt with will continue to bubble up, the stresses you haven't figured out how to handle, will continue to exacerbate and hinder you ability to savor the everyday goodness and the relationship skills you still need to polish will continue to seek your attention until you heed them whether in a relationship with a lover or a friend. I am not saying being loved and sharing love isn't an extraordinary experience. It absolutely is, but believing that our hero is someone other than ourselves to assuage our conjured up emptiness is a lie that we have accepted (man or woman), and depending up the known or unknown perpetuators of this life story line (Hollywood, novels, parents, church, school, etc.) and need to relinquish. Because I wholeheartedly not only believe, but can say to know as truth, everyday can be truly breath-taking with or without a partner. And the key is to be the hero of your own story. How? Find an outlet for your love: begin with yourself, and then with what is leftover choose from the following: a hobby, a passion project, a cause you believe in to your core, your pets, your career, your friends, your family, the world. Strengthen your innate talents and deepen your passions. Find others whom you trust to fill the gaps where you are weak (i.e. - a financial advisor, a trusted CPA, a fitness trainer, etc.) Earn your own income Be proactive. Strive daily toward your dreams. Stop waiting for opportunity plop into your lap. It's like a moving target, so get going. Save for retirement beginning yesterday Come to understand your limits and boundaries and speak up when they are crossed without apology Learn to communicate effectively Step up to the plate when needed and only 60%+ ready, not when everything is perfectly set up to do so (hint: it never will be and you will always be waiting) Build other women up Never judge another woman's life decision. Follow Amy Poehler's advice and simply quote when observing a life path taken by another woman that you wouldn't have chosen, "Good for her! Not for me." Refuse to be talked down to whether by names (girl, boy, little lady, son (when you're not their son), sweetheart, etc.) or by limitations (assuming lack of knowledge or capability). Either address the issue if the relationship is necessary to keep or simply don't respond and walk away. Change in what will be tolerated won't change until we speak up in a manner that is calm and clear. If not for yourself, than for the women around you and those that will follow you. Understand that setbacks are part of the journey, so stand back up and keep going.  Remember Billie Jean King's quote, "Pressure is a privilege." Do something with your opportunity when given the chance. Choose well and choose for you. As you come to trust your instincts, this will happen in small and big bursts throughout your journey, you will begin to know what is best for you. The better you know yourself, the quicker the decisions will be made. Be courageous. Say yes to something you've never done before but that is on the trajectory of the journey you wish to be on to help you reach your goal. No matter how trepidatious you may be. You will come out on the other side realizing there was nothing to be afraid of, just the unknown. And now it's not unknown anymore. "Once we belong thoroughly to ourselves and believe throughly in ourselves, true belonging is ours." —Brené Brown, from Braving the Wilderness I want to end with mentioning of Brené Brown's new book because her book is a reminder of what type of courage is needed to be the hero of our own story. Stepping away from the city or place of comfort that is not serving us and toward the wilderness is terrifying initially, but as we step away from seeking the approval of others and head in the direction of the wilderness, the "first step will take your breath away". And as writer, pastor, philanthropist and community leader Jen Hatmaker is quoted saying in the book, the loneliest steps are the in between, but if you "stay the course long enough to actually tunnel into the wilderness . . . you'll be shocked by how many people already live out there —thriving, dancing, creating, celebrating, belonging." Ultimately, if we can all just remember and live each day, who we are and what we can give to the world is our gift. "True belonging doesn't require you to change who you are; it requires you to be who you are." ~Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone by Brené Brown~   ~SIMILAR POSTS YOU MAY ENJOY FROM THE ARCHIVES:  ~Why Not . . . Be Brave? (episode #83) ~A Powerful Couple: Boundaries & Vulnerability (episode #126) ~Growth is a Choice: 11 Ways to Grow Up (episode #101) Petit Plaisir: ~French melon, Charentais, with paper-thin slices of prosciutto, sprinkled with a dash of flaky sea salt. ~click here for more pictures and details about the melon and the recipe.   ~The sponsor for today's episode was KIND Bars. Visit kindsnacks.com/tss to receive an exclusive free trial of their 10 bar variety pack and snack club (all you pay is shipping).     Image from the 69th annual Primetime Emmy Awards SaveSaveSaveSave Download the Episode

Wishing all our listeners safe havens; from cancellations to Emmy noms - is it the end of networks? One optimistic trend in 2017’s YTD box office tally. ​9:32: Like Mother, like Daughter? Hollister & O'Toole debate Home Again, written & directed by Hallie Meyers-Shyer; produced by romcom powerhouse Nancy Meyers. Starring Reese Witherspoon (Big Little Lies), Candice Bergen, Lake Bell, Pico Alexander (Indignation), Nat Wolff, Jon Rudnitsky, and Michael Sheen. ​26:02: This week's #ListOfSix - 6 things we love about Nancy Meyers. Cheesecake, anyone?

~The Simple Sophisticate, episode #174 ~Subscribe to The Simple Sophisticate: iTunes | Stitcher | iHeartRadio At the age of eleven, now U.S. Tennis Open Champion Sloane Stephens' mom was told by one of the directors at the tennis academy she was attending "that [she'd] be lucky if [she] was a Division II player and I got a scholarship". She didn't believe them. Her mom didn't believe them and now she is only the third woman (which includes the Williams sisters) to win the US Open in the past 15 years. Attaining quality, achieving quality isn't easy and it isn't given out for free. But when we choose to consciously select quality, the experience, the journey and then the outcomes rise in their awesomeness. I've been thinking a lot about quality over the past few weeks, and after years of curating a life built on a foundation of quality, habituating my routines that bring much joy and fulfillment, it has become easier to discern when non-quality events, people, items, etc. cross my path. "Associate yourself with people of good quality, for it is better to be alone than in bad company." —Booker T. Washington The benefits are many when we choose to welcome quality into our lives in all arenas of our life. Such benefits can be as grand as achieving one of the highest pinnacles in the tennis profession as Sloane Stephens or they can be as simple as keeping all of your fingers in tact. Let's take a look at twelve benefits of seeking out and selecting quality in all aspects of our daily life. 1. All fingers remain in tact As I mentioned above, it only takes the use of an unsharpened or poor quality knife to appreciate a top-knotch slicing and dicing tool. As I shared in this post about the 15 Kitchen Tools to Cook Anything Like a Pro, a sharp, top quality knife is a must. Do not skimp and save on a knife for the sake of having a knife in your kitchen. Your fingers will thank you. 2. Priceless time is saved Case in point, I give myself my own pedicure every couple of weeks. Using the nail polish remover from a quality brand, the polish is immediately removed. Having, while traveling, used a generic brand, the time it took to remove the polish was absurd. As I flip over the container to see what the main ingredients are, I discover that the ingredient at the top of list was water. Well, no wonder. I just used a product that was doing nearly the job that running my toenails under water would do - nothing. My experience is trivial compared to so many other purchases we make that appear to be saving us money, but in the long run waste our time and effectiveness. In this case, simply paying a few dollars more would have saved me time, wear and tear on my nails and limited my frustration. While not all generic brands are inferior, always check the label to see what the ingredients are to determine if you are indeed buying a similar product. “There is scarcely anything in the world that some man cannot make a little worse, and sell a little more cheaply. The person who buys on price alone is this man's lawful prey.”  ― John Ruskin 3. Unnecessary stress is avoided When we choose quality products for safety supplies, the vehicles we drive, the homes we live in, the neighborhoods we call home, the flight itineraries we travel, the stress decreases. While it may not entirely go away and while we need to make the best choices for the details of which we have control, we put much in our favor by choosing well and not skimping merely to save a dollar. 4. Deeper, more restful sleep is experienced When we do what is best, when we refrain from doing what is merely easy, we give ourselves the ability to sleep more deeply. When our minds are not wrestling with unnecessary stress and worry, we sleep more deeply. 5. Experience the vast wonders of the world more deeply When we seek out experiences of substance, people of substance and tools and knowledge to help us better understand beyond the surface level what is going on in the world, what went on in the world and what could go on in the world, we give ourselves the gift of deeper, more fulfilling experiences, memories and opportunities for self-growth and self-reflection. 6. Reach your full potential We can settle for what is working okay, what is livable, what is just fine, but if we have a deep passion for something, if we can see something others cannot when it comes to possibilities, a quality of life that is possible requires us to not simply be satisfied with what others say is our limitation. We are actually the only limitation that stands in our way, and often when others tell us to stop, we use it as an excuse. We blame someone else for stopping us from achieving what we once thought we could. No. Remember Sloane Stephens and her mother, and if you believe you can do more, be more, ignore the limitation setters and keep on striving forward in order to see with your own eyes what you truly can become. 7. Deepen your trust in mankind It has been my experience that when I bring into my life quality individuals, my trust in humanity deepens. I begin to see the amazing people who live and breathe in this world along with me and realize we are all, should we choose to be, full of love, dreams and goodness. It can seem simpler to choose to be cynical, protective and isolated after having experienced negative situations, but not all people wish to hurt. In fact, even those who have hurt are not bad people oftentimes. As Morrie Schwartz reminds, hurt people hurt people. Understanding this truth doesn't mean you should stay or surround yourself with hurt people who hurt you, but hopefully it will give you some understanding that it isn't about you and you need to walk away and surround yourself with one or two or three of the many amazingly loving, kind and trustworthy people who reside in our grand old world, thus improving the quality of your life. 8. The odds lean in your favor Similarly when you choose to seek out quality and let go of the contrary, windows and then gradually doors begin to open in your favor. What you seek you find, often in ways you never could have planned, but if you believe there is good, if you trust that goodness abounds, you will find it, just as those who believe that people are not good and the world cannot be trusted will find it as well. So long as we have more people seeking the former, the goodness grows. Seek out goodness, be goodness and select a quality way of living modeling for others that such a way of life is indeed possible. 9. Optimal health From the quality food we select, eating what is in season, reducing or eliminating processed foods, treating our bodies well, we amp up the healthy quotient in our lives and deepened the experiences we can have indoors, outdoors and everywhere in between. "We eat every day, and if we do it in a way that doesn't recognize value, it's contributing to the destruction of our culture and of agriculture. But if it's done with a focus and care, it can be a wonderful thing. It changes the quality of your life." —Alice Waters 10. Elevate others around you Related to #8, when we model living a life of quality, letting go of the negativity, hurtful ideologies, the isolationist mentality and nay-sayers, we reveal to those around us that choosing such a way of life, a life of optimism, hope, love and strength is indeed the means to living a most contented life. Sight is stronger than words, modeling is stronger than telling and when we have the courage to say no to what no longer feeds us, loves us, nurtures us, and step down a new path that we may not know how to travel well but that feels more accepting, more loving and more authentic and human, we will begin to see ourselves rise, our moods improve, our health improve, and thus the quality of our lives improve. That is inspiring to anyone paying attention, and that is what it takes to elevate those around you. 11. A mind available to be creative, loving and problem solving. When we no longer are consumed with unnecessary worry if what we've paid for or invested in works or if the people we've chosen to welcome into our lives are trustworthy, we have a mind that is free to explore exciting new avenues. From being creative, to problem solving what may have seemed impossible to coming up with fun ways to spend time with your loved ones, our minds are in need of constant fuel to be energized, why drain it with what it doesn't need to process? “The quality of your life is a function of the quality of the thinking you have done.”  ― Pearl Zhu 12. Elevate the world you live in Taking in the above 11 benefits, as our lives rise because our everydays become healthy, inspiring, and pointed in a direction that enables us to reach our full potential, those around us rise as well and ultimately, it can be a domino effect. None of us will probably ever know all of the people we can influence with our actions. Why not make the influence a positive one? One of selecting quality thoughts, behaviors, and people. Because when we reward what we desire and long for, we will begin to see more of it. However, if we spend more time dwelling on what we do not want, we actually give it more bandwidth that it deserves. "Eventually everything connects - people, ideas, objects. The quality of the connections is the key to quality per se." —Charles Eames Instead of dreading how long your life will be, why no focus on making sure that everyday day is one full of quality. For it is "the quality of life [that] is more important than life itself". Alexis Carrel certainly has a point. If we are living but not well, just enduring, protecting and hoping we don't get hurt, worrying about what might happen and not being present, appreciating all that is well, such a life is not much fun to live. And the catch really is, if someone has only know the latter life, they may have a hard time trusting the former is a possibility. But it is. It most absolutely is. And when they see someone model that fact, that is when they may just begin to make the positive changes of living a life of quality. Why not be the model they've been looking for? The model the world has been looking for? The model you need in your life today and as you move forward each and every day?   ~SIMILAR POSTS FROM THE ARCHIVES YOU MIGHT ENJOY: ~Why Not . . . Elevate the Quality of What You Consume? ~Why Not . . . Purchase Quality Worth the High Price Tag? ~Why Not . . . Live a Life of Quality?   Petit Plaisir: ~Home Again starring Reese Witherspoon, directed and written by Hallie Meyers-Shyer, produced by Nancy Meyers (of It's Complicated, Baby Boom, Something's Got To Give, The Holiday, etc.) The house in which the movie was filmed plays a large role. Located in Brentwood in 1929, it was once owned by Cindy Crawford and was featured in Elle Decor in 2002. You can see a plethora of pictures and details at Cote de Texas who wrote a wonderful spotlight post on the house.   ~My review of The Intern (written & directed by Nancy Meyers), episode #63 https://youtu.be/y-oFOgFB2uM

Nancy Meyers is the filmmaker behind comedies like Something's Gotta Give and It's Complicated. Now her daughter, Hallie Meyers-Shyer, is joining the family business with her debut film Home Again, which stars Reese Witherspoon. Host Linda Holmes talks to the mother-daughter team about working together, the challenges of making an indie rom-com, and building worlds through beautiful homes.

Nancy Meyers is the filmmaker behind comedies like Something's Gotta Give and It's Complicated. Now her daughter, Hallie Meyers-Shyer, is joining the family business with her debut film Home Again, which stars Reese Witherspoon. Host Linda Holmes talks to the mother-daughter team about working together, the challenges of making an indie rom-com, and building worlds through beautiful homes.