Four of the Many Lessons That Sandra Bullock Films Teach Me

Summary: Four Sandra Bullock films with helpful lessons are Premonition, Miss Congeniality, The Lake House and The Blind Side.

Sandra Bullock in Cannes, France, 2002: Rita Molnár, CC BY SA 2.5 Generic, via Wikimedia Commons

Awareness, focus, integrity and self-knowledge are four top lessons that I learn from watching Virginia-born actress Sandra Bullock's (born July 26, 1964) films. The four lessons can be found in many of Sandra's films. But each one epitomizes the main lesson and theme in each of four of her most beloved films.

Awareness appears in Premonition (2007). Emotions antagonistic to comprehension and cooperation control Sandra's Linda. She is depressed about her children generating housework and laundry and her husband working long hours. She lets herself look unattractive and wallow in self-pity until premonitory dreams warn her of unexpected accidents, one disfiguring and another fatal. She realizes the need to exchange isolating, self-absorbed depression for awareness of her daughters' well-being, her family's security and her husband's needs. Awareness supplies the wherewithal for her to fight for life's miracles. She walks away with financial security and new life from the only fight that premonitory awareness loses.

Focus characterizes Miss Congeniality (2000). Single-minded devotion to career leaves Sandra's Gracie slovenly and unlikable. Undercover work at a beauty pageant makes her realize the importance of alternately sharpening and widening professional focuses. Fellow contestants thank her as their Miss Congeniality, whose manners consider others' comfort and well-being.

Sandra at The Lake House, London premiere, September 2006: Caroline Bonarde Ucci, CC BY 3.0 Unported, via Wikimedia Commons

Integrity drives The Lake House (2006). Sandra's Kate feels that she is settling for less romantically in a personally satisfactory, professionally rich life. She atypically jumps at considering love's miracles despite daunting limitations in physical and temporal opportunities and spaces. She temporarily reverts to compromised relationships. But she ultimately stands firm in believing "Where there's a love there's a way." Integrity translates into getting what she needs and seeks in romantic relationships: a loving friend who is a friendly lover.

Self-knowledge emerges in The Blind Side (2009). Sandra's Leigh Anne gets to know her family's and friends' strengths and weaknesses. She additionally knows herself very well. She makes sure that her daughter and son accentuate their stronger school subjects and compensate for weaknesses through socialization and stamina. She notices Michael, whose socio-economic background and tested IQ bode poorly. She supports Michael's educational accomplishments as an unlikely high school and college graduate and professional achievements as a professional football player by promoting his self-knowledge of learning limitations, physical contributions and socialized behavior.

It always is time well spent to learn life's lessons in career, education, family and relationships by way of Sandra Bullock's audience-friendly films!

Sandra Bullock was received Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010, the 16th Screen Actors Guild (SAG Award) for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role for her performanceThe Blind Side: Thomas Atilla Lewis, CC BY 2.0 Generic, via Wikimedia Commons

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

Sandra Bullock in Cannes, France, 2002: Rita Molnár, CC BY SA 2.5 Generic, via Wikimedia Commons @ http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sandra_Bullock(cannesPC)-.jpg

Sandra at The Lake House, London premiere, September 2006: Caroline Bonarde Ucci, CC BY 3.0 Unported, via Wikimedia Commons @ http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SandraBullockLakehouse.jpg

Sandra Bullock was received Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010, the 16th Screen Actors Guild (SAG Award) for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role for her performanceThe Blind Side: Thomas Atilla Lewis, CC BY 2.0 Generic, via Wikimedia Commons @ http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sandra_Bullock_at_the_2010_SAG_Awards.jpg