"It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power." ~Alan Cohen
There's this quirky indie movie I have an affinity for called "Cherish." It stars Robin Tunney (you may know her from "The Craft," "Empire Records" and more recently, "The Mentalist"). The plot revolves around Robin's character, Zoe, who is this socially awkward, love-crazed woman in her 20s who lives in this kind of fantasy-like world where she romanticizes everything and constantly calls into a radio station called KXCH Cherish radio requesting cheesy 70s and 80s pop love songs. She also can never sit still at home by herself and is constantly out with different men. Without giving the storyline away, something tragic happens to her and she's on house arrest, restricted to a small apartment with an ankle bracelet. Essentially forced to sit still. Overtime, she grows and transforms, discovering who she really is and how strong and independent she can be.
This Noe Venable song is played during a scene depicting her evolution: Down Easy
I've always gravitated to Zoe since I first saw this movie several years ago, but it hasn't been until recently that I've quite grasped what it is I was drawn to. It's the fact that she had no choice but to face her greatest fears, to face that her life, as she knew it, had changed and there was nothing she could do about it except to learn and grow. It was her transformation.
I, too, am facing a few changes, now and ahead of me. And part of me is terrified, while the other part is elated. But, weird as it may sound, I think back on Zoe whenever I feel overwhelmed and, fictional character or not, she never fails to inspire me to flow with the transformation. I think so often we tend to fight change or anything risky or challenging in order to stay complacent with our familiar lives, never leaving our comfort zones. Sure, it's safe in that cocoon, but it's also quite drab and stagnant after time.
My heart races with anxiety some days, the blood rising to my cheeks as adrenaline takes hold. Other days, my heart grieves with anguish. However, instead of trying to avoid those feelings and the change that has caused them, I've begun to swim within them, feeling their pulse inside my veins -- feeling alive. I'm tired of standing on the precipice, afraid to take the leap. Isn't that jump what makes it all worth it? Because as daunting as change can be sometimes, I believe it may lead to outcomes beyond our expectations, to the pursuit of our dreams ... and ultimately, to a life fully lived.
After all, how will we ever know where we are capable of landing ...
Until we've actually leaped?
~ C ~
There's this quirky indie movie I have an affinity for called "Cherish." It stars Robin Tunney (you may know her from "The Craft," "Empire Records" and more recently, "The Mentalist"). The plot revolves around Robin's character, Zoe, who is this socially awkward, love-crazed woman in her 20s who lives in this kind of fantasy-like world where she romanticizes everything and constantly calls into a radio station called KXCH Cherish radio requesting cheesy 70s and 80s pop love songs. She also can never sit still at home by herself and is constantly out with different men. Without giving the storyline away, something tragic happens to her and she's on house arrest, restricted to a small apartment with an ankle bracelet. Essentially forced to sit still. Overtime, she grows and transforms, discovering who she really is and how strong and independent she can be.
This Noe Venable song is played during a scene depicting her evolution: Down Easy
I've always gravitated to Zoe since I first saw this movie several years ago, but it hasn't been until recently that I've quite grasped what it is I was drawn to. It's the fact that she had no choice but to face her greatest fears, to face that her life, as she knew it, had changed and there was nothing she could do about it except to learn and grow. It was her transformation.
I, too, am facing a few changes, now and ahead of me. And part of me is terrified, while the other part is elated. But, weird as it may sound, I think back on Zoe whenever I feel overwhelmed and, fictional character or not, she never fails to inspire me to flow with the transformation. I think so often we tend to fight change or anything risky or challenging in order to stay complacent with our familiar lives, never leaving our comfort zones. Sure, it's safe in that cocoon, but it's also quite drab and stagnant after time.
My heart races with anxiety some days, the blood rising to my cheeks as adrenaline takes hold. Other days, my heart grieves with anguish. However, instead of trying to avoid those feelings and the change that has caused them, I've begun to swim within them, feeling their pulse inside my veins -- feeling alive. I'm tired of standing on the precipice, afraid to take the leap. Isn't that jump what makes it all worth it? Because as daunting as change can be sometimes, I believe it may lead to outcomes beyond our expectations, to the pursuit of our dreams ... and ultimately, to a life fully lived.
After all, how will we ever know where we are capable of landing ...
Until we've actually leaped?
~ C ~
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