It Calls Me

My youngest daughter, Charley, LOVES the movie Moana. And to be honest with you… I do too! Of all the Disney movies I have seen, Moana has such a strong message of resilience and empowerment (not to mention the amazing music).

In short, Moana is the daughter of an Polynesian island king, and she loves the water. Her people no longer venture and seek out new lands. Primarily out of fear of the unknown - at one point in time the people were voyageurs and stop venturing when boats stop coming back. However, Moana feels an urge and force to do more, to go further than anyone, she knows, has gone. During the course of her journey, Moana, is always faced with a choice, to do/act or not to do/act. To push and go further, or turn back. It is not until she faces true adversity, and is alone, that she realizes that the "it" that has been calling her is not some external entity, this is something inside of her.

"And the call isn't out there at all, its inside me…"

It is not very often that I feel a true connection to a movie, especially a child's Disney movie. However, it made me think and reflect. Your passion can not be your passion only when things are fun, good, and easy. Your passion must be your passion even when it is hard, ugly, and against the norm. Your passion must drive your resilience, get you through the tough with grit, and bring you to the point of virtue in adversity.

"Every turn I take, every trail I track

Is a choice I make, now I can't turn back

From the great unknown where I go alone

Where I long to be."

Your passion is a calling that is inside of you, and the only person who knows how far you'll go is you. What separates the good from the great is choice. The choice to continue pursuing when everyone says the pursuit is in vain, when no one else thinks your passion is worth it, when the majority say your attempts are futile. We all, even Moana, have a choice in accepting our passion. Sadly, many choose not the accept the calling in both good and rough times. But there is always a choice, choose wisely.