I watched the new Little Women movie tonight; the one based on the novel by Lousia May Alcott. It reminded me of when I was younger, reading this and many (many!) others.
Books have always had a profound impact on how I view the world. It's much like a passage from the one I'm currently rereading, actually, which is Insurgent from the Divergent Trilogy (yes, rereading and yes, very different genre, I know). In the story, the main character, Tris, mentions that as she spends time in each of her society's factions, she feels like she's collecting little bits of each one and making them a part of her.
That's how I feel about the stories I've read. But it's only as I get older and more experienced (though wiser is perhaps up for debate) that I've started to really relate to them on a deeper level. So what did Little Women remind me of tonight? (I'm sure you're waiting on the edge of your seat)
It reminded me that to keep going even when it's hard, even when I want to give up, is an accomplishment in and of itself.
It reminded me that I am strong enough, and determined enough, to write my own story.
It reminded me that, even with that determination, it's ok to lean on my family because family makes you stronger.
And it reminded me that what I want more than anything is for my daughter to live; to be true to herself, to love deeply and to experience every bit of life.
My daughter and I are embarking on our own journey these days. It's new and fits uncomfortably sometimes, sort of like a new pair of shoes that haven't been broken in yet. But it is joyful, and full of love. I think we're on the right path...even if we're not sure where it's leading us yet.
