Stardust

Dear Mandy,

 

I just watched "Stardust". Yes.. it is a very old show, but a really good one, and I kind of wonder why I didn't watch it earlier, considering the DVD has been with me for almost 3 years! But I didn't regret watching it, and for the first time in quite some time, it is a story that left me with many thoughts, and some wonderful revelations as well.

 

Some background story? The lead actor, Tristan, is the son of a human being as well as the sister of the King of Stormhold (a place of magic where witches and magic live) who had been put into slavery by a witch. While young Tristan was trying to woo the heart of Victoria, the King of Stormhold ventured to find the heir to his throne by having them find a diamond and make it into a ruby through royal blood. In so releasing the diamond, it knocks the Evening Star out of space to Stormhold. It is this falling star that causes Tristan to find out his roots and history, and using the Babylon candle, get to the evening star, otherwise known as Yvaine. However, Yvaine not only possesses the diamond, the witches are also after her for the heart of a star will cause everlasting life and youth and beauty. Michelle Pfeiffer sets off on a mission to get the fallen star to their home so that they can devour Yvaine's heart and be young again.

Upon many twists and turns, the story eventually blossoms to one of how true love gradually unfolds. Here, I share the clip where Yvaine confesses her love for Tristan.



I must admit that the words that Yvaine speaks touched a chord in my heart. Forget Claire Danes and her amazing ability for monologues and for the viewers to feel her emotions through just looking at her face and hearing her speak? But I realise it is this kind of untainted love that people are seeking but hardly very finding. Yes, love is a choice, which is all too evident when Yvaine says that love is unconditional? But it also balances out the emotions, when she says that "it can be unpredictable, unexpected, uncontrollable, unbearable and strangely easy to mistake for loathing."

Perhaps that is the essence of true love? It is a choice to nurture, sustain and grow the emotions.
She goes on to say her heart can barely contain the emotions.. "like it doesn't belong to me anymore, it belongs to you. And if you wanted it, I wish for nothing in exchange - no gifts, no goods, no demonstrations of devotion, nothing but knowing you love me too. Just your heart in exchange for mine."
And perhaps that is one of the best personifications of love? A willingness to commit, a willingness to give to each other, knowing that there is a safe haven to share, to love, and to trust.

Very elusive for us today I guess?

 

But perhaps, it isn't really that far away too? Yvaine goes through her fair share of hurt when a wrong message is conveyed to her that Tristan has gone back to Victoria, his one true love? And that could be the case with some relationships in the world today. We choose not to trust our partners, but to listen to the words, the suggestions, the advice, the inputs from people without first discerning what is the most applicable to us. A safe route isn't necessarily the best route at times? But that being said, it would be foolish to tread a road without much consideration for a well nurtured growth of emotions and feelings.

I long for a love like Yvaine's and Tristan's. 

And I know, that story, is probably in God's plan for me. =)

Someday, I too, will have that beautiful story.

In conclusion, as Joyce's maid-of-honour said yesterday?

"We should all believe that fairy tales come true. Because Joyce's childhood dream of being married has been fulfilled today."

=) I will believe.

Searching for the ever elusive victory within

Dear Mandy,

As I sat pondering at my new cubicle in school (yes! I got my own seat now!), I can't help but wonder what it is that makes us who we are. There are, well, many definitions of who we should be. Some say we should be an all-achiever - go for the best in everything we do. Some say we should carpe diem, seize the day! Others say we should just enjoy life for what it's worth. But... these are opinions, thoughts... they may not be what we embrace as who we are. They may be ways to succeed in society, or to cope with the everyday stresses of life. But they may not be the true challenge that we innately seek to overcome.

Wait. Did somebody say challenge? Yes. As human beings, we love to overcome, because it piques our confidence. When we successfully dig out boots in and overcome an obstacle, we get a confidence boost. We want to aim higher, run faster, and then suddenly, we run out of steam. Or we get complacent. Or, in the worst case scenarios, we fail. And then, we throw in the towel, we give up. And for those who never get out of the shadow of the pain or the mode of self-pity, their once shining light gradually dims and waits, anxiously, for a chance to shine again.




And that reminds me of this clip about quicksand - facing our fears.
If we don't admit our fears, we'll never be able to face them head on. In this case, well, some background about this movie? A team of replacement players were put together to win 3 games in 4 weeks because the original team went on strike due to insufficient wage demands. Sounds similar to something that happened recently, but i digress.
And so, the coach, McGinty opens the floor to his players to share their deepest fears.
The quarterback, Shane Falco, played by Keanu Reeves, shares about quicksand - after an amusing tirade about spiders and bees.

In his explanation about quicksand, Falco states that he is afraid of messing up the game, because one mistake leads to a consecutive fall into subsequent ones - like you're sinking slowly into quicksand.

In short, everyone of us are afraid of messing up. We are afraid there is no second chance.. or we are afraid to give second chances. So we tread everything carefully, and we forget for what we live our lives for. Personal dogmas are sidelined, beliefs take a back seat, and above all else, we lose who we are in the process.




The thing is, it is possible to face our fears, and live life the way we want it to, when we have someone alongside, as in here, when Andrew asks Margaret to marry him.
See.. they're both scared. They're complete opposites. And 3 days ago, Andrew loathed Margaret.

It would be so much easier to just walk away.
But they just... can't.
Because well, there's that possibility that they could be making the biggest mistakes of their lives in walking away, and because what happened in those 3 days in Alaska made them realise how much they really like each other.

The ever elusive victory within is when you hold on tightly to something you believe in, and you refuse to let go. You may be scared, but you take steps to overcome it. You may not always succeed, but you don't lose yourself when you don't.

I'm not saying fears are easy to overcome.
I'm not saying that it is easy to live life the way we want it to.
I'm just saying that with God, all things are possible.
We just need to believe and take a huge step of faith forwards.
Then perhaps, everything will change. =)