A little while ago, I found myself sitting amongst a large crowd in a large theatre watching the classic romance I paid $8.75 to so anxiously watch.
It was the cliche story. Two people following a dream find each other and fall in love. From then on it was smooth sailing, and I so willingly was sucked in to the beautifully perfect story of these two beautifully perfect people. I did, however, become quite frustrated when they had a huge falling out and ended up separating. The movie ended with the two of them running into each other some years later, both moved on with their lives. Instead of running into each others arms once again, they found an acceptance with their lives where they were even though their love for each other was still true.
Right as it faded to black, I turned and looked at the pure shock on everyones faces. Some where crying hysterically, and others where just staring wide-eyed at the screen, hoping there was more to the story that could make up for the "atrocity" of an ending.
Too often we find ourselves wanting the cliché fairytale ending we see in movies, but become disappointed when that unreasonable goal is not achieved. We sit in front of a large projector surrounded by a large crowd all wishing simultaneously that one day, we would have a life worth telling in comparison to that on the big screen. But when a story doesn't make us feel warm and fuzzy inside afterwards, we lash out. Because stories shouldn't have sad endings! No! They must end up together! THEY MUST! Right?
While I was watching the credits and observing in amazement at all the hysterical balls of emotion, several people caught my eye. They were quiet, calm, and distant, as if they found a thought and wouldn't let it go. They weren't upset but at peace. Well, as I was sitting there in that theatre on a Monday afternoon, I found myself at peace, as well. Stunned, but at peace, and I couldn't figure out why.
It wasn't until I was lying awake late at night pondering life's unanswerable questions that I realized why: because life is a struggle and I like it just the way it is.
I'm okay with not getting the guy dreams, I'm okay with not having an absolutely perfect dream job, and I'm okay having to climb up a steep mountain of a life, because that is the simple opportunity life has given us: to see the beauty in the crying, and the struggle of a life worth living.
It was in that theatre that I realized that some people don't get it. They cry and break down because the happy ending they built up in their mind doesn't meet their standard in real life, or they simply stare at the life in front of them hoping and praying there is something coming that is better. But there is that few people, despite the "unhappy ending," despite the pain they could be feeling, and sit back in acceptance that struggle is worth it when you've been given a life worth living.
I'm not saying that we should give up on our dreams and accept our fate, no. If you have the ability to fix the ugly parts of your life, take that chance! Be the decider of your own life! And despite life having a tendency to suck, we have the opportunity to move on, and to accept our pain as just another reminder that we are humans trying to find a place in this world. It's okay not to have a happy ending at the end of each chapter. Just remember that you're still writing that story, so choose an ending you would want to have. A perfect happy life with a perfect happy ending, or a struggle of a life with a beautiful and true ending worth sharing on the big screen?
Being challenged in life is inevitable, being defeated is optional.
- Roger Crawford
