In Response to ‘Desert Dancer’

I watched a movie today*. A movie about how the beautiful art form of dance was/is* illegal in Iran, and how some people have to fight, in turn risking their lives, just to be able to follow that call within them. The ache in the pit of the stomach, that nags at you when you’re not doing what you’re supposed to do. The desire to create that when acted upon feels like life itself blossoming within you.

I felt this way in Prague as well. After I learnt what the Czech youth went through during communist oppression just to play music, produce art, and be free, I felt blessed that I’ve never had to experience that. However, the prevailing thought (both after my time in Prague and watching Desert Dancer) is that I’m guilty.

Guilty of wasting my talent. Guilty of being too lazy to create when no oppressive government stands in my way, but more than anything guilty of being afraid that this life of creation will prove too much so I don’t even bother to begin.

I know I’m not weak, but the thought that I’ll have to fight my whole life terrifies me. The thought that I’ll consistently be scooping parts of myself out to present to the masses, like a cannibalistic buffet, leads me to think what if the soft tissue and non-essential cartilage isn’t enough? What if I have to carve out my heart? What if I have to pull it from each artery, each one sputtering, snapping and squealing as blood pours out.

And then if I leave it on the platter and garnish it with a tear, will it even be enough? Or will I have scooped my heart out in exchange for a life of poverty and struggle?

Or perhaps that’s an entirely too morbid way to think about it. Maybe the arteries stay connected, by some magical extension, they’ll still pulsate and pump blood into my spaces. And thus my life force will be sustained while still giving enough to satisfy the masses.

Or perhaps it’s all just gibberish anyway, and all that’s required of me is to be brave enough to create in the first place.

* I wrote this right after seeing the movie, at 1am, in a stream of consciousness manner, just FYI 🙂

*Desert Dancer was set in 2009 when the morality police banned dancing. I’m not sure if that system is still in place.

I Wanna Travel the World…………..

Hello Readers!
This is going to be a really quick post but tomorrow I’m setting off on an adventure to Prague then to London for the Olympics Opening Ceremony then onto Stafford for my cousins wedding. Although traveling can be a stressful experience it will always be in my mind one of the best and most magical experiences any human can undertake.

 

If you don’t believe me take a look at this little clip, technically its advertising for a flight search engine site but it captures the great feeling you get from traveling to interesting places all over the world.

I Wanna Travel the World Video
The point of this little post is just to say this, get out there and travel. It doesn’t matter if you can’t go thousands of miles just go a few hundred and find some interesting and diverse place that pushes you out of your comfort zone. That’s the true beauty of travel it forces you to understand other cultures, other places and in a way come into your own va va voom.

So figure out where you can go and go! Don’t say oh some day I’ll get there because some day or one day will never happen. The only day is today, so get out there, see the world and let the travel help shape you into the amazing person you’ve always wanted to be. I hope this little post has given you some inspiration and if you’ve been on travels recently, tell me where have you been?
Until next time be blessed, stay strong and never give up,
God Bless,

Grace Hatton