The other day, I and six of my dear friends returned home from a roadtrip (supposed to be two words – “road trip” – but I like it better as one) to the happiest place on earth. Yes, Disneyland. And not only Disneyland, but also the beach, where there’s surfing and boogie boarding galore. And also Mexican food galore. Oh yah, babay.
But for now I’m just gonna focus on the Disneyland part...
FACING YOUR OWN FEARS
There was a point at the California Adventure park where we seven friends were attending the It’s Tough to Be a Bug 3D show (Disney/Pixar’s “A Bug’s Life”). We were sitting towards the back of the theatre with our goofy glasses on, enjoyin’ the bejeebers outta the production. Indeed, I personally was delighting in the show; it was lighthearted, fun, and well-done. BUT… Halfway into the show, I started to freak out a bit. SPOILER ALERT: It’s Tough to Be a Bug is a multisensory experience for any human being who chooses to delve into it. I won’t go into details deeper than that, but I will just say that a couple of the sensings are ones that I wasn’t particularly looking forward to having again in my lifetime. I had had them before, on a previous Disney expedition, and they left scars on my soul – miniscule scars – but scars, just the same.
But oh well, there I was, at that show again. Please remember to not get me wrong: I really like It’s Tough to Be a Bug, but the last time I watched it, I was much younger, and got scared a lot more easily by petty little things. Last Friday, I was almost positive that the select special effects wouldn’t be frightening to me, as they were in my childhood, but I wasn’t 100% sure. Sitting there on that 2014 afternoon, awaiting the specific dreaded instances, I knew I could choose between two distinct choices: avoid or “take it like a (wo)man.”
I was perched at one end of the line of us seven, but on the left end. The right side of the room was the only side at which you were permitted to exit the theatre. The right side of the line of us seven was where I was not, and so extreme evasion of the potentially-still-freaky sensings was not an option. Sorry, Charlie. Different portions of my brain and intelligence were debating whether or not I would decide to reposition my body, when the times of the sensings would arrive, in fashions that would allow my nerves to forgo allowing the sensings to attack. It would be cinchy to do.
But then some candlelight abruptly flickered inside of me. I quickly glanced down the line of my six friends (they looked so charming in their glasses – baha), and swiftly thought to myself, They’re not going to reposition their bodies. They’re going to endure every last special effect. They’re not going to be wimps. Don’t be a wimp, gurl. And so right then, right there, prior to the first strike, I chose to not be a wimp for the remainder of the presentation. I endured, and I ultimately learned that all of it was not as unnerving as I thought it possibly could be, and that facing my fears felt really, really good.
*Ironically this is coming from a girl who, as of last Friday, was apparently less scared of skydiving than she was of It’s Tough to Be a Bug show in the kiddie zone at Disneyland. Go figure. You may not be able to figure all day long.
DISCOVERING THAT OTHERS ACTUALLY HAD THE SAME FEARS AS YOU
After It’s Tough to Be a Bug, we seven bought churros and/or ice cream to joyously devour. We found a quaint short stone wall to rest upon. Our discussion zoomed in on what It’s Tough to Be a Bug was like. One of us (not me, but someone besides me) said that they were nervous about the _exact_same_special_effects_ that I was nervous about, but they ended up deciding to just deal with it. Just like me! If I’m reminiscing correctly, I think I extended my curled-up fist out towards that friend who had just spoken, and with exuberant jollity asked them to “pound it!” That was a golden moment for me.
HELPING OTHERS FACE THEIR FEARS
Another one of my six friends, Emily, asked me later that day if I would sit next to her on Space Mountain, so that she could hang on to my arm if she needed to. I happily obliged.
Upon the ride’s conclusion, Emily told me that finishing Space Mountain was a golden moment for her. I don’t know all that her heart was feeling as soon as she realized that she had conquered the daunting rollercoaster, but I have a pretty solid idea. She thanked me for being by her side as she faced her fear. It was an honor to be the one whose arm she requested to hang on to!
OH, HOW WE NEED EACH OTHER
Anytime that I really stop to ponder the importance of friendship… the importance of having kindly circles of friends with whom you can grow and learn… circles in which you find safe havens of healing… circles in which you feel camaraderie and encouragement… circles in which you find joy in encouraging each other… all of that… Anytime that I ponder that, I thank God for my own friends (and amazing family!), and oftentimes I immediately remember a quote that originated from a wonderful lady named Marjorie Pay Hinckley—a quote that goes a little bit like this: “Oh, how we need each other… It is a sociological fact that […] we need deep and satisfying and loyal friendships with each other.”
I believe that to be true. Everyone needs good friends—friends who are brightly positive and uplifting. I can’t get over how blessed I feel by having that brand of friendship so prevalent in my life.
No comments:
Post a Comment