My First Magical Moment

I was at Epcot with two other newly-made friends when the magic happened. We had been walking through the park for almost an hour, exchanging stories about our new jobs and Mickey Mouse-filled lives. The nighttime breeze was refreshing but chilly, bringing goosebumps to my arms and sharpening the sight of the full moon’s path over the water. A voice came over the park, promising a fireworks show in just five minutes, so naturally people began to squeeze around the fence that overlooked the polished lake. I hadn’t seen the show before, so my friends and I joined the madness and slightly uncomfortable proximity. As the music began in all of its cheesy (but wonderful) Disney glory, fireworks began to go off and the globe in the center of the lake flashed images and stories. It was stunning, but my breath was taken not by the loud bursts of color in the sky but a little girl on her dad’s shoulders. She was around three or four, with wispy blonde hair in pigtails and the biggest smile I have ever seen. Her chubby little arms were waving and pumping in the air, as she literally cheered on the fireworks by shouting, “Woohoo! Great one! Let’s go!” Like the world’s tiniest cheerleader, she squealed and laughed and screamed for her favorite torrents of vivid light. Her eyes and smile held so much happiness, and her fists were thrust as high as she could hold them- it was all I could do not to cry. What if people always took in life like that? Cheering on the world, even though the noise and smoke. Even through the crowds and new experiences and what was probably a really long day. Watching the reds and golds and blues of the fireworks reflecting on her tiny cheeks made me feel just as magical as she must have been feeling. What a wonderful thing to be young and vibrant, I thought, and how amazing it must feel to be so connected with life and its immeasurable beauty. And then, in the final sizzle of champagne colored lights that dripped from the sky, I realized I had that choice. Every single day. Cliché? Oh definitely. But magical? More doubtless than a little girl cheering on the sky. 

Destiny, dear heart

Eight days and three hours and fifty-five minutes. Because of what’s going to be happening in a week (attending the Disney College Program, for those few who I haven’t ranted endlessly to about my excitement) I have decided to pick up blogging again. While I haven’t started packing, and still have a few more forms to halfheartedly skim through and sign, my heart couldn’t be more ready. I should know- it starts racing like I’m being chased by demon cauliflowers whenever I think about my nearing trip. Some people might mistake this for fear, but by now I know better. My body is just preparing itself to be better, stronger. My heart is sending me signals that it is strong and courageous and ready for this princess-filled adventure. After volunteering in South Africa, I have learned that the more your heart beats for something, the worthier it is of your time and the more it will make you a better person. Now, I’m not talking about things like entering a worm eating contest or free-falling from an airplane. Though more power to you if that’s what you want in life. It’s those life changing, good-doing, out of your comfort zone adventures that can really let fear in. A month or so before my trip to South Africa, I was nearly convinced by a friend that I should cancel everything. It was far too dangerous, too much money, and a waste of time- what use does a communications major have with baby baboons? Did I want to get kidnapped? It was terrifying, these potential endings to what was supposed to be a fairy tale adventure. But after all the lectures and 3 AM nightmares, I still would not give in to my racing heart. This was my organ inside my body and it was going to listen to me. I would not choose fear as a way of deciding my life. As you’re probably more than aware, my time in South Africa was amazing, life changing, blah blah blah, cue the cliché Facebook statuses and pictures of my favorite monkeys. So I’ve decided to make all my decisions with bravery- you see despite my aversion to conflicts and anything that might have a negative outcome, there is a lion inside of me. A very small one, as I still can’t break five foot two. But when I feel that something is meant to happen, it roars until my heart starts pounding so I can spring into action. Your typical destiny-conquering stuff. So while spending the next five months in a new place with new people is, well, new, I am unabashedly unafraid. When my heart wakes me up at odd hours during the night, having some sort of wild fiesta under my ribcage, I whisper, “It’s ok. We’ll be there soon.” When I first saw the Disney College Program online, the lion inside of me roared and roared and roared. Forget anxiety. Forget fear in all of its misguided help. And forget my creative writing teacher’s lessons about the dangers of clichés. (For now). This is destiny, dear heart. Get ready.