YVALIKS

I got one my life motto from an unassuming Disney animated movie called ‘Meet the Robinsons’.

It is the story of an orphan named Lewis, determined to become a scientist so he can build a time machine to go in the past and find his birth mother. Things however takes a turn when he meets a young man named Wilburn during a science fair. Wilburn is from the future and wants to take Lewis there to fix something important. Lewis end up meeting Wilburn’s peculiar family in the future: The Robinsons. He then make the interesting discovery that Wilburn is his son from the future. He also comes across one his former roommates from the orphanage who blamed Lewis for ruining his life. This roommate has carried so much bitterness and resentment that his only goal in life is to destroy Lewis. 

Lewis confront his former roommates and told him that he ruined his own life by dwelling on the past and he would have been better off if he had kept moving forward. Lewis realised himself that this is the best way to see  things: letting go and moving on. The movie end with a quote of Walt Disney. The lesson ‘Keep moving forward’ was taken from the quote. The end credits song by Rob Thomas starts with the lyrics ‘let it go’.

I think this movie is one of the most underrated Disney movie ever. I recommend watching it. My sister initially watched it with my young nephew and kept telling to watch it. When I did, I was so moved by it, I cried at the end. The lesson was so simple yet very true, especially for me.

I decided to use to make ‘Keep moving forward’ one of my life’s motto.

I am really good at dwelling on the past, especially the setbacks and the many times I failed. Those moments where I take one step forward and it feels like I took five steps back tend to haunt me the most. I carry guilt of what I should have done or could have done. At time, it looks like my setbacks multiply and my progress is slow. It is particularly during these times that I have to re-motivate myself with this life motto.

Over the years, I have started reframing the narratives of my hard times. Before I used to see myself as a victim, an unlucky individual who was just destined to encounter one hurt after another. I was very negative and complained a lot. I now see my life very differently. Life has ups and downs, and there are multitude of things that we cannot control.

It’s hard but it is more beneficial to see setbacks as lessons that helps me grow. To keep moving forward is a way to hope that there are better times ahead. The past is the past. It’s gone already. I cannot change it . What has happened , happened and there is no going back.

I can only accept it and grow from it. There is a time to grief, but then you have to do the work to heal and move on. I am still healing over past traumas and it is a long journey. But I am learning to let go everyday a little bit more.

The future is uncertain. I have no idea what is going to happen. But I want to be hopeful that I will touch my dreams. But there is no need to think too ahead and especially worry about it. Although, it is normal to be anxious about it.

The best way to embrace it, is to prepare for it in the present. The present is where we ought to be truly. We we need to be actively present: live our lives while we are in it. Being grateful in it.

For me the constant act to move forward is a great way to deal with life plot twists.

It is an invitation to keep breathing in the chaos. It is continuing to keep swimming because somehow you will get to the shores. It is the possibility that something will happen as you keep engaging. It will lead me to new paths and new opportunities.

I invite to do the same…Keep moving forward.