Luisa from Disney’s Encanto
Happy New Year, friends and colleagues!
My personal rule is anything before the 15th is game for a hearty "Happy New Years" greeting, so I consider myself coming in just under the wire for 2022. Eleven days in and already so much noise in the universe, at least from my perspective!
We've lost some greats (Betty, Sidney, Bob), and have continued to break records, albeit the records that really aren't ones that other countries aspire to— and then throw in a standoff between your school district and the teachers union… so… you can imagine. #covid
Like many of you with younger kids, I watched Disney's new movie, Encanto, no less than 20 times over the break. I've watched endless memes about how we don't talk about Bruno, the soundtrack has been on non-stop… and Lin Manuel Miranda wrote the music, so IYKYK. It’s addictive.
I mentioned to my husband, Jon, that I might blog about it-- and he questioned, "aren't you missing your demographic of people who don't have kids?" After all, there is no shortage of people/ talent related topics to write about, the Great Resignation, labor shortages, supply chain issues…
Lucky for you, I have chosen to ignore his advice this time around.
If you haven’t seen Encanto (no spoilers here) — the whereabouts of Bruno is central to the storyline of the movie, but what spoke to me was Luisa's story.
She is of herculean strength (you know, can throw around donkeys, lift buildings off their foundations, etc) but the pressure mounting on her physically and emotionally, is starting to break her down.
I immediately thought about the parents out there, but in particular, the moms. She sings:
I'm the strong one, I'm not nervous.
Under the surface
I feel berserk as a tightrope walker in a three-ring circus
Sound like someone you know?
For two years, parents have been treading a fine line of stress, protection and projecting a sense of calm. The sheer energy of maintaining that balance has been crippling to many.
Pressure like a drip, drip, drip that'll never stop.
We've lived through three school years. Two sets of holidays-- desperately trying to preserve traditions, while building some new ones (I'm forever converted to the Halloween candy chute, BTW)
But all of that has taken a toll on our collective psyche.
Do I post some instagram-worth pics from time to time? Guilty. But I do know these moments of joy and happiness have only come with a huge mental effort.
But wait, if I could shake, the crushing weight
Of expectations, would that free some room up for joy
Or relaxation, or simple pleasure?
And so, as we dig into 2022-- I am hoping that all of you, in particular, my fellow moms-- are taking heed and doing what you need to do to shake some of the weight you've been carrying.
Resolutions? Intentions? Not this year.
The only thing I have committed to are things that will release the pressure that has been mounting.
There no doubt-- I'd love to lose 20 pounds, read more books, write everyday, do business development work, and squeeze in a workout, but I've learned the last 24 months-- it is not necessarily the pandemic that is holding us back. Rather, it's been the expectations we’ve imposed on ourselves that we were supposed to do all the things and keep thriving.
So I'm going to microdose on happy*ish* and hopeful. Perhaps you've already figured this out already-- major kudos to you if you already have. But I'm consciously lowering the expectations of a new version of perfect that is decidedly imperfect… for one that is much more liveable.
Taking a beat from Luisa, I’m wishing all of you a:
prosperous,
successful,
best EVER,
drama-less 2022.
Be well & stay well-- and I hope to see many of you soon!
J