I’m convinced that Disney movies are not for kids. Have y’all paid attention to the jokes? Those are adult jokes; and they’re funny; as in “clever humor” funny… I say this to justify the fact that I love Moana. If it’s on TV I’m watching it. If I’m feeling a little down, I’m watching it.
I don’t want to focus so much on the main character but on the scene that had me crying like a baby the first five or so times that I watched it. In the movie, there is a fire monster who is causing the plants and living things on the islands to die. When the thing reaches her island, Moana goes beyond the reef and has to get past the monster to “restore the stolen heart of Te Fiti.” Turns out, the fire monster is Te Fiti. My favorite part of the movie is when Moana says to the sea, “Let her come to me.” Moana is walking in slow motion, fire monster is moving like the lady in The Grudge; then they meet in the middle. As she’s walking, Moana sings: “They have stolen the heart from inside you/But this does not define you./ This is not who you are/You know who you are/Who you truly are.”
I don’t know…something about that scene just does something to me. It’s sisterhood meets self care meets restoration. It is absolutely beautiful.
More times than not, we allow life, people, or circumstances strip us of who we are or who we are meant to be, (especially women) then we are label as bitter or angry. No, we just put our hearts out there for someone or something to snatch it without consent and now we are missing a vital part of ourselves. Here’s the lesson: hold on to that part of you that produces your authentic self. Moana was persistent in fulfilling her assignment; and yes, she had a few moments of doubt, and she even gave up. But she didn’t stay there. She went through hell and high water (literally) to restore the heart. When we are whole and healthy, we can recognized when someone needs help finding themselves. It just goes to show that in walking in our purpose, we can help someone walk in theirs.
Until Next Time,
Inilya XOXO
Inilya Spencer 