"With a Conscience" - "The Rites of Passage..."

"You know the fairy-tale drill, especially from the Disney versions: the heroines endure awful stuff in rites of passage that lead to a joyous resolution of, usually, marriage to a prince. 'Into the Woods' follows that template, then asks, 'What happens after Happy Ever After?'

-Richard Corliss

        I believed in fairytales as a chid.  I took the plight of Snow White and Aurora ("Sleeping Beauty" seriously.  The seven dwarfs in "Snow White" were particularly interesting for obvious reasons.   I felt that these characters could find happiness so could anyone.  Was that naive? Probably...but here's the truth, there are so many celebrations and grievances in our lives that we become tired trying to keep track.  Are these tiresome spells part of everyone's llves? Absolutely. I now consider them my rites of passage.

        I witnessed many times over the decades, the imperfections and the frustrations of human nature.  I also witnessed huge jubilations and happiness.  I will never forget either experiences.  They have made me who I am at this point.  

        I consider myself so lucky to have walked on a stage so many, many, many times in my life. There was exhaustion, fear, and over-whelming joy.  It was an honor to make so many laugh and feel some assemblance of identity.  I consider myself lucky to have taught teens for over 20 years...Exhausted, anxious and then, yes, sheer joy with so many moments that will stay with me until the end of my days.

    The lessons of life are in fact the "rites of passage."  The triumphs and the heartaches are destined to each one of us.  The real question is "How do we cope?" What measures do we need in place to keep forging ahead. I am willng to bet that time is the key.  I have been told many times that it is my impatience that can be the downfall.  I have to be willing to wait.  The expectations can not be unrealistc but realistic when it comes to handling difficulties.  Perhaps that is the key for all of us. We can not make others live up to our expectations.  That would be cruel and unusual punishment.  But what we can do is to know what our boundaries are and communicate them to those we know and love.

        The rites of passage are personal and individual.  One size does not fit us all. We all walk with different shoes.  Perhaps that is the blessing in disguise.  Celebrate the challenges and the triumphs.  Celebrate the birthdays and the anniversaries.  They are what make us human.