Cue "Go The Distance" from the Disney movie Hercules.
I have often dreamed of a far off place
Where a hero's welcome would be waiting for me
Where the crowds will cheer when they see my face
And a voice keeps saying, this is where I'm meant to be
I'll be there someday, I can go the distance
I will find my way if I can be strong
I know every mile, will be worth my while
When I go the distance, I'll be right where I belong.
Ever since I was a little girl, this song has always spoke to me. Anyone who knows me knows that I love Disney's Hercules. When I was younger, I could never put a finger on why I loved this movie so much. Now that I am older I totally understand why I spent years watching this movie and replaying it's soundtrack over and over again. Besides having super-human strength and being half-god, Hercules and I relate on almost every level.
In case you haven't seen the Disney movie Hercules, here is a short summary of the amazing film. Hercules was born a Greek god and was snatched as a young baby by Hades who attempted to make him mortal again in fear of Hercules defeating him if he remained mortal. Hercules was still half god and half mortal so he still had his gift, super-human strength. Hercules never quite felt at home because he wasn't. Hercules believed that the poor elderly couple who raised him were his real parents but something inside him knew his heart, soul and body belonged somewhere else. Long story short, Hercules found out he belonged on Mount Olympus with the gods so he fought long and hard to get where he belonged.
Never quite feeling at home is a strange feeling. I grew up in the city of New Castle, Pennsylvania. New Castle is a place where every says they will get out of but most never leave. When I think of the city of New Castle the words that come to mind are low income, violence and deteriorating. To put it in perspective, Best Places to Live states, "New Castle, Pennsylvania, violent crime, on a scale from 1 (low crime) to 100, is 90. Violent crime is composed of four offenses: murder and non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. The US average is 31.1."
| You may be thinking "Of course you don't feel at home here! Who would?", but it is much deeper then that. Not feeling at home is knowing you were made for bigger and better places. Not feeling at home is knowing there are people out there who relate to you, love you and care for you but you currently are not able to be in their presence. Not feeling at home isn't because you haven't learned to love where you are at. Not feeling at home is because you aren't at home. |
As much as I loved the movie Hercules I also loved vacations. Vacations took me to cities where people thought like me, loved like me and hoped like me. I have always craved culture, diversity and art. I have always loved the idea of coming 'home' and finally feeling like I belonged. Fortunately for me, I found my future home and future people to spend that with. I am just currently in the phase of earning enough money to make the move. Don't get me wrong, I love my life currently. I love my family and I love my job but this isn't where I am meant to be.
Like a shooting star, I will go the distance
I will search the world, I will face its harms
I don't care how far, I can go the distance
'Til I find my hero's welcome, waiting in your arms
-"Go the Distance" from Disney's Hercules
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