Hi Friends, I hope you received your good enough reward last week! As I'm going through major life changes, the thought of "circle of life" just wouldn't leave me. One of my daughters graduated college this month and her younger sister graduated high school. These are major moments in their and my life. It's a transition. It's celebrating their accomplishments and eagerly awaiting what comes next. I am also experiencing the death of a relationship. And at the same time, the announcement of a new baby in our family. One daughter is expecting her first baby, my first grandbaby. How sweet is that? All this made me think of the consistency of change! The only thing that is consistent is change. I'm sure when you looked at the picture of Rafiki holding up Simba you heard the song playing in your mind. Correct? The below excerpt shows how beautifully this song was inspired and written and composed. ___________________________________________________________________________________________
It’s hard to believe that a song as powerful as “The Circle of Life” – which opens the film, stage show, and presumably also the upcoming live-action film – came together so quickly. Both of the song’s key elements – the memorable Zulu chant that opens the film, as well as the sung English verses and chorus – were created in moments of sudden inspiration. Lyricist Tim Rice has said that the main melody was dreamed up by Elton John in less than two hours. “I gave him the lyrics at the beginning of the session at about two in the afternoon,” Rice says in The New Illustrated Treasury of Disney Songs. “By half-past three, he’d finished writing and recording a stunning demo.”
The Zulu section – including the famous “Nants ingonyama bagithi Baba!” – came about in similarly inspired fashion. Hans Zimmer, who had been brought on to compose the score, tapped Lebo M., a then-exiled South African composer living in the U.S., to help with the music. Zimmer and the directors told the composer what they wanted to do with the opening scene, and during one session, Lebo began to riff on ideas. At first, it looked like the session was not going anywhere, and that the team might not have the right music for the opening scene ahead of a screening for executives. Then, suddenly, Lebo cried out “Nants ingonyama bagithi Baba,” and all present agreed, instantly, that the chant would open the film. ____________________________________________________________________________ How do you feel during life's transitions? Are you filled with inspiration? Or is the uncertainty getting to you? As much as you celebrate the accomplishments, that feeling of not knowing what is next can bring a hefty dose of fear with it. We can learn a lot from Rafiki, to reference the beautiful movie Lion King again. He literally "knocks" some sense into Simba who had drifted away in Lala land and forgotten his responsibilities. Upon some self reflection, a major headache and some guidance from his father, Simba returns to his homeland. And with that he reunites with Nala and she gives birth to her lion cub. Simba went through lots of grief and loss. Lots of running away and finding himself. And the circle of life closes beautifully in the scene pictured above. There’s a comfort in the thought that there's a circle of life. There is comfort in knowing there will be new birth. New beginnings and new life. Wherever you find yourself in life, be it as a mom of a graduate, at the beginning of a new job, a major move, an end of a friendship, a whole new career, a new grandma, a trip you are nervous about, a family member dying, you are starting to date again, .... you might not know, the editor of this blog is getting married this week, after years of mourning her late husband. Yes, they met in a GriefShare group. And there's new beginnings. Very different beginnings than the first time they were married. Much more life wisdom. Many "hard knocks" in life. A whole new love. I am happy for their new beginning and I am so honored to have been a part in her healing journey.
Change is good
Rafiki, The Lion King
And to close with another quote from the Lion King:
Oh yes, the past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it or learn from it.
Willingness to learn is huge, as is acceptance of the past and the present. I literally have an affirmation recorded for myself that says:
"I have the grace to embrace every season of life with my family." Do I feel that every day. No! It's hard. And I rebel and say, “I don't like that change. I want all my children back home, living their lives with me close by, celebrating and crying together.”
It's a huge change when they grow up. Therefore, my affirmation to get used to embracing it. Tweak this to fit your life situation right now. Tweak it and speak it. Embrace change. It's inevitable.
PS: Message me for a free consult to start moving toward a more confident you.
You are loved. Deeply loved. Loved beyond measure.
Until next time, Isabelle
Call or write for a free life coaching consultation
#732-331-2246
Isabellestephensoncoach@gmail.com
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