Who Are You?

I watched the new Alice In Wonderland movie over the weekend and it has just stuck with me... So many ideas coming from this new production of a classic. The story has always had moments from within it that pop into my consciousness at some seemingly odd moments in my life - always teaching me something.

The most obvious teaching is the caterpillar asking Alice, "Who are you?" I love how Alice isn't really quite sure... She is who she is yet she doesn't know the extent of who that is until the story has played out. Isn't that always the way? Hindsight is 20/20 and so many people look back on life wishing they had done something more when they were younger, had more energy or before their body started twinging every time they moved.

As the story progresses all of Alice's insecurities, she begins with quite a few, start melting away as she is morally disposed to conquer each fear that she would normally allow to overwhelm her. She learns about friendship and compassion which are forms of the greatest power of all - LOVE. Love conquers all things.

Alice doesn't think about her cowardice as she plunges ahead to save her friends. She thinks only of her friends. Her selflessness being cast aside for her moral values. Her thoughts of herself and self preservation replaced by compassion leads her to the self-discovery of who she is.

Doing something for others without worrying about what you will gain or lose brings about the greatest gains of all. A selfless act without concern for the end result (appreciation or recognition from others for how great you are) brings you closer to yourself so when you gaze at yourself in the looking glass you know you can beat all Jabberwockies that appear in your life. The knowledge of being able to accomplish anything, to overcome anything that may hold you back is the great gift of knowing who you are, capable of anything life throws at you and completely unafraid.

I am Alice.