Surface Pressure
February 6, 2022
Home...Family...
A home is a place where we could find real happiness, where we could be safe, and where we could feel being appreciated, accepted, and loved regardless of who we are by the people we called family.
But what if your family is putting burdens on your shoulders, giving constant expectations that put you under pressure, or worse, will ostracize you just because you are different from the rest of the family, and you are considered weak and useless? Just because you can't create a miracle, you'll be considered powerless, and would never be good enough for them.
How would you feel then? Would you still consider them as a family? And what if you learn that you are the reason why your family is at risk? Would you go or stay and prove that you aren't an outcast and powerless? That you can create a miracle in your own little way.
Those were the questions that came to mind after watching ENCANTO...
An exceptional movie that teaches us so many lessons about a family that everyone, especially children must learn. And truly recommendable to everyone and worth watching.
Aside from the lessons that could be learned from this movie, the songs also resonate with our lives. Let's discuss some of them later on.
I love the main character, Mirabel Madrigal. A cheerful, loving, and kind member of the Madrigal family blessed with magical gifts. Unfortunately, among all the members, only Mirabel doesn't have magical power. Unbeknownst to many, she's been struggling to fit in with their family and not genuinely happy inside their own home because of being different from others.
And she's just being in denial which we could see in the first part of the movie. And that's the very first lesson I learned from Encanto. I found this meme online and I really laugh at this part of the movie where the girl said that Maribel's gift is being in denial.
Undeniably, there are times in our life that we thought we are okay, or we know we are not, but we tend to act okay in front of other people, especially if we have a family with high expectations, or a vulnerable mother just so she won't worry about us.
However, we should learn to speak out, and do not be in denial. Because only the truth could set us free.
It's not only Mirabel who's in denial here, but even the strong like rock Luisa, the beautiful and as perfect as flowers Isabela, even the high-spirited Abuela is also in denial. But as the story goes on in the movie, things started to unfold and only revealed their vulnerability. But this only shows that we are all vulnerable regardless of the power and abilities we have. Because we are only human.
The eldest of the sisters and strong like rock Luisa for instance. She can move mountains, houses, churches, a bunch of donkeys, and do what people ask her to do. But does anyone ask how she truly feels? I could somehow relate to what Luisa truly feels. As the eldest of the family, Luisa's character only implies how many families put burdens on the eldest siblings.
The song Luisa sang entitled Surface Pressure resonates with me and other elder siblings here too. There's a line where Luisa said,
She never complained about how heavy and tedious her tasks are. Because if she does, she feels like she would be useless. Even the strongest is also vulnerable, gets tired, and feels pressured.
Another part that made me emotional was,
*sigh* Any elder sibling and breadwinner could resonate with this song so much and feel the pressure and weight of burdens on Luisa's shoulders. As much as possible, we always wanted to meet our parents' expectations just so they get disappointed with us.
We, who stand for our family never asked to do such a thing. But as responsible children, we tend to carry the burdens and absorb them as our own. Because if not, we feel useless. And because if not, others would suffer more unfortunate circumstances. So instead of allowing them to suffer, we would handle the burdens, absorb the pressure, be strong, so we won't break.
But hey, we are only human so we would break at any time. We get tired so we also need relaxation. And just like anyone, we also need some joy.
What I want to say is, let's not pretend we are strong even though we are vulnerable. Let's not pretend we are okay if deep inside we are breaking. Let's not absorb all the pressure if we can call a family to help us carry some of the burdens to make the weight lighter.
Besides, that's how a family should act, help each other to carry all the burdens and not just put on one shoulder.
And I'm talking as if I could make it. But I'm just like Luisa, I would absorb the pressure and remain strong so I won't break.
This is just the first part of this Encanto series of lessons. Pardon me for cutting this article, but it will take longer to read if I will put them all in one content.
See you at the next part.
Thanks for reading.
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We are in denial because facing the reality hurts.
"Pretty sure I'm worthless, if I can't be of service." This boils down to our feelings and emotions. Oftentimes, we do what we are expected to do because we feel that we are only valued and important because of the things that we do best. If not, the family cannot benefit from us.