Good morning guys, and it seems we have reached the final passion blog for this class. I’m really glad I was able to connect with you and share thoughts on my favorite show! Thank you for reading and commenting, I hope you enjoyed these posts as much as I enjoyed making them. For the final post, I wanted to keep it pretty tame so I compiled some of my favorite lessons and quotes that inspire me.
1) There is Never One Answer
“Instead of seeing what they want you to see, open yourself up to the possibilities.” -Bumi
Aang’s reunion with Bumi highlighted one of the most important characteristics of Aang that is proven in almost every circumstance, which is his ability to find a new solution to his problems. When backed in a corner with seemingly no other option to take, he consistently is able to draw upon the lessons of his teachers, friends, and even enemies, to carve out a new path and solution that ends up resolving things better than what was expected. This is something that I find to be one of the most applicable lessons to my everyday life, especially when it comes down to things where I feel that I have no control over. There may be times where things are expected to go one way or another, and other times where it seems there is no other choice. Yet, as seen throughout the show, there is another choice. You just need to be open to it.
2) Take Control of Your Trauma
“You must never give in to despair! Hope is something you give yourself. That is the meaning of strength.” -Iroh
Each character in Avatar has their own mental blockages. From Aang who lost his entire culture and people, to Sokka, Katara, and Zuko who have lost family, to Toph and even Azula, who had not been given the proper love and understanding needed by their parents. However, in spite of their trauma and the pain of their past, these characters have incredibly strong will. They work to outgrow their grief and to fuel it towards their strengths. While some may have done it better than others, it doesn’t change the fact that being able to not let their trauma rule over their lives and to instead push themselves to overcome it is an inspiration to anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed by their past struggles. I’ve been through numerous hard times. There is no doubt that these hard times are far from the last. Yet, being able to push through, to grow and to live in spite of it, is something that I hope is never forgotten. This then leads into the next lesson which is…
3) Appreciate The Present
“Don’t concern yourself with what was, concern yourself with what is.” -Monk Gyatso
Similarly with growing past their trauma, seeing what is currently happening in front of them was an important lesson that had truly been present all throughout the show. While it is very clear that the past can influence us all and especially guide us in times of need, it is also important to remember that the past is simply that– the past. We can learn from it, we can appreciate it, but at the same time we know that there is nothing to be done to change it or to erase it. With nothing left to do but look back at it, we miss looking forward. There may have been nothing that could’ve been done then, but there are still things that are happening now and will happen later. Your friends, your family, who you are, it all changes. With time, everything does. All you can do is do all you can. As those cringey home decor signs always promote: Live, love, laugh. As corny as it is.
4) Growth and Healing Isn’t Linear
You’re going to fail a lot before things work out. Even though you’ll probably fail over and over and over again, you have to try every time. You can’t quit because you’re afraid you might fail.” -Zuko
The character redemption for Zuko wasn’t just gratifying in the fact of how much he had suffered, but the fact that it wasn’t a simple track. He had moments of growth and times where it seemed like he was bettering himself, only to fall back into his same habits and frustrations. Even when he had committed himself to joining Team Avatar, he still made mistakes like burning Toph’s feet. Becoming a better person is not easy, and it isn’t one track. Being able to recognize that there is room for change is strongly emphasized, but something I feel that isn’t as emphasized but equally important is the idea of being indomitable. You will make progress. You will reset that progress. You will take 100 steps forward and still fall short of your expectations. But what you can’t do is give up. You keep going. In my mind, this lesson itself is something that is still hard for me to follow. Yet, I will never forget it. It is never too late. Be kind to yourself, and get back up and try again.
5) Never Give Up On Yourself
“Sometimes life is like this dark tunnel. You can’t always see the light at the end of the tunnel, but if you just keep moving you will come to a better place.” -Iroh
The last lesson and this one are essentially the same, but what I especially want to focus on is the idea that never giving up on yourself is the core notion behind the previous lesson. That in spite of the regressions and the failures and the broken promises, there is still a fighting spirit. Included in never giving up, is allowing yourself to be helped. From my personal experiences, it felt like defeat to ask for help from my friends and family. For a long time, it felt like I had to handle things on my own. That I could handle things on my own. And in revealing what I was going through to others, it would be me giving up on myself and my ability to fix myself. But that’s not true. Giving up on yourself would entail giving up on being able to become better. In my case, not getting help would only lead to not being able to better myself. That is giving up if I have ever seen it.
To wrap up, life is hard. It is arduous, it is short, it is painful. But it is so beautiful. It is supportive. And it is only yours once. Give love, but don’t forget to take it. “Life happens wherever you go, whether you make it or not.” -Iroh.