Sometimes timing is simply perfect. Some of us (I, for one) wrestle with how we “should” appear in the world. We “second-guess” ourselves, question our feelings, and their effect on others. Failing to feel what we think we “should” feel, some of us experience self-blame and withhold self-acceptance. Attempting to “put on a happy face,” emotionally we lie to ourselves and to others.”


Tonight a movie released several years ago - Cirque du Soleil: Alegria – served me as a reminder to play full-out, and to honor emotions as they are. Perhaps my experience will encourage you, too, to allow yourself to be honest with yourself and others in feeling - and expressing - your emotions.


Alegria is a Spanish word meaning joy, jubilation, and happiness. Little joy, however, was expressed in this movie. The title song (sung in Italian) states that alegria is like ...a madman screaming, a criminal cry, a lovely roaring pain, an assault of joy and a “beautiful roaring scream of joy and sorrow.”


Most of the movie was in flashback, a story told by a retiring performer to young circus performers. The flashback included three main characters: a mime called Frac, who was suffering bouts of depression; a circus singer named Giulietta (with whom Frac falls in love immediately); and a young boy, Momo, who (having escaped from a criminal who was taking advantage of children) tags-along with Frac.


Though at times the performance seemed pointless, silly; the message in this allegory made the slow portions quite worthwhile. As the retiring performer's story came to its end, the old entertainer spoke from the heart both to hearts of the young performers and to mine. His message went something like this:


“While you are performing, play your role to the fullest. Express fully your laughter and your tears, your joy and your sorrow. Play your life with full, honest feelings. For every day of your life, you change another's life forever.”


For those of us who have learned to deny our so-called “negative” feelings, receiving encouragement to be ourselves - to be who we are; to feel what we feel - is freeing. By being honest with ourselves and with our fellow human beings, we give them permission, too, to express themselves and the full characters they are.