By Delilah and Isabell Fujita
We all know about the tragedy of Jack Dawson and Rose DeWitt Bukater Dawson Calvert of the iconic Titanic movie that has inspired billions of young lovers throughout the 3 hours and 14 minutes of cinematic mastery. But the real question we should be asking ourselves after immersing ourselves into the story of their love is not why did Rose not share the 6 by 4 foot (about the size of a double bed) floating door with Jack, but instead, what is the true meaning in life? And, how can we use this powerful example as a metaphor for making room for what truly matters as she should have made room on the door?
Unlike how Rose shows us that it doesn’t matter whether you save your true love’s life, but rather that you promise to never let go of their hand, making real room for what matters involves scooting over a fraction of an inch and accepting that hypothermia, like many challenges in life, is, in fact, inevitable. Whether that means getting a less-than-average grade on a Chemistry quiz, struggling to carry your crate in the pouring rain, fighting against the mountain of homework, or being cold on a door in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean at midnight, challenges are simply a part of life, something we must accept and make room for if we are to truly survive. Once we accept these challenges, we can begin to overcome them.
Overcoming our challenges can include making a plan, accepting support and guidance, keeping a positive mindset, and never giving up. Another key aspect of coping with challenges is making smart decisions. One can start with not almost falling off the front of a ship that hasn’t even started sinking yet, (“I’m flying, Jack!”), and rather entering with a mindset of control and capability, (“I’m the king of the world!”). Another way of conquering our challenges is through maximizing the resources available to us and not being wasteful, for example, selling, rather than dropping, the insanely expensive and literally priceless Heart of the Ocean into the sea for no apparent reason. These, portrayed in the timeless love of Jack and Rose’s tale, are just a few ways to overcome your challenges and make room for meaningfulness on your door of life.
Once we have accepted and overcome challenges, only then can we truly let them go. This timeless and tragic love story teaches us to let go of life’s baggage, as Rose did Jack, and raises the too often ignored question: What truly matters? We must re-examine our lives through the lens of someone who would not scoot over for the man she loved in order to discover our answer, making time for what is essential and life-changing.Then, and only then, can we make room on the door of our lives.
LAMPLIGHTER 