Thank you, Louisa May Alcott.

Jo: Well, of course Aunt March prefers Amy over me. Why shouldn't she? I'm ugly and awkward and I always say the wrong things. I fly around throwing away perfectly good marriage proposals. I love our home, but I'm just so fitful I can't stand being here! I'm sorry. I'm sorry Marmee. There's just something really wrong with me. I want to change, but I- I can't. And I just know I'll never fit in anywhere.

Marmee: Oh, Jo, you have so many extraordinary gifts; how can you expect to lead an ordinary life? You're ready to go out and- and find a good use for your talent. Tho' I don't know what I shall do without my Jo. Go, and embrace your liberty. And see what wonderful things come of it.

I don't know if you've seen "Little Women," starring Winona Ryder, Claire Danes, and Christian Bale (among others), based on the classic novel by Louisa May Alcott... But I am not afraid to admit that it is one of my favorite films. Not only because of the old-fashionism of it, or because of Christian Bale, or because of Friedrich and Jo's lovely romance (but that is great isn't it? sigh...), but because of the dialouge quoted above.

Have you ever felt like Jo (played by Winona Ryder)? Ever? At ANY point in your life? My guess is probably... But that feeling may have only lasted for a moment. For me... this feeling is basically present at all times (since... lets say forever). I love my family, friends, and sometimes I even love Lodi... But like Jo says: "I just know I'll never fit in anywhere." I relate to Jo (although I've never had the chance to throw away marriage proposals... I'm not sure I would if it came from Christian Bale!). She leaves her home. She goes to New York and lives with people she doesn't know, faces discrimination in her writing and publishing, and gets the one thing she had no intention of finding: love. I find myself in this same place. I'm leaving... I'm going to be in a new place... With all new people... And I could find, unintentionally, what Jo finds (according to my best friends... I will). Of course, this is not why I am going. I am not going to meet a man. Nor am I going because I am so fitful of being here (although...). Like Marmee says to Jo, I am leaving because I am ready to put my talents, my God-given talents, to good use. Aw heck, simply to use! I'm ready to lead an extraordinary life! I have embraced the liberty God has given me from the doubts, insecurities, fears, and the status quo placed on me by everybody else. Haha, and I can't count how many times I have asked myself or told myself, "What is wrong with me?" All this time I thought I was the one with the peculiaralities, issues, weirdness... And perhaps I am... But those things are what make me different! And by being different, by not being ordinary... I get to lead an extraordinary life! Jo was not held back by being a women either. Or by being poor. How often does a novel or a movie come around that a character can speak that loudly to you?

In the middle of the movie I asked my mom: "Mom, which character from Little Women am I most like?" She replied, "I'm gonna have to say Jo!"

You have something extraordinary about you too. In fact, you yourself are extraordinary. There's no reward in playing it safe... Embrace the uncertainties.