The fuel of rockets
An interpretation of “Wind”, a short film by Pixar.
By Viviana Benfenati.
In the journey through that mysterious and winding outer space that we call life, it is impossible to fly high without facing rocks.
There are small rocks that smash with each other and overlap; medium rocks that we see coming with some fear, praying that they do not collide with our planet and alter it. And then there are big rocks, the ones that threaten to crash nefariously with our planet and destroy the world as we know it.
But floating rocks aren't the only thing our planets have in common. Unlike those pieces of stone, this second resemblance is not floating out there, but lies deep within us. What we all share is one same desire.
In the planet of the rich, the poor, the strong, the timid, the lonely, the lucky, the child, the adult, every heart beats with a single purpose: to move forward. We all desire to be in a rocket that flies high.
And what is the force that drives our rockets forward? The answer is far more beautiful than some intimidating gallons of gasoline or a blazing combustion. That answer is given to us by “Wind”, Pixar's animated short.
So, what does it take to launch our rockets into space? Will, first thing. Wanting to fly. This is what gets us out of bed every day.
The second thing is perseverance. Life is capricious and conceited; it is not easy to convince her to provide us with the pieces to be able to fly nor the time to build the rocket. And this is when perseverance introduces us to his best friend: risk, a basic element for the construction.
But let’s talk about impulses. Perseverance is our first impulse, the energy that leads us to jump into the void - into the terrain where risk is king - to find the parts we need for our rocket. There is no other way to get them but facing risk while holding hands with perseverance.
What else do we need to ignite our rockets? Trust, of course. That little metallic cable that connects us back to our planets under the certainty of return, granting us with the possibility to continue building and to recharge ourselves with hope.
Finally, we return home through the road of exhaustion after a day full of risks and obstacles. Sometimes we dress in frustration and other times in illusion, because we found wonderful pieces that will take us one step closer to our long-awaited journey.
And there we find a special force, capable of easing the greatest frustrations, of appeasing the fire of the furies, of reappearing the light in the blackout and also of lighting fireworks in our hearts.
A dream come true fills our soul with joy but having someone to share it with is what finally lifts our feet off the ground.
No matter what happens, gain or loss, pain or laughter, Grandma will be there. With her gray curls, her drawings on the bread and that special strength that flourishes in her grandson what is necessary to build the rocket.
The most important piece for the takeoff has been there from the very beginning. A piece that envelops the planet in the purest form of love, one which is felt for another person rather than for oneself.
But nana has a rocket of her own. Her kind of rocket, however, cannot be touched or equipped, but it flies higher than any other. The fire that ignites nana’s rocket lies in driving the heart of her grandson, born in a selfless resignation that will allow him to achieve his dreams.
The real fire that raises the rocket is nana’s love.
But don’t forget what we said in the beginning; in the intergalactic journey of life there are different types of rocks. Traveling up there, at full speed, we come across one particular rock that is impossible to dodge. We can’t help but collide with that one even if we don't like it.
Life is a permanent exchange; to have something we must sacrifice something. And the only constant in life is not change, it is also loss.
That's when we get to the final part of the mission. When we realize that true happiness was not really waiting for us in that dream we so longed for, but that it has always been with us. It was there, as our co-pilot, in the little moments, in that bread wrapped in the pink blanket, in nana’s smile.
And in having been granted with the love of a person who found her own happiness by providing the fuel to our rockets.
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