If you ask me what my favorite movie is, I’ll probably give you a different answer every time. But at one point in my life, the answer was, without a doubt, Wayne’s World. To date, I’m pretty sure it’s still the movie I’ve seen more than any other. Well, except maybe My Little Pony: The Movie or Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation, which were my childhood obsessions and probably why my mom hates cartoons (sorry, mom). But I digress.
One of my favorite bits from the movie and the SNL sketches is when Wayne and Garth meet one of their idols and they bow down and yell “we’re not worthy! we’re not worthy!” The gesture is so dramatic it’s comical, especially because it’s safe. I mean, it’s Wayne and Garth, two nobodies from Aurora, IL, who just happen to find themselves on a fantastic adventure. In as much as we can relate to them and their average Joe-ness, it’s hard to empathize with them because, to us, their status is just as great as the guests on their show. After all, how many people do you know watched the movie just because Alice Cooper was in it?
So we watch their hero worship and think, “oh, silly boys!” But what do we do when faced with our own heroes? I’ve seen some who embrace the moment and engage, but many, many more become speechless, or tongue-tied or run away all together. Thoughts creep into their mind that say “I’ll never get the chance to meet him” or “She’ll never care what I have to say.” These same thoughts trickle down into other areas of our lives and haunt us in other situations, like trying to talk to a boy or girl we like, or asking for a raise at our job, or planning a big adventure or following our dreams. All of these fears with one underlying theme- that inner voice that bows down to everything we’ve ever wanted and cries out “we’re not worthy!” We’re not worthy!“
There’s no denying life is full of obstacles. Money, resources, time, talent all play a part in our journey. But these obstacles do not define our worth, nor do the comments of naysayers who want to bring you down. We are our only true competitor and only we can set a value on our life. For everyone who has had their dream handed to them there is another who worked hard to overcome seemingly unbeatable odds.
Sometimes the word "never” is accurate. I will never be the lead singer of a boy band. I will never be the first woman in space. I will never be a lightweight wrestling champion. I will never be a on the cover of TeenBeat magazine (does that even still exist? This blog post is certainly showing my age…) But overcoming the odds is not the same as removing our limitations. Many of our limitations are permanent, but that doesn’t mean they need to define us. Success looks different for everyone, even if what we love is the same. Find what drives you and go after it. Everyone is worthy of happiness.