Life lessons from Beauty and the Beast?

I've been sitting here trying to read my book for class next semester with a song stuck in my head. And not a whole song either, but just a part of it. It is from the song "Belle" from the movie Beauty and the Beast. "There must be more than this provincial life." I just looked up the song lyrics and other parts of the song include phrases like this: "Look there she goes that girl is strange no question. Dazed and distracted can't you tell? Never part of any crowd, 'cause her heads up on some cloud. No denying she's a funny girl that Belle." And, "I'm afraid she's rather odd. Very different from the rest of us. She's nothing like the rest of us..." Don't forget, "Look there she goes a girl who's strange but special. A most peculiar mademoiselle. It's a pity and sin , she doesn't quite fit in..." So I find two meanings in this timeless song. The first being something I have been thinking about a lot since I have been home for winter break. Living on a college campus allows for at times a certain blindness and it can be quite shocking when you are suddenly submersed in this 'real world.' Since being at home I have struggled with the questions, "What is the point of all of this?" This being the system in which so many find themselves wrapped up in. People go to school, get a degree, get a job, get married, have kids, maybe switch careers or spouses in there once or twice, go on some vacations, buy stuff while claiming to be 'providing for their families', and some end up rich, others in huge debt, and life is a constant comparison between what you have and what everyone else has, and then people die and their children repeat the process. And I've been home the past few weeks and have been able to pay witness to this system that my family is so deeply a part of. I'm not saying that there is anything shameful in this lifestyle whatsoever. It definitely has its challenges and rewards and great people participate. I simply can't fight the nagging feeling that there is so much more out there than this life. There is a purpose for life out there somewhere. I don't pretend to know what it is or how to find it but I know that I have to try to find it. I believe that God put us here for something more. I can feel it. And I believe it has something to do with living for God and with being God's love and light for other people. I think it has something to do with being free, willing, and open to the path set before you. And so much more. Therefore, I firmly believe that "there must be more than this provincial life." The second lesson to be taken here is more of something that I feel I can relate to. I talked in my last post about how I feel as if I don't fit in sometimes because of my views and beliefs and the lifestyle I wish to lead. I think Belle had the same problem. She wanted more than was the 'norm' and was thought of differently because of it. The townspeople knew she was different. But she was still herself and she didn't change for others. In fact by continuing being herself, she had an influence on the town and opened their minds to different perspectives. And so I think that is what I must work on. Even if I am uncomfortable and I would rather withdraw than be thought of as different, I want to push myself that much harder to be myself and perhaps influence others-I not only have to BE the change, but make sure that others can be witness to it. An important lesson :) With that, excuse me. I have a book to finish, a yearning to watch Beauty and the Beast, a resume to work on, and a new year to go celebrate!