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Little Kya & Her Lessons

from 'Where the Crawdads Sing'

By Shirley BelkPublished 2 years ago 3 min read
1
by Taylor Swift

I don't know a soul that wouldn't fall in love with little Kya from the movie, "Where the Crawdads Sing." Long locks of curly brown hair all free and flowing wild encircle an adorable round face with pouty pink lips and dark, soulfully sad eyes. But beyond those eyes, and from deep within, there lies hidden the heart of a tiger. She is a survivor.

All women are beautiful in their own unique and special way. We are born innocent and wide-eyed to life. But there are jungles in each of our stories that we must learn to navigate and learn from. The laws of the jungle must be understood and respected. Whether we just survive in them or thrive, strength must come from within ourselves. And that strength is derived from the sheer hope of something better yet to come. In this movie, Kya's strength is palpable.

Life isn't fair to Kya and we groan as we feel her pain. But Kya perseveres. She is industrious and independent, not by choice, but by necessity. She is tenacious and determined. She is left with only her harsh environment, abandoned by those she loves...but she never abandons them. In her own soul, she keeps them alive. She holds no resentment. She has no time for self-pity. Instead, she makes peace with the world and the life she has been left to live in.

Nature becomes her school and all the life within her marsh which is mysteriously buzzing around her, soon becomes her friends. Kya studies the laws and patterns in her world and uses them as her guide, her mentor, her mother, her father, and her higher power. The marsh gives up its secrets to her because she can be trusted with them. Soon she becomes one with her marsh.

The human community close by calls her that "Marsh girl." And she is. The marsh is what she loves the most. She is safe there. And she accepts that she is unwanted and different to those who live outside of the marsh. The outsiders are cruel and harsh. And like all creatures from her untamed marsh, the only fear Kya has, is of humans.

Kya has hope. Kya has insight. Kya has a very strong will to survive. And Kya has peace. The Marsh takes care of its own.

As I journeyed with her, she inspired me. I'm not finished with life just yet, either. I listen to nature, too. There have been many times I've felt abandoned and misunderstood and even invisible to others. It's then that I look within and around to find gratitude. And that brings me comfort. I've learned to just be still and wait. And I'm okay doing it alone. I know many strong women like Kya. I come from a long line of them.

In a world where the very term, "woman" is becoming re-imagined, I would say that Kya would be the definition of what all women should strive to become. We must be survivors in a world full of frightening obstacles. We have to embrace what has been given to us and make the very most of our blessings. And we must fight to stay alive at times because there will be times when it will be easier to just give up. When those times come, hold on to hope like our brave little Kya did and adapt and grow.

Whether you read the book by Delia Owens or see the movie produced by Reese Witherspoon and Lauren Neustadter and directed by Olivia Newman, or just want to listen to Taylor Swift's song, "Carolina," which she wrote for the show, find your Kya within! She's there...

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About the Creator

Shirley Belk

Mother, Nana, Sister, Cousin, & Aunt who recently retired. RN (Nursing Instructor) who loves to write stories to heal herself and reflect on all the silver linings she has been blessed with

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  • Poppy 2 months ago

    This is lovely Shirley. A really inspiring take on a wonderful yet heartbreaking movie. Your review was really well written. I had no idea Taylor wrote a song for the movie!! I'll have to listen to it asap.

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