From Storm Camp 2022, New practice Procedures

 

10 rules to live by

 

What a popcorn movie from 2001 tells us about sacrifice...

What sacrifice really means...what are you really willing to give up in order to get what you really want, to grow, to change?

A Knight's Tale is a "popcorn" movie.  It takes medieval jousting tournaments and presents them like modern-day basketball or hockey games.  It pumps in arena rock like "we will rock you" and has Paul Bettany serving as part Michael buffer part Don King. It stars Heath Ledger as an underdog peasant masquerading as a Knight who wants to "change his stars" (destiny) by becoming a champion jouster.  The movie does all of this while weaving in some subversive feminist themes that are really handled well and don't hit you over the head.  Ledgers blacksmith is a female who hasn't gotten the opportunity to try new metals or blacksmithing techniques, once she does she is able to provide him with armor that is stronger yet lighter(with a Nike swoosh on it lol).  Let's focus on the main love interest of the film, Jocelyn, played by Shannyn Sossaman. In the scene above Ledger has been professing his love toward Princess Jocelyn by having Bettany ghostwrite poetry for her.  Ledger proclaims that he will win the next jousting tournament in her name in order to prove his love.  Jocelyn asks the would-be Knight to tell her more poetry which Ledger miserably fails at his attempt...and to a certain extent, though it's implied that she knows he wasn't the one writing the poetry though she still likes him. 

Jocelyn, how may I prove|my love to you? How?

- Do you ask in earnest?|- Yes.

If you would prove your love...

- ...do your worst.|- My worst?

What do you mean?

Instead of winning to honor me|with your high reputation...

...act against your character|and do badly.

- Do badly?|- Lose.

Losing proves that I'm a loser.

Wrong. Losing is a much keener|test of your love.

Losing would contradict|your self-love.

It would show obedience|to your lover and not yourself!

The last two lines from Jocelyn really resonate in terms of improvement and growth.  In order to become or get something you really want, you're going to have to give some things up, you're going to have to decide that you want that thing that may be outside your comfort zone more than staying within it because you like who you are already.  That's where the hard is, that's where the sacrifice is.  Here it's for love, but it could be for getting in shape, saving for a house, or even learning a new skill. There is a price to be paid. It's Ledger's actions, not his words in the rest of the scene that reveal his true desire, his commitment, and his discipline.  When we see something we truly want we must all consider what we are willing TO LOSE in order to get it.