Thriving...in Spite of It

(Minor spoiler alert, but I won't reveal much detail) I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the latest Hunger Games movie with my daughter this week. Of course, as a nervous snacker, I always eat way too much popcorn, and find myself in desperate need of Excedrin, Alka-Seltzer and a massage afterwards...the price of being drawn in! I can't help being enthralled by the courage and tenacity of Katniss--though she struggled with emotions, her ultimate decision was always to stay true to her values, even in the face of death. It is easy to draw parallels to our own situations. Though the threats are less extreme, we can easily identify with the fear, loneliness and loss that come with the sacrifices of leadership. At the time, I was particularly moved by the scene where Katniss and her comrades are sitting next to a beautiful river, splitting rations and enjoying the peaceful scene. While the Mockingjays whistled through the lush cavern, her friends asked her to sing--in a way she coul