TROJAN MARCH

 

 

As you read, please play the video. This piece was my inspiration while writing the article.

As my journey of self-discovery continued, I made the choice to link every part of my adventure to a beautiful piece of music that I hold dear to my heart, while I proudly inscribe my emotions and make them forever accepted and acknowledge composing my battle cry. Like a victorious warrior, I carefully create my tale to always remind myself that victory is never easy, and that every eternal war should be vociferously chanted. 

Driven by the beats of Berlioz's symphony, I the Achilles of my Trojan war, refuse to be a play for the odds, I the hero shall not choose between glory, greatness, or my own life even if favored by the Gods.  

Immersed in the Trojan March, I let myself be filled with the nostalgia of that epic tale, where I always imagined myself to be the glorious Achilles, whose name was feared by the valiant champions. Riding my chariot and always prepared to gain honor and write my story throughout history. The blindly grieving lover whose rage transcends all battle's laws and customs. A legend who fought deviously without mercy for his immortality. 

Going through the numerous emotions that this melody enhanced in me, I couldn’t help but wonder, what if Achilles was just a myth used by society to make us fight useless and hopeless battles, with the shimmering hope of glory? Why don’t we seek to be a Hector, who fought with honor and respect, the mortal son of Priam who made life a fruitful territory, valued and lived fully? The great warrior, the son, the husband, the father, the brother, and the noble prince who sacrificed his life for duty and love. Why don’t we see in Hector the hero, we should aspire to be?

As the song went along, I found myself torn apart between dreams and values, between fighting and adaptation, between being feared or being loved, between loving or escaping, leaving my soul completely shredded between Achilles and Hector. As the trumpets and the trombones fueled my disarray, choosing between two lives felt like a condemned making his way to the guillotine to be executed, as proven by history the combat between legends induced at least one death. 

So instead of making the impossible choice of amputation a piece of me and burry the rest in complete misery, I decided to converge and concede, as I learned through the years that acceptance of the duality residing and rising in me, is by far the safest shore when navigating through troubled thoughts. 

I decided to simply surrender to the Achilles that nourishes my ambition, a beast humbled, softened, and most importantly loved by the giving Hector. And always remember, that the fight is never the only way to conduct a war, the option of reconciliation remains the main way to survive. 

 

Yours, Meryem.