Never Never Land

We each have a Never Never Land of our own - a place where we can escape from "reality". Whether it be a spiritual place of happiness and peace, substance addiction, a lover, or some form of ritualistic behaviour. We need a form of escape because we are not one dimensional creatures.

The idea of Never Never Land has been growing on me for quite some time. The Disney movie Peter Pan holds so many hidden messages which slowly start coming to light as I progress through the "stages" of life.

Peter Pan doesn't want to grow up (like many of us) so he tries to prolong the process by going to a place where time pauses and he doesn't age. Wendy is about to grow up and is confronted with the responsibilites that she'll have to take on. But alas, Peter Pan invites her to dodge the harsh reality ahead of her and escape to a world where time is paused.

I don't think there's anything wrong with us escaping into a different world - to experience pockets of fantasy and wonder where all the worries disappear.

But it gets more complicated when you realise that even Never Never Land has dangers of its own. Peter Pan has to take on the evil Hook and the hungry croc. Wendy also realises that mermaids aren't as charming as she may have thought.

When we enter into our own Never Never Lands, we experience the same thing. There are dangers and disappointments. But even so, our Never Never Lands are much more appealing than reality. Secretly, we hold on tight to our experiences in Never Never Land as we enter back into reality.

My Never Never Land in the song I wrote is a place where two lovers enter where nothing else in the world matters. Time stops. There are no worries. The world is a beautiful place.

- Rivkah Hope