Seriously, it’s a beautiful day to ‘dance it out’
“The game. They say either a person has what it takes to play, or they don’t.” – Meredith Grey, surgical intern at Seattle Grace Hospital (2005)
These words, spoken back in 2005, marked the start of a 14-year phenomenon. When “Grey’s Anatomy” premiered on ABC, I was 11 years old. Since then, I, along with millions around the world, have learned to “dance it out,” to find our “person,” to know “the carousel never stops turning,” and to believe “it’s a beautiful day to save lives.”
Not to mention, the catchphrase that encompasses so much with so little: “Seriously.” The word was said consistently enough for it became a permanent part of my life. Literally, it is engraved on the side of my high school class ring.
For many, “Grey’s Anatomy” is a show about love and loss. It is also a show about growth and acceptance. Growing up, it was one of the few shows that featured persons of color and LGBTQ+ characters as more than a sidekick.
As a young Latino trying to comprehend his sexuality, I immediately took to the show. Episode by episode, season by season, I have learned more about myself and the person I want to be.
What “Grey’s Anatomy” and its creator Shonda Rhimes have done for not only television but also opening up minds (figuratively speaking in this case), is remarkable. Now, with the Feb. 28, 2019 episode, “Grey’s Anatomy” becomes the longest-running primetime medical series in television history.
By introducing lead characters who ranged in ethnicity, sexuality, gender identity and disabilities, the show has sparked conversations. The fictional doctors not only save lives but also change minds and hearts.
“Time is a strange thing. When you’re waiting for something good to happen, it can feel like time is dragging on. But when you want it to slow down, it goes by in the blink of an eye. The odd part is, time isn’t real. It’s a concept imagined by scientists based on the imperfect movement of the earth around the sun. So why do we put so much importance on something that’s just a theory? Because it’s all we have.” – Meredith Grey, head of general surgery at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital (2019)
