Mal: You know what the first thing of flying is, Little Albatross? Well of course you do. You can read my mind.

River: I want to hear you say it.

Mal: Love. You can know all the math in the 'verse, you take a bird in the air you don't love it'll shake you just as sure as the worlds turn. Love keeps her in the air when she oughta fall down. Tells you she's hurting 'fore she keenes. Makes her a home.

River: The storm's getting worse.

Mal: We'll come out of it soon enough.

Mal and River -- Serenity

I've always liked this quote but until I sat down and listened to Joss Whedon's commentary on Serenity it didn't dawn of me. There are two versions of you: Who you really are and who you project to be for the people around you. Problem is that there comes a time w hen you have to decide who you really are.

In the quote above River is askin Mal to open up and really speak what's on his mind and his heart. She knows what he's going to say but speaking it outloud is a committment to being that new person, to really surrender yourself to the new you that is emerging... It's always easy to be angry and to lash out at people; It's a lot harder yet more rewarding to try to meet them where they are and walk a few feet on their shoes.