Don Bluth’s movie Thumbelina was one of my favorite movies growing up- honestly, it still is. I was enjoying this classic with a friend of mine when I suddenly realized that my favorite movie perfectly describes my life!

1. Thumbelina was always the odd one out.

Thumbelina often thought she was the only one like her in the whole world. I was never typical as a child. I always stayed on the outside because I was just the weird one. Like Thumbelina... I too thought "I must be the only one my size in the whole world"

2. She had all sorts of friends

Thumbelina met lots of characters in her journey. Some were there longer and some only for a few minutes. I have had friends from all backgrounds and some were there helping in the background, others just for a moment, and then my all time best friend. I guess you could say I had my own Jitterbugs and Jacquimo.

3. She had to endure a guy that just wouldn’t take no as an answer

I think we can all relate to that one guy or girl that just doesn’t get that “no” means no. Thumbelina had to deal with Grande following her around the entire movie. Constantly trying to track her down because of his unrequited love.

4. She dealt with the “douche-bag”

If you’ve seen Thumbelina then you know that Mr. Beetle is the REAL villain of the movie. This guy thought so highly of himself that I’m pretty sure he could taste his own crap. He calls Thumbelina ugly and then tips his hat and goes “You’ll get over me”. Then continues to referto her as “the ugly type”. Which brings me to my next point.

5. She had to overcome being called ugly

Thumbelina has something on her that no Disney princess ever had to deal with… Someone calling her “ugly”. Thumbelina was abandoned and told that she was too ugly. She was found crying and obviously destroyed by this comment. Thank goodness Jacquimo came to the rescue! In a short exchange Thumbelina explained how the Beetle called her ugly and the conversation went like this:

Jacquimo: The Beetle? You love the Beetle?

Thumelina: No..

Jacquimo: Then never mind the Beetle! Good riddance to the Beetle and good riddance to the toad. Does Prince Cornelius think you are ugly?

Thumbelina: No, he thinks I’m beautiful.

Jacquimo: And so you are mon ami.

6. She settled for something less than what she deserved

After meeting a stalker toad and a douche bag beetle, Thumbelina still endures one more awful relationship. After being manipulated into believing Cornelius is dead and that she will never make it home, Thumbelina decided to marry a mole because what else can she do? She nearly goes through with it until visions of her true love start appearing to her. I often have a habit of settling for things when I can do better. Never settled for less than you are and deserve!

7. She dealt with bad friendships

Thumbelina may have had some faithful companions like Jacquimo and the Jitterbugs, but she also had some pretty awful “friends” as well. There was Mrs. Toad who tried to force Thumbelina into a relationship she obviously didn’t want and then Ms. Mouse who basically manipulated Thumbelina into marriage because the mole paid Ms. Mouse to convince Thumbelina to marry him. Plus, Ms. Mouse insults Thumbelina's intelligence by calling her brain "so itty bitty" in her song Marry The Mole So, maybe I haven’t almost been forced into marriage by friends, but I have had quite a good amount of manipulative and plain awful friends…

8. She was always at her goal but never knew it

I think the most frustrating thing about Thumbelina is that the whole movie takes place in her back yard… Yeah, the whole time she was desperately trying to get home, she was in her back yard. Being the size of a thumb though… she couldn’t exactly see over the grass. She was literally so close to her goal, but just didn’t know it. I often hold myself back from my own dreams because I think they are unreachable, but I’m already fully capable of achieving anything!

9. She lost hope several times

Several times Thumbelina would say “I’ll never find my way back home” or “That’s impossible”. She definitely lacked unwavering “my prince will come” Disney logic. Thumbelina had to fight for her hope, she had to choose to keep trying. Jacquimo even sang a wonderful song about nothing being impossible called Follow Your Heart. So many times in a day I lose hope in myself and mutter “it’s impossible” or “I can’t do it”. If Thumbelina can find her way back home when things rally suck, then I can believe in myself!

10. She got her prince charming

Ok… So, I may still be waiting for this one to come true, but Thumbelina thought her true love had died. Yet faith and perseverance managed to give her a happy ending! She waited months to be reunited with her true love. I think I can wait for my true love to come to me, and it will. “I know there’s someone, somewhere who’s sure to find me.”