After 13 long years, the movie we’ve been waiting for is finally in theaters! “Finding Dory,” the sequel to “Finding Nemo,” was highly anticipated and did not disappoint. Ellen DeGeneres voices the iconic blue tang, Dory, as she goes on a journey to find her way back home. It’s a story filled with so much love, was adorably clever and kept you glued to the screen the whole time. But more so, “Finding Dory” held so many valuable lessons within it that were perfect for children and adults alike. Who knew a sweet blue fish could teach me so much?
1. Your weaknesses don’t define you.
In both "Finding Nemo" and "Finding Dory," there are many characters that have something that ails them. Dory, of course, suffers from short-term memory loss which causes her to forget things almost instantly. Nemo has a bad fin so he can't swim as well. New character, Hank, has only seven tentacles. Other new characters, Destiny and Bailey, suffer from nearsightedness and head-injury. Yet, they all overcome their weakness and learn how to be strong despite them.
2. There is always another way.
Hope is never truly lost. There’s always some way to reach your goal, you just have to find it.
3. “What would Dory do?”
At one point, Marlin realized that when Dory makes decisions, no matter how risky, they turned out just fine. She doesn’t contemplate — she goes out on a whim and just does it. Part of her forgetfulness could be forgetting what could go wrong. Instead, she thinks positively and ends up right where she wants to be.
4. Rescue, rehabilitate and release.
Throughout the movie, this is a common messages as it applies to animals. When you take these beautiful creatures out of their homes, they’re now out of place. They lose everything that they once knew. Yes, they’re nice to look at, but that will never be their home environment. If you choose to rescue and care for them, they should be released when they are better. It’s where they belong, not in a tank.
5. You can do anything you set your mind to.
You are capable of more than you can imagine. Dory sometimes feels sad (as anyone would if they miss their family), but she doesn’t stop believing in herself. She follows her instincts, and anyone who doubts her capabilities is in for a surprise.
6. Family is about who loves you, not just who looks like you.
In the first movie, Dory said to Marlin “I look at you and I’m home.” Marlin and Nemo had become her family when she didn’t have anyone. They loved her and took care of her, welcoming her into their reef. We all have family by blood, but sometimes friends can become your family as well.
7. Just keep swimming.
Dory’s famous motto from 2003 is something that anyone can live by. No matter how a situation may seem, difficult, scary or impossible, you have to keep moving forward. If you stay positive, you’ll get there eventually. Never, ever give up on others or on yourself. Pretty brilliant for a forgetful little blue tang, huh?
