The Lion King was my favorite movie growing up. I can distinctly remember all of the times my family and I would watch it in our home theatre. Every time I would learn something different. Thanks Mom and Dad, for making us watch The Lion King over and over.... and over.
1. “Remember who you are” — Mufasa
Society tries to change us in every way possible. What we wear. What foods we eat. Where we travel. Until I truly found myself, I was never enjoying life for me. I was living in fear of criticism, failure, and doubt. The pressures are hard but always remember to remember who you are and what you believe in.
2. “With great power comes great responsibility” – "The Lion King"
Whether it’s being captain of a team, the president of a club, or the boss at your job one day, the power doesn’t come with no strings attached. People are looking to you to make the calls, to do the dirty work, and to be there whenever you need them. Accept power when its granted to you, but be aware that you are now responsible for more than just yourself.
3. “Oh yes, the past can hurt, but the way I see it, you can either run from it or learn from it” – Rafiki
Anyone who says that their past doesn’t affect them is a straight liar. Everyone is affected by their past in some shape or form. Don’t run from your past but don’t repeat it either. Learn that maybe you shouldn’t have made that comment to your friend. Learn to listen to your friends when they say that guy is a jerk. Learn that it’s okay to make mistakes. And learn that those mistakes don’t define you.
4. “Everything you see exists together in a delicate balance. As a king, you need to understand that balance and respect all the creatures, from the crawling ant to the leaping antelope” – Mufasa
Everyone is cut from a different cloth. Some people grew up with a lot of money and others grew up have to work three jobs to help their parents out. Some people are naturally smart and others spend hours in the library. Some people didn’t have a supportive family and others are best friends with their parents. Respect everyone you meet because everyone is fighting a battle no one knows about.
5. “I’m surrounded by idiots” – Scar
Idiots in a sense of not everyone works in the way you do. You can’t expect people to understand a battle they are not fighting. You can’t expect people to have the same political views than you. To them, you may seem like the idiot. Don’t spend your life trying to make people think like you do.
6. “Look inside yourself, you are more than what you have become”– Mufasa’s Ghost
It’s easy to get caught up in your mistakes, lose confidence, and doubt you abilities. You have so much more to offer the world. Be confident and trust that you have inside you everything you need to become the person you want to me.
7. "Hakuna Matata" – Timon and Pumba
It means no worries. Don’t stress about the small stuff. Although its easier said than done, things truly always do work out for the best, the hard part is waiting for them to fall in place. Keep smiling and moving forward. Live in the moment.
And most importantly…..
8. "Life's not fair" – Scar
It took me long time to figure out what this really means. Growing up I always thought it was unfair that my brothers got to stay up later, that my friends didn’t have a curfew, and that I always got put in time out, and my dad would simply reply “life’s not fair.” I would look at him like, duh. But when I got to college I realized that life really isn’t fair and I stopped fighting whatever happened to me and went with it. Life’s not fair and things happen, to everyone.
