Ah, the magic of Disney. If you are like me, your childhood was filled with wonderful memories of watching Disney movies. Some of my fondest recollections are of my best friend and I acting out our favorite scenes from the likes of "Aladdin" and "Beauty and the Beast." As I grew older, I realized that while not all notions portrayed in Disney movies should be taken to heart (falling in love within the first encounter, getting married at 16, historical inaccuracy, etc.), there are certain nuggets of wisdom hidden underneath that I still hold very dear.
Here are the various lessons Disney movies have taught me:
"Cinderella:" Cinderella taught me that having courage and being kind is priceless. The most courageous thing one can do is show the person you love who you really are. It's scary showing someone all of you, even the parts of you that you aren't so proud of. But when one is kind, that alone can sometimes be the greatest weapon of all.
"Mulan:" Mulan taught me that going against the status quo can be a good thing. Just because you are unique and have different skill sets doesn't mean that you are by any means inferior. Mulan also taught me that girls can kick ass too, and that our gender shouldn't and doesn't limit us.
"Beauty and the Beast:" Belle taught me that being nerdy is nothing to be ashamed of. She also taught me to not give so much weight to appearance, for sometimes the most beautiful qualities of a person are not the ones that are visible. The beast taught me that vanity is an ugly trait, and that, like Belle, true beauty lies far below the surface.
"Aladdin:" Aladdin taught me that "the diamond in the rough" is a very real thing. All the riches in the world cannot buy character. Jasmin taught me that sometimes we need to be stubborn about things that are very important to us. It is your life after all, no one but you is living it. Why not spend it doing things that make you happy instead of pleasing others?
"Pocahontas:" Though the movie was grossly inaccurate, Pocahontas did teach me that love doesn't see color. It's what lies underneath that will stick with you forever. She also taught me that the person you love might not be the person others want you to have. But if that very person treats you well and is a good person at the core, then what your heart says should take precedence.
"The Princess and The Frog:" Tiana taught me that nothing can be achieved without hard work. Put in the time, you will get the dime. Tiana overcame racism, among many other things, to pursue her dream. Her perseverance shows that when you are passionate enough about something, nothing can stand in your way.
"Hercules:" Hercules showed me that a true hero is someone who can overcome adversity. It's not just about physical strength; some of the strongest people are the ones who have the biggest hearts, not muscles.
"The Little Mermaid:" Ariel taught me that sometimes when you want something, you can't let others' opinions about what is good for you influence your life choices. At the end of the day, you know what is best for you and what you want. Even if what you want doesn't turn out as expected, you still gain a valuable lesson that you couldn't have learned otherwise. So be reckless, make mistakes, and learn from them.
"The Lion King:" Simba taught me that you can't run from your problems. No matter how hard you try, they will catch up to you. It is our duty to be honest with ourselves and try to tackle any issues we face head on. Our past mistakes can help us grow to be more than what we ever thought we can be. We just have to own up to the challenge
Each and every film mentioned here has taught me something quite valuable about life. It is these wise underlying meanings that I will cherish forever.
