Jack Skellington has to be one of the most iconic characters of all time. As the star of "The Nightmare Before Christmas" (a Halloween/Christmas classic), Skellington is unique in not only appearance but personality as well. Because he is so relatable and beloved by many fans, it isn’t hard to find his face on every type of apparel and trinket.
I love "The Nightmare Before Christmas" and will watch it every opportunity I get. The story is so different than every other Halloween movie I've seen and the characters are lovable, whether they are good or bad. Every time I find myself watching it, I relate to Jack more and more. And during my most recent time watching it, I realized something. I am Jack Skellington. No, I am not a tall, dead skeleton who hijacks Christmas. But I find myself sharing similar traits with the Pumpkin King himself.
1. He loves Halloween.
He eats and breathes Halloween. He is a master in all things spooky, creepy, and Halloween-centric. Halloween is my favorite holiday, and my love for the holiday is only equal to his.
2. He breaks out into song every chance he gets.
He’s feeling sad? He sings. He feels happy? He sings. He's about to get shot out of the sky? He sings. I, too, am always singing no matter the occasion and I can relate to his love for song.
3. He is adventurous and loves to explore the unknown.
He isn’t afraid of discovering new places, meeting new people, and encountering things he has never seen before. I also love to travel and explore new places as well, and I don’t let small worries stop me.
4. He becomes an excitable puppy over the smallest things.
I get excited over the smallest things, like mini-sized candy or french fries. He never lets his passion waver, and I never let my excitement die down as well.
5. He loves Christmas with a burning passion.
I love Christmas with all my heart and soul. Although it is not my first love, I am still enamored with the jolly holiday: the atmosphere, the food, the aesthetic. Everything about the holiday fills me with joy.
6. He is curious and will not stop until he gets the answers to his questions.
I also strive to constantly learn and am not satisfied until I know everything there is to know. His love of knowledge is another reason why I find resemblance with this kindred spirit.
7. He understands when he makes mistakes and owns up to them.
I am not a perfect person; I mess up and sometimes don’t always make the best decisions. But when I do mess up, I try to atone for it. Jack does as well, then he apologizes and sets things right.
8. He realizes that he is not perfect at everything and embraces his talents.
He is the master of Halloween; he gave Christmas a shot, but it didn’t work out for him. He recognizes that he can perfect his skills and use them to make his holiday the best that it can be. Sometimes I get upset when I am not good at something or I feel incompetent in one area; but then I realize the things I am good at and put my time, effort, and talent into those areas.
When I was younger, I often wondered why Skellington was the way he was. But now, looking at it more closely, I understand who he is as a character. And I find that our similarities will only multiply as time goes on. I can relate to the Pumpkin King, and next time I watch "The Nightmare Before Christmas" I'm sure I'll find myself enjoying the movie even more.
