5 life lessons Walt Disney taught me.

I feel as though some sort of Disney-related post is long overdue considering the fantastically creative and appropriate title of my blog.

The fact that I have a hugely extensive (and impressive) collection of Disney DVDs and I spend a considerable amount of my time watching those DVDs meant that it took me quite a long time to decide what I actually wanted to write about in relation to my child-like obsession with all things Walt.

I shall refrain from disclosing any other ideas that I came up with because I suspect they will be subject to a post not-so-far in the future. But after much deliberation I decided today was the day for...

5 LIFE LESSONS WALT DISNEY TAUGHT ME

The idea for this stemmed from a conversation with my mother this morning about how I am going to cope with living this weekend when her and my dad swan off to Lincolnshire and leave me here alone. Naturally I protested that by leaving me she was subjecting me to inevitable starvation because of my inability to cook, she came back (pretty harshly might I add) with the reality of my nearly 19 years of living experience amounting to, seemingly, absolutely nothing.

So that got me thinking, would I be any more of an acceptable 'adult' if I didn't spend my life talking, thinking and obsessing over Disney World, films, princesses, merchandise and everything else that can be even loosely associated with it. 

Personally, I think not. 

So here are all the lessons I've learnt from being a self-confessed Disney addict.

1. Cutting your hair will never, EVER be a good thing.

So most of you will know that my favourite film of all time is Tangled. For those of you who haven't seen this film; a) what the hell are you doing with your lives? and b) all you need to know is that it's basically the story of Rapunzel but with spectacular animation, beautiful music and a truck load of emotion. 

Anyhowwww, Rapunzel is not only the most beautiful Disney princess of all time, but she also has the most gorgeous hair ever to exist in the entirety of both the real and fictional world. 

Since I can remember I have always loved the story of Rapunzel and my hair has always been a massive swore spot, I absolutely despise getting it cut and all I ever want is it to be long. So when I watched Tangled I pretty much made up my mind that I will never ever get anything more than inch cut off of my hair. If even Rapunzel, the most beautiful character to ever be drawn, doesn't look all that nice with her hair cut off, then I most definitely won't. 

So that's what Tangled taught me. Long hair takes a life time to grow and only a second for your boyfriend to cut it off using a shard of glass to stop your evil stepmother/kidnapper from using you for your hair. Life skill numero uno: don't cut you hair. EVER.

Happy Rapunzel...

I hate my hair and consequently my life Rapunzel.

2. Don't take food from strangers.

Even if you're hungry and they're offering Mcdonalds.

Fair enough, I probably would have learnt this lesson somewhere along the line anyway but my girl Snow White pretty much hammered this lesson into me. We all know the story of Snow White eating the apple and falling into some sort of coma and what child, realistically, isn't going to be fucking terrified by that?!

What I find amusing is that the food Snow eats is an apple, so not only was us innocent children taught about the taking things from strangers rule, we were also taught that apples are to be avoided at all costs. I definitely took that lesson on board.

So yeah, if a randomer approaches you in the street and offers you food - would probably be wise to give that one a miss. 

Lets hope the apple was tasty enough to justify the coma...

3. People die.

I admit its a bit blunt and morbid but it's true that kids need to learn about it sometime and how better than to see a poor fawn see his mum get shot by a hunter.

I was never a big Bambi fan but I am almost certain that watching that movie would have been the first time that I was ever exposed to the idea of death. In true Disney fashion, the tragedy is soon masked and goes on to lead to a nice happy ending but they still introduced the idea and that was a pretty brave move so hats off to them. The movie was and still is absolutely heartbreaking though.

Maybe too much for a child to see?
I don't know...

4. Animals are so much better than humans.

This is the truest thing that I have ever written.

I am not by any means a people person and I am very much the animal lover so there is a slight possibility that there could be an element of bias here, but it is so true that Disney has shown over and over again how animals will always trump the humans.

Allow me to provide you with some examples:

Cinderella - Now I totally believe that Cinders was a nice enough person and all of that but there is no way in the world she would have been able to finish that dress on time for the ball if it wasn't for her furry friends.

Rapunzel - Again, an absolute top lass but she would have sent herself round the bend in that tower if it wasn't for good ol' Pascale keeping her company all the time.

The Lion King - An all animal cast and probably one of Disney's most famous creations. That says it all.

You get the idea. Animals are better than humans. Period.

Legends.

5. There will always be a happy ending.

I truly believe that this is the main reason why I am so addicted to Disney movies. Doesn't everyone just want to believe that eventually there will be a happy ending?

Walt Disney has a true knack for helping us to believe that everything happens for a reason and that everything will always be okay in the end.

This is my favourite lesson of all. And I think that for those of you who think you're too old for these kind of films - you're probably right. But for as long as I keep feeling inspired by them, they'll still take pride of place on their beloved book shelf.

There you have it people, 5 lessons that Walt Disney taught me.

Until next time. 

x