Passion.
That's why people start stuff like this, right? Find something that you're passionate about and then share it with others so that some of that passion can rub off on them. Or so they can think about something in a way they never have before. Because sometimes the world seems to lack in that regard; in people truly LOVING something - you know, that one thing, or person, or idea or group. Days ago I had to honestly ask myself what I'm passionate about.
It took a little more thought than you would probably expect. I wanted to be able to say something like sports or music or cooking, because those are specific and they're usually what you would think of in this kind of situation. And I do enjoy those things. In fact, I really do love music. It's one of those things that makes my day every day.
But the answer I really wanted to give was life.
Can you do that? Can be passionate about something so broad? Can you be passionate about something that means completely different things to every person on this planet? Well, I've decided that you can. Because that's really the only way I can think of to describe it. I'm passionate about believing in a life that's worth living and a world that's worth exploring. I'm passionate about the feeling of creativity and freedom that you experience in childhood.
In fact, I think childhood is awesome. I hope every person was able to experience a time in their life when they believed in anything because the world was socially obligated to let you do just that. And if not - if that time didn't happen for you then - I hope you're making it happen now. I hope you dare to believe in something, not because it's real, but because it makes you happy. Because it helps you be a better person.
Life is an individual experience for everyone. No two lives are the same. But every life is worth living. Every person is worth believing in. As corny as that sounds.
You know what else is corny and cheesy?
Disney.
They've probably come up with some of the cheesiest lines/moments in television history. But you know what?
When I was a kid, my family lived in Wyoming. We owned a TV but never had satellite or cable or anything so a lot of our time was spent either outside or watching Disney movies. My family can have entire conversations consisting mostly of movie quotes - particularly Disney. To some this might be considered weird. I, personally, love it.
I'm not here to say that Disney gives perfect role models to little kids. Let's face it, Aladdin is a thief and Ariel sells a part of a her body to get a guy. And Disney movies have so many gender stereotypes, it's rather sad. But, to be completely honest, I was too young to catch any of that. So, instead, what I did catch was the good stuff. I learned it's OK to believe. And it's really OK to believe that there's a happily ever after even right in the middle of all the bad stuff. That's not stupid. That's not naive. That's choosing to be happy.
Life is going to throw some pretty nasty stuff our way. If you haven't encountered at least one witch, evil uncle, or insane employer - then just wait. Because it'll come. But it's OK. Because each life is worth living. And the world we saw as little kids is still worth exploring.
Disney is cheesy. And corny. And prone to be historically inaccurate. But it is one thing that continues to make me happy. Probably because I feel like a little kid again when I watch Disney movies - and little kids are really good at being happy.
It took a little more thought than you would probably expect. I wanted to be able to say something like sports or music or cooking, because those are specific and they're usually what you would think of in this kind of situation. And I do enjoy those things. In fact, I really do love music. It's one of those things that makes my day every day.
But the answer I really wanted to give was life.
Can you do that? Can be passionate about something so broad? Can you be passionate about something that means completely different things to every person on this planet? Well, I've decided that you can. Because that's really the only way I can think of to describe it. I'm passionate about believing in a life that's worth living and a world that's worth exploring. I'm passionate about the feeling of creativity and freedom that you experience in childhood.
In fact, I think childhood is awesome. I hope every person was able to experience a time in their life when they believed in anything because the world was socially obligated to let you do just that. And if not - if that time didn't happen for you then - I hope you're making it happen now. I hope you dare to believe in something, not because it's real, but because it makes you happy. Because it helps you be a better person.
Life is an individual experience for everyone. No two lives are the same. But every life is worth living. Every person is worth believing in. As corny as that sounds.
You know what else is corny and cheesy?
Disney.
They've probably come up with some of the cheesiest lines/moments in television history. But you know what?
Disney totally makes my life.
In all seriousness.
When I was a kid, my family lived in Wyoming. We owned a TV but never had satellite or cable or anything so a lot of our time was spent either outside or watching Disney movies. My family can have entire conversations consisting mostly of movie quotes - particularly Disney. To some this might be considered weird. I, personally, love it.
I'm not here to say that Disney gives perfect role models to little kids. Let's face it, Aladdin is a thief and Ariel sells a part of a her body to get a guy. And Disney movies have so many gender stereotypes, it's rather sad. But, to be completely honest, I was too young to catch any of that. So, instead, what I did catch was the good stuff. I learned it's OK to believe. And it's really OK to believe that there's a happily ever after even right in the middle of all the bad stuff. That's not stupid. That's not naive. That's choosing to be happy.
Life is going to throw some pretty nasty stuff our way. If you haven't encountered at least one witch, evil uncle, or insane employer - then just wait. Because it'll come. But it's OK. Because each life is worth living. And the world we saw as little kids is still worth exploring.
Disney is cheesy. And corny. And prone to be historically inaccurate. But it is one thing that continues to make me happy. Probably because I feel like a little kid again when I watch Disney movies - and little kids are really good at being happy.
"Happiness is a state of mind."
~Walt Disney
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