Five Life Lessons I Learned From Disney
Hello fellow travelers!
Hello fellow travelers and welcome to my blog! If this is your first time visiting, I want to give you a big warm welcome and if you are a returning visitor, welcome back!
Recently, I was invited to participate in a once in a lifetime event at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fl. This opportunity sparked my imagination and reaffirmed now, more than ever, the impact that Disney has had on my life. Therefore, I wanted to share with you the Five Life Lessons I Learned From Disney.
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- Life Lessons from Walt Disney
Thought I could go write pages upon pages on how this experience changed me, I will try to narrow it down to my top five moments.
As some of you may know, I am a school psychologist by trade and my personal goal in life has been to help as many children and families as I can. I always try to see the good in people, because I do believe that we all have a little magic within us and if we do our part, we can make this world a better place. But most importantly I want my little baby boy to grow up knowing that we CAN make a difference in this world. All you need is the courage to try and maybe a pinch of dust…
5. Disney Empowered Me
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- ashley eckstein at Disney
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- We received a copy of Ahsley Eckstein’s It’s Your Universe!
4. Disney Inspires Me
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- This little guy follows you around
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- Great barrier reef
But this film also inspired me to pursue a career that helps individuals feel included regardless of their ailment or disability. The first time I watched this movie in theaters, I remember telling my mom “I don’t want anyone to ever feel like they are not good enough, able-bodied enough, or smart enough to go reach their dreams”. I wanted to be able to show anyone they CAN achieve their goals and that there is NO limit to what they can achieve if they put their mind to it. Remember to “just keep swimming.”
3. It's 'ok' to make mistakes
This has always been tricky for me because as a human being, I sometimes dwell or worry my past mistakes. Worry can take many forms. Maybe it’s worrying that you may have not set the alarm clock, or maybe that you didn’t study enough for that hard statistics exam you are dreading. I must always remind myself that worry can always manifest itself into something larger and cause an ongoing cycle of self-doubt.
One day, I was researching different self-care tactics to help with my constant worry, and I came across a Walt Disney quote that, I kid you not, is on the wallpaper of my cell phone as we speak:
And for some reason, it just clicked. If you try your hardest, then you should be proud of yourself for trying. And taking five slow deep breaths to regulate your breathing doesn’t hurt either.
2. The importance of having courage
It reminded me that my story wasn’t over. I had so much to offer this world and I would not let past events define my future.
Consequently, I now try to teach developing courage during my therapy sessions as well. Sometimes, my clients have gone through hard times and need to reflect on their problems. In many cases, children are reluctant to talk about past traumas in their lives. However, I have found a simple solution that has helped me during my sessions.
When I start, I always ask, “Who is your favorite Disney character?” To this date, I have not had a single child who did not have an answer. I also bring some of my magical mickey mouse ears (I have SEVERAL to choose from) and I let them wear them during our time together. I have come to find that the power of Disney magic is real, especially to those who have been through so much. They quickly transform into princesses, princess, galactic warriors, or superheroes. Their imagination is limitless, and it gives them the courage to talk about their feelings in a caring and safe environment. All they need is the courage to try.
1. Never give up on your dreams
Did you know that Walt Disney lost almost everything he had in order to pursue his dreams? Cappy Surette, one of the key speakers at the Disney SMC, shared Walt Disney’s story with us. In 1927, Walt Disney was working with Universal Pictures and a distributor by the name of Winker Pictures on a cartoon series. After creating his most successful character, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, Universal Pictures wanted Oswald to be the main character for the series. 
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- First sketches source:www.loveeatandtravel.com
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- Walt and his Brother Roy Source: www.pintrest.com
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- Walt and Mickey source: www.wikipedia.org
Mr. Surette expressed the importance that courage and resilience play in achieving your dreams. Had Walt Disney given up, we wouldn’t have the beautiful characters and stories we have grown to know and love. He is a shining example to never let others decide your future. Your dreams matter because they are yours and no one can take them away from you.
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- Western Union Telegram from Walt Disney to his brother
Towards the end of his presentation, Mr. Surette gave us the telegram that Walt Disney sent to his brother Roy shortly after losing the rights to Oswald the Rabbit as a reminder that even when seems at a loss, “Everything (will be) ok.”
A BIG & SPECIAL THANK YOU!
I now have framed this telegram and put it on my desk as a reminder to always pursue dreams, no matter how big or small they may be. I want to thank Walt Disney World and the Disney Social Media Celebration for this incredible opportunity that has inspired me to share the Disney’s magic, hope and inspiration to my friends, family and community. That day I pledged to “spread happiness, hopefulness, joy and inspiration” to all those around me, and I intend to keep that promise. 
Our dreams and aspirations in life are possible and we can achieve them if we have the courage to pursue them. As Walt Disney said:
If you have any Disney Life Lessons that you would like to share, please put them in the comments below! I’d love to hear how Disney Inspired you.
~Brizzy~
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