Kiara sings..'If there is so much I must be... can I still be me?

The way I am.'

The young princess explores what it means to be a future leader of her pride.

Sometimes it is hard to fathom where we start and the expectations obligations and responsibilities for us end. As friend, worker, daughter along with all the other categories we choose for ourselves sometimes it is confusing which part is us and what are just obligations we are habitually fulfilling.

The chorus of the song holds the key...

"...we are more than we are we are one'

We are not as separate or categorised as we fall into thinking. We are all those things and nothing at the same time.

Alice in the rabbit hole

Alice falls down the rabbit hole.  A burrow? No more of an entrance to a bizarre world. Delightfully exciting although sometimes concerning Alice traverses through one adventure to another. Her imagination her only limitation in governing her pathways.

It boggles my mind that if it was her imagination that took her there then why was she stubborn in accepting what was presented to her.

I suspect that half of my issues in this world are equally of my making. Equally being ridiculously stubborn in my refusal to see how amazing things can easily be. This is a choice I have failed to grasp on many occasions.

Pinocchio.
Naivety or just wishing for things to be different Pinocchio was easily mislead by others around him.

So easy for this to happen.  Whether it be giving up training to catch up with someone, breaking the diet because a friend has spent long on making something for you or even the reoccurring scenario of self sabotage.
We are having to work harder and harder to avoid being tricked and mislead by advertising that fiercely and unforgiving attacks us on all angles.  From the youngest age, we are targeted and done so in a precise, educated and planned manner.
We think we choose, sometimes we are not choosing.

Solutions? Go with the flow - maybe, if you can't beat 'em join 'em.
 Or take a bit of time to really reflect on our true selves and wishes, wants and desires.  Know where we want to be and with who, have a pre-thought plan and be brave enough to stay the course.

What our friends do for us....

despite their own trials and inconsistencies they can sonetimes band together nto make the most amazing family.

like when tigger wanted to find his family...

despite Eyore being depressed, Piglet dealing with intense anxiety, Rabbit having some control issues they all banded together to help tigger find what he was looking for.  Tigger never  found his Tigger family but what he did find is belonging - and who doesn't need to belong?

Mushu - 

I love the song that rolls with the ending credits of the movie Mulan.

It is called 'True to you heart' by Stevie Wonder.

 So many of the words have rung true to me for a while and for so many reasons - my favourite: the love story of 'knowing' that unstoppable destiny magnetically pulling together souls.

Baby, I knew at once that
you were meant for me
Deep in my soul I know
that I'm your destiny
Though you're unsure
Why fight the tide
Don't think so much
Let your heart decide

Baby, I see your future
and it's tied to mine
I look in your eyes and see
you searching for a sign
But you'll never fall
Till you let go
Don't be so scared
Of what you don't know
True to you heart
You must be true
to your heart
That's when the
heavens will part
And baby, shower you
with my love
Open your eyes
Your heart can tell
you no lies
And when you're true
to your heart
I know it's gonna lead
you straight to me
(Got to be true
To your heart)

Someone you know is on
your side, can set you free
I can do that for you if
you believe in me
Why second-guess
What feels so right
Just trust your heart
And you'll see the light

True to you heart
You must be true
to your heart
That's when the
heavens will part
And baby, shower you
with my love
Open your eyes
Your heart can tell
you no lies
And when you're true
to your heart
I know it's gonna lead
you straight to me

Girl, my heart is driving
me to where you are
Well, you can take both hands off
the wheel and still get far
Be swept away
Enjoy the ride
You won't get lost
With your heart to guide you

When things are getting' crazy
And you don't know
where to start
Keep on believin', baby
Just be true to your heart
When all the world
around you
It seems to fall apart
Keep on believin', baby
Just be true to your heart.

Meg.

Broken hearted from her past betrayal Meg is somewhat unbelieving in romance,

 Meg denies her heartfelt feelings for Hecules.

She sings "I won't say Im in love, no way, no chance... I won't say I'm in love"

Deny it as much as she does it doesn't alter the facts.

Her heart knows better and is leading her to another opportunity to trust, love and learn. Falling in love is not a choice it is a blessing, and as my good friend endorses 'it is what it is'.  saying -what's the worst that could happen? - 'don't be sad because it ended, smile because it happened'. 

Mad Hatter's 'unbirthday' party

The Mad Hatter seems to enjoy any excuse for a party! He and the March hare wish Alice a Happy and Merry 'unbirthday' 

Obviously confused at such nonsense she initially disregards their intention.

What has occurred to me is that everyday (364 days a year) is an opportunity to wish someone all the best and tell them all the wonderful things that you love about them, that too often are saved for the birthday card spiel.

The Fox and the Hound

"When you're the best of friends

Having so much fun together

You're not even aware, you're such a funny pair

You're the best of friends"

What I love the best about children is exactly this, they may not even be aware - that they are a funny pair.

Grown ups classify and impose and have in many cases forgotten to see the world as children do.  They accept and play with others of different demographics. Religion, origin, caste, appearance is not of consequence and usually accepted readily.

Children really are our teachers in so many ways.

Finding Nemo...

Marlin loved Nemo so much, realising his son was precious and irreplacable he made it his mission to take good care of him.

Like all relationships there is a fine line between smothering and sabbotaging a relationship and a healthy empowering relationship.

It rings true to me, the wanting so badly to get it right. Mistakes and misunderstandings will happen. I'm hoping that my in time it is my good intentions that will be remembered and like Marlin, any wrong doings will lead to a journey of sicovery for all parties involved.

 Flik
Best of intentions... belief in outcomes, persistence through doubt, imagination and enthusiasm are Flik's cornerstone values.

Not content to do things the traditional way brought Flik lots of trials, through having the creativity to explore other options and the confidence in his ideas to give things a go is admirable.
How hard must it of been not to just go with the norms, face being an outcast and not one of the nest. Seen as a wacko for a while as he perfected his inventions.
 Beliving in a better life for all the nest was central to Flik's never ending enthusiasm for trying new ways.
Not all of his bright ideas worked the way he intended and some were complete disasters. But it was Flik's good for all philosophy that ensured hs success. If his main motivation was popularity and to be liked by all then certainly it he could have had that by just doing what everyone else was mindlessly doing - all the while believing it  for the best. But his true intention ws for the colony to be able to see how wonderful they were as a whole, to enjoy a better lifestyle. He found ways to see the same environment in new ways.
To be able to do that, the colony had to continue to maintain effective ways that had always been.They also believed they were doing the best for all.
So it is as a whole that we create' for without the continuing practices of the colony Flik would not have had the opportunity to  explore and create.
We all have different roles and are all valuable. All worthy and all important. Some of us maintian the status quo therefore giving the Flik's of the colony the chance to explore.
 Love who you are but also love who you are not, it is precisly becaise of them that you can be you.

James and the giant peach.

We're family!

' 

'Love is the sweetest thing
Love have come just when you think well
Love is the way we feel for you
Well poundelly
We´re family, We´re family, All of us and you!'

Love is the sweetest thing... and you are central to your family...whoever that may be.  Just like home is where the heart is, family can mean what you want it to mean.
I love this quote a friend posted today-

 Mulan

I hope that I can be as wise and loving as Mulans father is when she needs his support.

Deeply sad and disappointed in her failed attept at bringing her family honour after a disasterous appointment with the matchmaker, Mulan hides her face in shame.

Lovingly her father looks apon the situation with wisdom and acceptance.

Pointing out how he admires the blossoms at this time, then noting that 'this one is late' brigs a tear to my eye as he is lovingly stating that Mulan's time will come.

Indeed it does and the complimentary quote she earns -

"the flower that blooms in adversity is the rarest of all"

is deserved a she brings honor not just to her family but also to her friends, collegues and country.

Proving that possibly not fitting the mould is a greater gift if we show courage to follow opportunities to step out of our comfort zone.

'Hi ho...hi ho its off to work I go....'

Amusingly for many of us the song has morphed in to the old 'I owe, I owe... it's off to work I go..' Do what you love, and love what you do. Have a place where you contribute, share your gifts and talents then approaching that place in song and positive anticipation ensures that like

Doc, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, Sneezy, Bashful and Dopey you will uncover gems and riches.