Lions and Tigers and Bears.. Oh My!
Everyone on earth has challenges.. problems.. insecurities..
For the sake of the metaphor.. let’s call them Lions and Tigers and Bears…. Oh my.
The Wizard of Oz was on television the other night. It’s one of my very favourite movies in the world.
I’ve met very few people who have never seen the movie.. and most who have tend to list it among their favourites as well.. And as much as it has to do with the catchy musical numbers and heartwarming story, I believe there are lessons to be learned….
Dorothy is a somewhat brave girl.. a bit of a dreamer but seems to have some common sense about her.. She longs for adventure and imagines better things for herself. But really is at a loss at how to make that happen.
Scarecrow: I haven’t got a brain… only straw.Dorothy: How can you talk if you haven’t got a brain?
Scarecrow: I don’t know… But some people without brains do an awful lot of talking… don’t they?
Scarecrow feels he could accomplish so much more if he “only had a brain”. However, throughout the course of the film, he has several good ideas and proves himself to actually be the brains of the group.
Likewise the situation with the Tin Man who believes he needs a heart, yet is actually very kind and sympathetic.
Wizard of Oz: A heart is not judged by how much you love; but by how much you are loved by others.The Cowardly Lion is terrified of his own shadow.. never mind the presumed danger whilst on the Yellow Brick Road. Yet, he’s willing to put himself out there and take a risk in order to help Dorothy and her friends.
Cowardly Lion: All right, I’ll go in there for Dorothy. Wicked Witch or no Wicked Witch, guards or no guards, I’ll tear them apart. I may not come out alive, but I’m going in there. There’s only one thing I want you fellows to do.
Tin Woodsman, Scarecrow: What’s that?
Cowardly Lion: Talk me out of it.
I know not a single person who hasn’t felt helpless, lost, scared, stupid or confused. But the difference between those who stay stuck in those situations and those who don’t is sheer belief in themselves. Believing that they can overcome those feelings of doubt and fear is most of the battle.
Wizard of Oz: Frightened? Child, you’re talking to a man who’s laughed in the face of death, sneered at doom, and chuckled at catastrophe… I was petrified.Everyone has their Lions, Tigers and Bears (oh my). But as you may recall.. the foursome never actually ran into any. They faced many other challenges .. but through believing in themselves and one another, they over came them.
Be smart. Be kind. Love. Have Courage. Believe. …. and you’ll find what Dorothy found.. that she didn’t have to run away to find her heart’s desire. She and her friends just had to look inside themselves for the answers..
But keep an eye out for those flying monkeys.
Themocracy
Beth – such a great post – I love it! (And not just because I’m originally from Kansas) I’m now repeating your message “Be smart. Be kind. Love. Have Courage. Believe….” in somewhat the same way Dorothy repeated “I want to go home, I want to go home” while clicking the heels of her red slippers.
I liked that! And I still have nightmares about the flying monkey’s don’t you?
Monkeys are gross. Creppy and gross. And the little monkeys look like hairy babies. I hate the monkeys.
Correction to my comment above..so instead of “I want to go home” I believe she actually said “There’s no place like home, there’s no place like home”
As always…inspirational! One of my favs and I never looked at it quite that way.
Seems we spend the better part of our life pursuing dreams outside ourselves, when the greatest treasures are within.