Everything I need to know, I learned from ‘The Lion King’

My very favorite Disney movie, the one that has my heart, the one that I can’t watch in its entirety because I am too emotionally unstable to watch Mufasa die twice in a lifetime, is The Lion King. This has been on my EINTKILF list for years, but I have left it for a special occasion. The Monday before I fly off to Disneyland is as good of a time as any, right?

1. No worries!

I definitely believe that some things are worth worrying about, but I do appreciate the overall motto here. (What’s a motto? I don’t know, what’s a motto with you!) Hakuna Matata, kiddos. It means no worries–something we need to be reminded of every once in a while.

2. Use the past as a chance to learn and grow

I just advised my dear friend today that I fully believe that it is okay to put all your eggs in one basket, and I really meant it. I have never been a big fan of people not doing stuff out of fear, because the worst-case scenario will turn into a learning experience. Lots of stuff has hurt me in the past, and I am such a better person because of all of it.

3. The starry sky can be a big comfort

One of my favorite parts of The Lion King is when Timon, Pumbaa, and Simba lay under the night sky, talkin‘ ’bout stuff. Even if Timon and Pumbaa make fun of Simba for suggesting a bunch of “royal dead guys” are watching them, it still always soothed my soul a bit. I’m not sure if I quite believe that the great kings of the past are up there, but I certainly believe that you can learn a lot from the stars. Maybe, just maybe, you can learn everything.

4. Always represent your family

If you have never seen The Lion King, I am truly sorry for your life and you should go watch it, like right now. Spoiler alert: so Mufasa dies and Simba has a really terrible reaction (as he should) because his terrible Uncle Scar scared him away by blaming him for his father’s death. Simba suppresses all of his issues, befriends two rando animals who basically raise him, and pretends his old life was never a reality. Until, of course, Rafiki makes him realize that even though his father is dead, he will never be gone.

Ugh. I get so emotional.

5. We are all connected

Not in a circle, but in a hoop that never ends. Which is also true, it’s just the wrong Disney movie. In The Lion King, we are all connected in the circle of life. The “Circle of Life” teaches us that we are all capable of facing whatever life offers us.

And it moves us all
Through despair and hope
Through faith and love
‘Til we find our place
On the path unwinding

6. It is just fine to fall in love with your friends

And I mean, especially if they are betrothed to you in the first place. I guess that kind of makes it convenient. I should be completely honest with you guys and let you know that I don’t always think falling in love with your friends is a great idea. I have done it–oh boy have I done it–and it sucks and then when it inevitably does not work, you lose that friend and it is all a big mess. Sometimes, it works out and then you have a friendship that is stronger than a relationship might have been beforehand. DID ANY OF THAT MAKE SENSE OR DID I RAMBLE?

I am currently not in love with someone who was my friend first, so I am sitting on the other side of the fence for this argument. But Simba and Nala are the OGs.

7. Also, listen to your friends

Because Nala was Simba’s friend first and she really did know what she was talking about.

And she has a real way of getting her point across.

8. You can always go home

When Simba finally gets his ish together and goes home to save Pride Rock, it is a true boss moment–especially because Scar had just knocked Sarabi out! Ugh, Scar is such a terrible lion. Even if the conditions were not as terrible as they happened to be at the time, Simba would have been more than welcomed home by his people. Err. . . his pride.

9. Sequels are alright

No lie, I love The Lion King 1 1/2. I don’t care about the others, but that movie is legit and if you haven’t seen it, you should.

Rafiki image via, Simba and Nala love via, Nala pins Simba via, featured image via