“Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas any more.”
The classic tale of girl runs away, girl meets gang of friends, girl fights evil, girl makes it back home. Just another day in your life, right?
Aside from being a classic film full of great music and adventure, The Wizard of Oz is a heartwarming story of spreading your wings, overcoming adversity and making great friends along the way.
While The Wizard of Oz is full of numerous lessons, here are 5 that we found and cherished along the yellow brick road.
1.You Are Smarter Than You Think
The Scarecrow was full of straw and made of burlap, but he desperately wanted a brain. Even though he lacked a medulla oblongata he helped Dorothy make it to Emerald City and outsmart the Wicked Witch of the West. He used what he had and realized that he had brains all along.
Often times as young women we doubt our intelligence and ability to do the things we want to do. We think we need years of experience or that because something isn’t our main area we shouldn’t approach it. The Scarecrow realized that the smarts he thought he needed he already had. Learn from him, you already have all the intelligence you need to do anything in this world.
2. A Big Heart Goes a Long Way
The Tinman was missing a heart, clearly a necessary part of life. Yet when things came down to it, he shed more tears for Dorothy’s plight than Dorothy did. And when they reached the Wizard he wanted her to get home more than he wanted his heart. Talk about caring.
And while we all have a heart, the more we use it the stronger it gets. With our family, our friends, the stranger on the street, practice and love and care. Listen to your heart and no matter the outcome treat everyone with the love and respect they deserve, it will come back tin ten-fold
3. Courage is not Absence of Fear, it’s Seeing Fear & Ignoring It
Put em up, put em up! The Lion’s roar was mightier than his bite. He was scared of Toto for pete’s sake. But when it came time he went toe to toe with the flying monkeys.
Having courage doesn’t mean not having fear. It means acknowledging your fear and doing what needs to be done anyway. In pursuing our goals, there are plenty of things we are fearful of. But if we let every fright stop us we would get nowhere. We all have fear, but we must learn to accept the fear and keep moving. That’s courage.
4. Friends Make the Journey More Fun
Dorothy desperately wanted to get home and would have trekked to Emerald City alone if she had to. Luckily for her she didn’t have to. Three companions emerged to help her and along the way became friends she would never forget.
In life, it often seems we have to take the journey alone. But if you look around there are great friends and family that support you and are willing to go along for the ride. Take them up on their offer; their laughter and joy will make reaching the destination much sweeter.
5. No Matter How Far you Go, you can Always Go Home
Dorothy traveled to a a place far over the rainbow and soon realized that what she was looking for was home the entire time. Fearful that she would never make it back, she stopped at nothing to get to the Wizard, only to discover the power to go home was with her (in her Ruby Slippers).
No matter where you go, or what happens, you can always go back home and to the people who love you.
At first watch, The Wizard of Oz, seems like a simple tale. But beneath the surface lies an allegory about having the smarts, courage and heart to face the world.
Have you seen The Wizard of Oz? What movie has taught you life lessons?
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Excellent advice! I love this movie so much – saw it again recently and Somewhere Over The Rainbow was so beautiful it brought tears to my eyes. Whereas when I was a kid I was just terrified the whole time that the witch would appear.
Thanks Hungry and Frozen! Those flying monkeys were pretty scary. It really is a classic that never goes out of style.
I haven’t loved a post like this in a long time, but I kind of want to print it out and hang it on my wall somewhere. I love numero uno…you are smarter than you think. So much doubt comes in life and we often don’t appreciate our own abilities. As always so succinctly well written, friend. Love you like it’s my j-o-b.