Dealing with Wildebeest, and Other Life Lessons from The Lion King

Ever been hit by a herd of wildebeest? Metaphorically speaking, of course. 

When I was a little girl, there wasn't a dry eye in the theater as Simba made his way through the abandoned canyon, screaming "Dad!". I would bet there are even those of you who are tearing up just thinking about it. The fact is, Simba's life changed the minute that stampede started. It drove him away (literally) from his friends, his family, and his destiny. For years he tried to escape the past, and blah blah blah, we all know Rafiki's quote "You can either hide from [the past] or learn from it" and yes, "the past can hurt." This post isn't about running or facing the past... that's a little too serious for my tastes right now. 

I want to focus instead on Nala. See, Simba was hit by a herd of wildebeest. He fell off the grid, abandoned his friends, met new ones even. He changed. And what happens when his best friend Nala finds him?

In general, I like going places and seeing new things. I like hanging out with my friends, and really, who doesn't? But you can see someone every day for the rest of your life, and still never get a reaction the way Nala and Simba were when they found each other again. 

Now, take Timon and Pumba, for example. They are clearly Simba's friends. He sees them all the time, and they get along well. They clearly have a lot of fun together. But Nala comes, and all of sudden, Timon is threatened. He thinks if Simba leaves, things won't stay the same. And Timon likes it when things stay the same. Now, if you're anything like me, the wheels are starting to turn in your head, and you're starting to place your own friends in these groups. The thing is, it's good to have both in your life. 

You need friends, like Timon and Pumba, who will be there for you when you get hit by a stampede of wildebeest, to distract you from the battle raging in your head. And you need friends like Nala who will always return, and greet you as though you never left, and to remind you of your true purpose. 

The Lion King: teaching us new life lessons, every day.

See? Disney Magic is present when you have those long lost friends give you a call, or answer a text. There's a little bit of pixie dust every time they come back into your life.