Disney Movies Tried to Forewarn Us About the Future

We all know that our beloved Disney movies are full of doom and gloom. Walt Disney lost his mother at a young age, which is why all Disney movies include a parent’s, or a grandparent’s, death in some way shape or form.

But, upon watching Disney movies as an adult, you realize that they’re filled with lessons on dating, life, adulthood, and much more. If only we had realized these things in our youth, maybe adulthood would’ve been much easier? Who knows for sure, but as they say, better late than never!

When Cogsworth blatantly showed us how fixing relationships really worked.

When Jasmine showed us that love should be the reason for marriage, not anything else, not even for money.

When Rafiki taught us all that no matter how hard we may try, we cannot in fact successfully run from our pasts.

When Genie tried to tell Aladdin that telling the truth is the only way to have a healthy relationship.

When Jiminy Cricket tried to tell us all that we’re going to face a lot of temptations in the future — ones
that we have to ignore and get through.

When we learned in heartbreaking fashion that those we love will die, our parents unfortunately included.
Death has no timetable, and can affect you at any age.

When Mulan explained why she felt the need to change herself — to be someone she wasn’t, in order to be accepted.

When Aladdin showed us the struggles of not having money, pretty much forewarning us all of
how much we will have to in fact work to pay off our student loans or our rent.

When Gaston showed us gender inequality at it’s finest.

When Buzz Lightyear told us that we will, in fact, be surrounded by idiots on a daily basis.

When Fairy Godmother tried to teach us patience, because miracles take time.

And of course, when Peter Pan forewarned us all that growing up does really suck.

Life Lessons From Hamilton

Author: Mary Grace Donaldson, Entertainment

There are many reasons why Hamilton is the Broadway musical it’s impossible to get tickets for.

Even two years after it’s debut on the Great White Way, the wait for tickets that cost less than your monthly car payment is still to be determined. And the tickets that cost the same as your rent are even few and far-between. Why? Because Lin Manuel-Miranda brings American history to life in a way that only he can through his remarkable performance and original music. Hamilton is bound to touch you and teach you a few things, and not just in the way of history.

Don’t forget who you are or where you came from.

Remembering your humble beginnings will remind you of just how far you’ve come
(even when you’re rich and famous one day).

Not every piece of advice you’ll receive is good advice.

Sometimes you just have to take it with a grain of salt — and remember where it’s coming from.

Never throw away your shot.

If it makes you happy and fulfills you, go for it. Always go for it.

And in that same vein, don’t give up on what you’re passionate about.

No matter how ridiculous it may seem.

…but, don’t expect everyone to understand.

Because to everyone else, it’s possible that it seems ridiculous. And they’re allowed to their opinion.

Love and hate are opposite sides of the same coin.

(This doesn’t really require explanation, does it?)

Sometimes, we can all use a good reality check.

Even when it’s not something we necessarily want to hear.

Even when you don’t realize it, someone’s always watching what you do.

Whether it’s in real life or on social media, whether it’s your family or some little
kid who you don’t even know exists — people are watching. So, make it good.

And you have no control over…

… who lives, who dies, who tells your story.

Grandparents Have Much to Teach Their Millennial Grandchildren

Author: Kerrin Frappier, Real Life Stories

I love my grandparents, and I know how lucky I am to still have them in my life. To learn from them, to love them and to spend time with them.

Unfortunately, not all millennials recognize the importance of visiting their grandparents, more than just on holidays. And it’s time to try to change that. There is so much to learn, and so much to love, when it comes to spending time with your grandparents.

Yes, your grandparents will always be blunt. They’re old enough to remember “the old days” and have lived through enough tragedy and triumph to be able to tell the difference between a catastrophe and a minor setback. They have raised children, doted on grandchildren (and potentially great grandchildren), embarked on adventures in their personal and professional lives and now they are in their precious twilight years. Many may have immigrated to this country for a better life — for their children, and for you.

If you are lucky enough to have a grandparent (or surrogate grandparent) to spend time with, then you are lucky enough to benefit from their years of wisdom. If you haven’t already taken advantage of this, it’s time to.

Learn about your family history
Can’t remember which one of your family members was a nurse or a card shark? Can’t remember your parents’ anniversary or a great (but embarrassing) story to share with your friends about your sibling? You can bet that your grandparents know it all! They usually have detailed memories about those members of your family you only see at weddings and funerals which comes in real handy when you come face to face with them again. Lord knows how many school projects they’ve helped us with (family trees, oral history, a remarkable person in our family… you know the ones). They’re sure to have many old photos for you to look back at, and maybe even laugh at how ridiculous your parents looked as teenagers. Plus, if they themselves are immigrants, make sure you learn their inspiring (and maybe even difficult) story of leaving one country for another.

They were part of many world events
The things we learned about in a textbook, many of our grandparents actually experienced. Yes, most millennials will be able to tell you where they were when the first plane hit the Twin Towers on September 11. But, our grandparents may remember where they were when President Kennedy was assassinated. They may be able to remember the outbreak and aftermath of the second World War, the Vietnam War and for some, The Great Depression. They have known hardship and loss and it is has made them grateful for the things they have and the things they value most.

They’re great cooks
Okay, this doesn’t apply to all, but perhaps you are one of the lucky ones whose grandparents cook and cook well! Many families have secret family recipes that are passed down from generation to generation. Now it can be your turn to get your hands on it — just ask grandma. Cooking or baking these recipes together is such a fantastic way for you to not only keep the traditions of your family, but to strengthen your relationship as well. We all know that food makes every holiday special and we how we look forward to the traditions that make our stomachs and hearts feel full. Through their cooking, our grandparents have prepared you for the real world — where you have to cook for yourself and enjoy the little (and delicious) things in life.

They’re great examples of patience
As our grandparents are now older, they can teach us a thing or two about slowing down and enjoying life. They have a lot more free time to do leisurely activities — AKA all activities that require much patience! In our fast-paced millennial mindset, it is easy to forget to slow down and enjoy ourselves. Our grandparents have seen what can wait until tomorrow and are more than happy to set aside time to spend with their families, putting their hobbies on hold for some quality time.

At the risk of sounding morose, here is a heartbreaking reality: you never know how much time you have left with anyone. We would do well to cherish the moments of speaking loudly, explaining the internet and forcing them to take selfies with us… even those quiet times where we simply sit in each other’s company. It is the quality of our interactions that matters,they will become memories when we can no longer be together.

Here’s to the grandparents who still have that zest for life, a passion for family and a sense of humor about the aging process — may we all be lucky enough to get there someday!

How to Start Mending a Friendship

Adulting, Author: Emmanuel Pepis

Millennials, sometimes we try to make things better for someone we care about, but instead, we have the opposite effect. Either we act out of character for a brief moment in time, or we try too hard and wind up failing.

I was recently in this position with a friend of mine. I was trying to make things better in what was a tough situation and ended up making things worse instead. And I can say from experience there are very few worse feelings in the world. Luckily, this person was forgiving of my inexplicable folly and moment of stupidity.

What can you do if you also find yourself in this situation, or a similar one? These are a few things to consider that hopefully you’ll find helpful if you ever mistakenly travel the same path I did.

Apologize profusely
Until someone is tired of hearing it, don’t just stop at “I’m sorry.” Say what you did wrong. Even though that person knows, the fact that you are acknowledging and aware of your wrongdoing is a step of admission that could keep the lines of communication more open.

Don’t make excuses
Don’t scramble to find a story that you think may fly. Just own up to it without any explanation that may sound logical, but is most likely not truthful. There is some level of trust and honesty that builds every type of relationship. An excuse conjured up beyond the action will only more than likely deepen the cut.

Accept the consequences
Things may go back to being the same; then again, they may not. It all depends on several factors. In life, sometimes we learn lessons the hard way. If a person isn’t forgiving or isn’t liable to be as trusting going forward, then that’s something we live and learn from.

Learn from it
It’s cliché, but we all make mistakes. I know how and why I messed up. I know what not to do in the same situation if or when it arises again. I still feel terrible about it, but I can’t go back and change my misstep. I can only try to be a better person going forward. Beating yourself up will do nothing productive. By going through this experience, I learned that I should have known better. I tried too hard, and I ended up causing more harm than good. At the same time, I know there’s only one option and that’s to try to be a better person through learning from my own mishaps.