Christopher Robin came out last weekend and I finally got to go see yesterday with the boy. It's a very nostalgic movie with the central motif about growing up and the challenges of adulting. It's similar to the themes explored in Peter Pan and Alice and Wonderland and how you can struggle with having to grow up.
This is probably why I'm drawn to these movies, because I still haven't fully grown up. I don't look like an adult or act like one really. I dress very non-traditional for my age, and I can be very immature at times. I can and do know how to get my act together when I have to, but it's not exactly my cup of tea. This is also why I'm probably still going to Disney after all these years. Hell, even the inside of my house doesn't look very "adult-like." From the outside, it looks like an ordinary house on the block but step inside, and you'll find a huge life sized panda bear sitting in my living room, with other nerdy toys displayed all throughout my house. The amount of jumbo plushes I collect is probably more embarrassing than I'd like to admit.
In the past week alone, I've watched all the OG Disney princess movies since I've been on a Disney kick, hyped up from planning my birthday vacation. Oh yeah, I'm also officially signed up for the Disney Princess Half Marathon in February so there's another reckless decision I made, and of course, another Disney trip to plan. I'm excited and terrified for this at the same time. I really want to check this off my bucket list but I'm also scared that I won't pull it off and finish the face. I don't want to end up the shame of a nation like Geoffrey on Fresh Prince. But I have faith that I can push through and do it. I've conquered every thing else so far, right?
But I digress. Yet again.
Back to Christopher Robin. If you plan on seeing this movie, it's not a kids movie. Or at least, I wouldn't consider it one. The message in the movie is more for adults than kids, in my opinion. The movie was also a little slow picking up and it's not an action movie in terms of anything "happening" or that it's fast-paced action or anything. The movie itself, I would say, takes its time delivering its message to the viewer and it can feel rather boring at times while trying to get through it. But the main message without giving too much away, is about growing up and not forgetting the things you grew up with that helped shape you. Don't push yourself too much into your work/career. It may not always be there to save you. Your loved ones are more important so take care of them and spend time with them. They are the better investment and you can never get that time back once it's gone. Don't forget who you are, don't forget how to have fun and how to use your imagination.
“YOUR LIFE IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IN FRONT OF YOU.”
Other themes it explored is the beauty of old friends and how in some friendships, they are so beautiful in the fact that you can always pick up exactly where you left off no matter how much time has passed. Your friends will not forget about you. They will still love you just the same. These type of friends are truly hard to find and if you ever find them, don't ever let them go. Cherish them with all your heart. They are the ones that love to spend time with you but understand that yes, life happens and that's okay. They know you need time and space to grow. And they will still be there, waiting patiently until the stars align again.
Family was also another important theme. Don't neglect your family. They care about you more than you think, and they notice you more than you know. They just want to see you and spend time with you. Instead of pushing them aside, re-prioritize what's important to you and what you would do if something were to happen to them.
“I KNOW I DON’T NEED ONE, BUT I’D LIKE ONE VERY, VERY MUCH, PLEASE.”
A smaller less prominent theme but still important, was doing things simply because they make you happy. You don't always have to make decisions based on if they "help" you in any way financially or to get ahead in life. Or doing only things that you need to do. You can do things just because they bring you or others joy. Pooh sees a red balloon and asks Christopher Robin for one and as silly as it seems, Christopher obliges and goes out of his way to purchase the balloon for his friend. The balloon was a simple symbol of happiness for Pooh. I liked this because in my own life, I always feel like people are pressuring me to do something just because it is advantageous to me or to them. Like cosplay and modeling. People think I should make a job out of it, do Patreon, sell prints or whatever. But I was never in this for the money. I do these things simply because I enjoy it. And to fulfill my creative outlet. Once something becomes a "job," all the fun is sucked out of it for me and I no longer enjoy it. I never got into any of this for any reason other than for fun. I have no expectations on what I want it to bring me other than a portfolio of pretty pictures to look back on when I'm old.
And all the adventures I go on. I simply do them because I enjoy it. I want to look back and have nice memories of what I did with my life. Not memories of my life and what I had to do. This is a big reason as to why I quit CVS. I didn't want that soul sucking place to take my life away from me. It was sucking all my energy and life and years away from me. But when all is said and done, CVS is not going to be there for me. Rather, it threw me under the bus when the time came. I didn't want to live the rest of my life with memories of myself missing out on life because CVS was a selfish MF who wanted me to work 24/7 and never spend time with my own loved ones. This is probably why Christopher Robin's central story resonated with me. I spent too much of my time there with nothing to show for it. There was no gratefulness for my contributions or any sign that I was a valued employee but rather another warm body. Meanwhile at my current job, I've traveled more and have been on more vacations than I was ever allowed at CVS. I get paid significantly less, yes, but my overall sanity and quality of life has significantly improved. That was also a theme of the movie. How people would be happier if they could go on more holidays. And in turn, if people went on more holidays, companies would actually all make more money, not less. Now, if only America as a whole would follow suit in this idea already established in Europe.
I went into this movie also knowing that I have a lot of similarities with Pooh. And sitting through it, I knew that my husband was going to leave this movie making fun of me for it. He basically said the entire movie was like spending a day with me and him. He's forever telling me we have to be adults, take care of our house, clean it and run errands. And I'm forever stuck in La-La land. Concerned with what to eat, Disney balloons and the small trivial things in life that make me happy. I never want to do laundry or tidy up the kitchen or living room. Haha, I knew I was going to be personally attacked for this. He's also always considered me a bear. I'm lazy sometimes, eat a lot, always think about food and I'm clumsy. But lovable still in his eyes, hahaha. He still puts up with me just as patient as Christopher Robin seemed to be throughout the film. He does have his own limits and breaking point, but he eventually comes back down and takes care of my needs as irrational as they can seem sometimes.
If you plan on going to see it, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. I can't wait to be back at Disney in a few short months, my home away from home. I have a dinner reservation at the Crystal Palace as well to see Pooh!
