There are times in my life when I know I am lucky. When I watch my husband and puppy sleep is one of them. Not because the house is finally quiet, but instead because I remember how lucky I am to receive their unconditional love. I don’t take that lightly. When I walk into a Disney Park I feel the same feeling of bliss. It’s not because the cast members are giving me unconditional love, but because Disney is a place of endless amounts of happiness. Happiness not based on my social status, but on my status of being a person. That alone makes me worthy.
The vision of the parks is to be a place where families can go and forget the rest of the world. They can leave the stresses of home, and just simply be happy together. Simple happiness is sometimes taken for granted and misunderstood these days. It’s not about how material things can make you feel comfortable in your life. Or, how the class can give you the illusion of importance. It’s about spending time with your family, and how it will make your soul truly smile. Disney has a way of letting you know it’s ok to let go. Let go of work, let go of commitments, and take in your true self. The honest self you wish you could be when you are dealing with the struggles of life.
When my husband was in Afghanistan, we talked about Disney a lot. Attractions we love, guests we don’t, and most importantly, our next trip together. We did this not because there weren’t any other topics to discuss, but because it was an escape. During those conversations he wasn’t being surrounding by war, I didn’t worry about him being there, and there was no doubt of him coming back. You don’t have to be in a Disney Park to feel the sensation of the Disney embrace. There was just a girl who loved a man, a man who loved a girl, and a park they loved together.
I hear so much negativity being thrown at Disney these days, and granted, some of it is deserved. Let’s just not forget why we care so much in the first place. It’s not because of free dining, construction or promotions we can get. It is the unconditional happiness we feel walking in; maybe it is about love after all.
