Hakuna Matata

I recently went to see the stage production of one of my favorite movies. You can probably tell by the title of this post which movie I am talking about. Well, in case you can't quite pull it the play was The Lion King. To say that it was one of the most beautiful stage productions that I have seen in quite some time would be an understatement. I have always loved the movie in fact I remember when it came out over 15 years ago begging my mom to come to the movies with me to go and see it (well I did not want to be the only grown up there without a child...and as it turned out I would not have been...but I digress). Now of course I am a child at heart and I loved it then. One of my favorite songs in the movie and the musical of course is Hakuna Matata. "It means no worries for the rest of your days...its our problem free philosophy Hakuna Matata". I often try to find lessons in the smallest things and I must say that this song pops up and teaches me a new lesson (and sometimes renewed lesson) every now and then.

In the plot Simba runs off because he believes that he has caused the death of his father. I think that we could all agree that would send us for a loop as well. When he goes off he meets and hangs out for a few years with a couple of "characters" and they sing this song to him to basically let him know among many things that life is what you make it. It is only a problem if you allow it to be. That you can either choose to allow things to worry you or not. Basically, it is their own version of that song that used to annoy me everytime they played it "Don't Worry Be Happy". Now it does not annoy me quite as much for a couple of reasons the first of course is because they do not play it adnauseum any longer and second of all I am finding that you can choose to be happy.

I am working on applying both viewpoints to my life right now. I have been going through a spell of allowing things and people and certain situations make me sad. There have been many reasons for my sadness. Some of which include being dissapointed in people and situations. Some from feeling disregarded. Some from feeling stupid for putting so much value in others who don't seem to value me. Some from feeling that I am not doing enough to "make it happen". Basically, I have been worrying a lot, crying a lot, and just not being the happy go lucky Nicole I have grown to know and love :).

I once learned that we all have to have some type of anchor to keep us from going off edge. I believe that we often need different anchors for different situations. So there it is one of my anchors is Hankuna Matata...no worries.

What does no worries mean for me?

• Well no worries means that I will not worry about things that I cannot change.
• No worries means that I will not focus on making others happier than they actually want to be.
• No worries means that I will not be more concerned for others than they are for themselves.
• No worries means that I will focus more on my own happiness.
• No worries means that I will limit my caring about what others think of me especially when I know that I am doing all that I can to be the best person that I can be.

Don't get me wrong. I do not plan to become calloused and uncaring but I do plan on trying to stop worrying and finding more joy and happiness within.

So what is it that you have to sing Hankuna Matata about? Ask yourself...no really ask yourself. Hit me back if you have any input on this or if you would like to share your Hakuna Matata story.

Wishing you ...

Peace and Blessings

Nicole