"Kung Fu Panda Changed My Life"

The Weekly Read #10,"Kung Fu Panda Changed My Life"

Do you believe that you are the Dragon Warrior? Because you should…  For the past week I have indulged in the epic movie series, Kung Fu Panda.  I watched as Po transformed from an average panda cooking noodles with his Goose of a father, to the Dragon Warrior, destined to defend the lands from all danger.  Although Po is an unexpected candidate for the position, he ultimately becomes the best person for the job.  Still, he seems to contradict every quality that you would expect from a hero.  He is clumsy, silly, out of shape, and doesn’t even know Kung Fu.  However, his unique traits are what, in the end, make him out to be one of the best warriors. 

This story taught me that we are all the Dragon Warrior.  We just have to believe it.  We have to accept and love ourselves wholly, regardless of what we are told to be like.  We are all born with unique traits, skills, and interests that put us on our individual paths, and within these paths,  we have the opportunity to become the Dragon Warrior we are here to become.  While our battles may look different from one another, we must all train and strengthen ourselves to defeat whatever is in our way.  And I don’t mean that we need to get physical.  I bet 99% of our battles lie within ourselves.   Battles of our heart, mind, and soul.  Many of the battles we face are in our day to day lives, hidden in the daily interactions we have with strangers, colleagues, partners, friends, or family.  It is the battle of choosing how to feel about sitting in the standstill traffic when you just want to get home and lie down.  It is the battle of choosing how to respond when your family tells you something you don’t want to hear.  It is the battle of choosing whether to eat the sweet treat or the vegetables.  It is in these small moments where we become the Dragon Warrior of our lives.  And our best choice isn’t always the best choice for another person.  You must reflect, look inwards, and decipher what is best for YOU.  Because we are all unique. No one of us will have all the same answers.  We must individualize in order to come together.  The more in tune we are with ourselves, the more we can relate and empathize with our neighbors.  Change in the world begins with change in ourselves.  The more we love ourselves, the more we can love each other.  

Embrace your weirdness.  That’s your secret sauce.  That’s what makes your cheeseburger delicious.  I hope you are having a wonderful weekend.  It’s not over yet.  Make the most of every minute ya got! And remember, as always:

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