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Have you watched Frozen II? Yes, I’m talking about the Disney movie. What? Can’t a grownup be a fan of Disney movies? Come on! In case you’re not aware, Disney movies are full of amazingly wise messages. You still don’t believe me? Okay, Google “what does hakuna matata mean”! We all know the phrase, thanks to The Lion King. Okay, enough of my Disney sales pitch. If you like Disney movies, great. If you don’t, that’s great too! I’ll share my reflection on one particular part of the Frozen II movie, and I’ll do my best to be as specific as I can in case you don’t want to watch it. (Whispering) But it’s a great one!
I watched Frozen for the first time in a movie theater. I warned you! I’m a fan. 😃 After that first time, I watched it again not less than 20 times. Okay, okay. I’m not that crazy fan. Let me explain the reason behind the number of times I watched that movie. I was a nanny at that time, and the beautiful princess I used to take care of loved the movie. So, we watched it together many, many, many times. Of course, it’s easy to be a fan of Disney movies when you have kids around—it gives you the perfect excuse. 😂
I knew there was a Frozen II, but I didn’t have the chance to watch it until few days ago. Again, it is easier to be a Disney fan when kids are around! So, I was watching the movie with a beautiful baby girl, and I have to say I was more immersed in the movie than she was. What I love the most about Disney movies is the wonderful way they explain their deepest messages through songs. Obviously, Frozen is no exception. Frozen II has 11 songs, and they were all perfectly crafted to explain various feelings during many parts of the movie.
All the songs are beautiful, but one totally got my attention. It’s the saddest song in the movie, but that doesn’t mean you have to internalize its message in a sad way. The name of the song is “The Next Right Thing,” and Ana (the main character’s sister) sings it when she finds out her sister Elsa has given her life to save their people. It’s a sorrow song. She feels like she’s lost because her sister was everything she had. She feels empty, like everything is dark. However, inside the darkness a little voice inside tells her she must go on and do “the next right thing.” The song explains how she gets out of the numbness by taking one breath at a time and doing only what she can do, which is simply the next right thing.
I only had to listen to this song once to completely love it. I know it’s sad, but I love the message behind the sadness. I thought about all those moments when I’ve felt defeated and down, and I had to agree with its message. When you’re down, the only thing you can do is take one breath at a time. The way out of darkness begins with just one step. Of course, it is hard as ‘F’ to take that first step, but once you do it, the other leg follows. When you get into a deep hole emotionally, if you focus on one thing at a time, little by little you’ll step out of that hole. You don’t need a special power; you just need to focus on that next right thing. Think about it. Every time you’ve been in a dark situation, you probably got out of it by taking small steps.
The song also suggests that Ana doesn’t need to focus on the distant future because it’s too much to take. It makes more sense to keep your focus on what’s reachable at the moment. Many times, we try to have everything figured out, but the only thing we can be sure about in life is its impermanence. Change is always circling us, so why waste time trying to control things we don’t even know will happen? If you always focus on the next right thing to do, you’ll get really far. One step at a time can take you to the moon when you take those steps with good intentions.
If you haven’t watched the movie yet, and you appreciate Disney’s work, I highly recommend you give it a try. I know at the minimum you’ll get a good laugh from listening to Olaf, the animated snowman. If my boyfriend (who hates cheesy movies) watched it from beginning to end and he liked it, I think a lot of people would appreciate the message behind the movie. But if you don’t have the time, at least look that song up, read the lyrics, and keep those words from the little voice handy for a time when life throws you a punch. No, I’m not being negative. We all know life throws us punches from time to time, so it’s better if we have a little voice ready to whisper to us and encourage us to go on and do the next right thing.
The way out of a dark situation is by taking one step at a time, my friends. It doesn’t matter what it is, we can overcome anything just by focusing on doing the next right thing. Breathing one breath at a time and having good intentions is all we need to help us take that first step that will lead us on to do the next right thing. Then we simply need to keep moving in that direction. 😊
Love,
Irene
