Ah, The Good Old Days of Blogging

Do you remember the good old days of blogging when we had random awards and tags and we would nominate our favorite bloggers for them? It was a fun, simple time, without sponsors, ads, Pintrest, and Google Reader was a thing. We just blogged because it was fun and if someone happened to earn money from it, good for them! But for most of it, that just wasn't even on our radar.

Good times, right?

Well... I got nominated for the Liebster Award by Angie over at A Life More Kawaii!

It makes me think of those days of blogging and how much I miss that time period for blogging. Also, I didn't have a topic for today so this is perfect timing!

Here's what you do:

1. Link back to who nominated you. 
2. Answer the Qs the nominator asked you. 
3. Nominate 11 other bloggers (preferably with less than 200 followers)
4. Create 11 Qs for the 11 bloggers in step 3. 
5. Notify your nominees!

These are the questions Angie asked me!

1. Quick! There's a zombie outside. What household item do you brandish as your weapon?!

Eek! Zombie???? We all know I'd probably be the first to die in a zombie apocalypse. Let's be honest. But to try and defend myself... (looking around the kitchen)... I'll attempt to throw a wooden chair at it.

2. What would your RPG class be? 

So, I totally had to Google what that meant. LOL. It's Role Playing Game Class. I actually never really got into role playing! A friend of mine in high school tried to get me into Dungeons and Dragons, and I remember having a lot of fun. But for some reason I never continued. You'd think loving theatre and story-telling so much, I would have been all about it. But nope. Therefore, I'm not sure!

3. What is your dream pet?

My dog Bandit of course! But seriously, I just love dogs. Dogs are the best. I'd go for something more exotic, but there is no way I'd be able to tame them. So... dogs. 

4. Do you have a favorite superstition? 

If you say the name of the Scottish play in a theatre - I will go crazy on you. I was never a believer, but then... OH BUT THEN! When I was in an outdoor show of Romeo and Juliet, our young Romeo said it and we were rained out the first night. The SAME ACTOR said it AGAIN when we were doing Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and the Narrator lost her voice AND the jail for Joseph broke and almost hurt everyone on stage during a performance. 

A couple months later, I was co-directing a show and an actor said it before a performance... I flipped out and made them step outside, spit on the ground, and spin around three times. (That's how it goes away.) Because.... NOPE. 

5. What color represents you?

Pink!

6. What is your favorite myth?

Ooooooooo. Good question! I've actually always been fascinated by Greek Mythology. 

7. If you could perform one act in a circus, what act would you perform? 

I always felt like the tightrope walkers were so pretty and graceful!

8. Who is your current favorite fictional character?

Just ONE?????? Well, you know, Harry Potter, obviously. But of all time other than him, I think Snow White. It's my favorite Disney princess and my favorite fairy tale ever since I was two. So, we'll go with her.

9. Stealing this from Joie... What Pokémon are you?

Sigh... I'm a failure at my generation because I know nothing about Pokemon. Seriously, all I know is "I choose you Pikachu!" 

Seriously. That's it. So... Pikachu?

10. If you could bend one element (air, earth, water, fire, energy), which would you bend?

And another thing I don't know much about! :-( But the idea of bending energy sounds awesome.

11. What is your favorite moment, so far, from this year?

Oooooo. That's an AWESOME question!

The first thought that came to my mind was New Years Eve. I went to a Frozen themed party in Boystown and it was one of the best New Years Eve celebrations I've ever been to. Seriously, you haven't lived until you've belted Let it Go with an entire gay bar. 

I also FINALLY saw the musical Once at the Oriental downtown a couple of weeks ago and it was just so perfect and lovely... I wish I could watch it every single day. 

Now for MY questions:

1.  What TV show are you LOVING to binge watch right now?

2. Tell me about your dream home.

3. What's the best book you've read so far this year?

4. If you could run away and live in another country for a year, where would you go? Even name the exact city if you know!

5. I'm hungry. If I'm coming over to your place for lunch, what are we going to have?

6. Tell me about, or show me, your favorite photo you've taken so far this year and why it's your favorite.

7. What was your favorite part of summer when you were a kid?

8. If you could live inside of a movie, which one would it be?

9. What vacation do you wish you could repeat?

10. We complain about blogging a lot - what do you still LOVE about?

11. And I'm stealing from Angie because this question was just so good- what has been your favorite moment this year so far?

Okay, time to nominate other people!

Okay, I'm just going to nominate some of my favorites - if you want to participate in pretending it's the early blogging days, that's awesome. If not, that's cool too cause I know several of my nominees probably have their whole blogging schedule down and know what they're doing. lol

Michelle from Wide Open Spaces

Brittany from Pines and Palmettos

Karina from Lazy Happy Bored Happy Sad

Sandy from Just Sandy

Amanda from Musical Poem

Amber from Mr. Thomas and Me

Kirsti from A Quick Succession of Busy Nothings

Jessica from A Coccoon of Books

Nadine from East &

Dayna from Princess Burlap

Bonnie from The Life of Bon

12 Lessons I've Learned From Disney

So.... over the weekend a friend of mine posted some not so nice things about Disney. Their feelings about Disney are not a shock to me. They've posted and ranted and raved about Disney many times in the past. Usually, I try to ignore these posts. This time though... it just hit me the wrong way and I cannot stay silent any longer.

I won't quote their entire post in here. Basically, they said they hate Disney, they are evil, brainwash children, the films aren't good, they have no integrity, blah blah blah. 

It's not a secret I love Disney. I completely adore Disney and sing the songs on a regular basis and I'm pretty sure I'm going to go watch Frozen later today or at some point this week because there's snow everywhere and just... I have to.

I won't deny Disney has it's flaws. There's lack of diversity (which they are slllllooooowwwwwlllly working on and there's more diversity than people realize), the whole "let's marry a man we just met!" thing, characters who don't look realistic, etc. 

I mean... I can't tell you how many times I tried to do this in the swimming pool in the summer and my hair never did the cool flippy thing like Ariel's.

CLEARLY DISNEY YOU GAVE ME UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS ABOUT HAIR AND NOW I AM SCARED FOR LIFE AND BRAINWASHED HAVE A BAD IMAGE OF MY BODY BECAUSE OF THIS OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

...

...

...

Really? It's a cartoon. Life will never be like cartoons and photo-shopped super models and actresses and musicians and other forms of media are more than likely have more of an impact on our negative than you know... A CARTOON. Can we all just agree on this? Okay, cool. Moving on.

Therefore, in defense of my beloved Disney, I'm going to share with you the top 12 lessons (in no particular order) their movies have taught me. Also - an excuse to use a million Disney GIFs is always good in my book.

1) If you meet a man whom everyone swoons over, but he thinks girls shouldn't read or think, you should run far far away as fast as you possibly can.

2) Disney learns from their mistakes and are adjusting their stories to fit our culture more and to promote positive life choices. Such as not marrying a man you just met.

3) Not everyone is perfect. We make bad choices and have issues and have troubles we need to get through. But we can still have love and fight through them.

 4) Friendship is beautiful.

5) We need to look past our differences and learn to make peace. Even when everyone seems to be against us.

6) Sometimes, the relationships which are the most destructive are the ones which are the hardest to break from - but you DO have strength and you CAN stand up for yourself.

7) Love sometimes means sacrificing yourself.

8) #likeagirl

9) It's when we are truly ourselves we can love others and be loved back.

10) The past hurts, but we can't let it define us. Instead, learn from our mistakes and do something about it.

11) Never stop dreaming - but that doesn't mean we just sit around and wait for it to happen.

12) There is no perfect family. Some families are big, some small, some have both parents, some one, some none, some several, but they're still beautiful.

Also, I love this set of images I found on Pinterest. 

 

 And if you don't like Disney and think less of me because I love them... your loss.

I am a princess. Long may I reign.

What have you learned from Disney? Who is your favorite character? Favorite movie? Quote? Share your Disney love!

Proud of Your Boy

It's Music Monday!

So, I was going to share my favorite Christmas songs each week through December because there are just so many that I love. However... last night my pretend celebrity husband, Darren Criss, sang on the 20 Years of Disney on Broadway, and it was fantastic.

He sang "Proud of Your Boy" from Aladdin and it was so good! I'm obsessed! It's such a great song and I feel like he did a wonderful job. It's a perfect fit for his voice.

Besides... Darren Criss hasn't popped up on here in awhile and I feel like it wouldn't be me if he wasn't here today.

What music have you been listening to lately?

Also, I know I haven't been posting on here lately, but I have been doing Vlogmas on YouTube every single day. So, if you want to see what I've been up to and what I've been thinking about click here and you can watch the playlist of videos I've been working on this month.

Disney Music Monday

It's Music Monday again!

Since I'm a terrible blogger - I didn't get this up last week. It was Labor Day... so it's okay... right? No? Darn.

Anyways, since I missed last week I'll do the monthly theme today. Disney music!

I know everyone is probably sick and tired of Frozen and the song "Let it Go." We've heard it a million times and it's overdone. I get it. But guys... I just can't get enough! I still love it! Especially when one of my favorite youtubers did a cover of the song not long ago. She has a fantastic voice and I'm totally in love with her cover of the song!

Also- I still say this song is the theme of my life at the moment. 

What Disney songs can't you get enough of? Or what are you listening to at the moment? Link up and let me know!

Fantasy Novels 101

I love the fantasy genre of fiction. I love being able to be taken to another world where anything can happen. I feel like sometimes fantasy gets a bad reputation for being just for kids or something because there's magic. I don't think that's the case. What's so awesome about fantasy is you can deal with real issues and problems and emotions but in this epic world and I think sometimes it helps us to learn even better than we would be able to reading "normal" fiction. It's a great way to portray people and situations and issues so we think about them in a different way.

And you know... dragons, fairies, and such are awesome.

If I met someone who had never read any fantasy novels ever and wanted a taste of what the genre is, these are ten books I would recommend. Think of this as Fantasy 101.

Peter Pan by JM Barrie

It's a classic and everyone knows the story and movies. But how many people have really read the book? Or maybe they've read it when they were a kid and it's been awhile. I'm all about going back to the original and seeing where it all started.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's (Philosopher's) Stone by JK Rowling

Because... obviously! I love Harry Potter, but this series has become a staple in the fantasy genre. In fact, it's opened the doors and influenced modern childrens/young adult/fantasy novels. Therefore, if you haven't read Harry Potter, you need to.

The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

Another classic - but one I truly feel like not many people have read. Let me tell you - IT IS WAY DIFFERENT THAN THE MOVIE! When you see movies like The Great and Powerful Oz, it's more based on/inspired by the books, not the movie from 1939 with Judy Garland. Trust me - there is a HUGE difference. Besides, this book was kind of like the Harry Potter of it's day. Everyone read and loved this book and all of the ones which followed. (Yes, it's a series.) This is a must if you want to see some of the roots of the fantasy genre.

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

Neil Gaiman is another staple for fantasy/science fiction. I hadn't read any of his books before and a friend told me this was a great introduction to his writing. It's fantastic! It's about this normal guy who falls into this other world under the streets of London.

The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien

The Hobbit is probably one of the best introductions to JRR Tolkien and Middle Earth. Let's be honest - The Lord of the Rings trilogy is kind of intimidating. The Hobbit though is much less so. I read it in 7th grade for a literature class and it definitely one of the books which made me want to read more Tolkien and other fantasy novels.

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle

I know, it's another children's book, and it could be taken as science fiction depending on how you define things. However, it's also another classic about time travel and space and going on great adventures. There's crazy creatures and planet hopping and other awesome things in it.

The Princess Bride by William Golden

No, it's not just a hilarious movie. It's a book too! If you love the movie, you need to read the book too.

The Works of the Brothers Grimm

Okay, you don't have to read every single one of their fairy tales. (There are a lot of them!) But you can find collections of these classic stories and I think they're fascinating. We all are familiar with fairy tales, but most of the time it's modern versions. Or even 1930s versions from Disney. Some of these aren't even the originals, but just the Grimm brothers version. But if you love fairy tales, you have to go back to the start and see where it all came from. Also, there are a ton of stories which aren't as famous which are still awesome!

The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis

Why are so many fantasy books written for children? I don't know! But honestly, just because it's technically a "childrens" book that doesn't mean adults don't love and appreciate them. If you go in chronological order for The Chronicles of Narnia, The Magician's Son is first. However, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe is the first one which was published and the most famous of the Chronicles. Yes, it's also Christian fantasy, but whether or not you are a Christian you'll still love this book. Who doesn't want to find a magical world while going through their closet?

Today I'm linking up with The Broke and Bookish for 10 on Tuesday where I recommend 10 books of a specific genre to someone who has not read any. You can link up by clicking here.

What books would you tell someone to read if they had never read any fantasy? Have you read any of the ones I mentioned?

5 Tear Jerking Movies

I tend to get pretty emotional when it comes to books, movies, and TV shows. While I know in my head the characters and stories aren't technically "real", for some reason my emotions don't agree. There's something strange about how I handle these emotions though.

I rarely ever actually cry.

I feel the emotion of crying. Or I'll come super super close to crying. But it's pretty rare when real tears come out of my eyes. I don't know why. I think there's probably something wrong with me because my heart could be breaking and I might feel as though I'll never be happy again. But no tears. It's strange, I know.

Many times I'll post on Facebook or Twitter or something that I'm crying during a TV show, movie, or book simply because it's easier to say that than "If I was capable of crying I would be right now." It's just too hard to explain without people thinking I'm a heartless cow. Because... I'm not. I'm super emotional when it comes to my fictional characters.

It has happened from time to time (like the finale of Boy Meets World or the memorial episode of Glee for Cory and when I read The Hunger Games Trilogy), and I have been more recently for some reason. (A side effect of getting older maybe?) Yet, real tears are still pretty rare.

So, when talking about books, movies, and TV shows which made me cry, I probably didn't actually cry. Just assume I'm feeling the same emotions as other "normal" emotional people when they read/watch these things.

In case you ever feel like sitting down to watch a movie and really want to be super sad and emotional and tear-eyed... here are some suggestions:

First- we all know you'll never be happy again during The Fault in Our Stars. I mean, my friend Laura went to see it and they were freaking handing out tissues at the theatre. We all know you'll bawl your eyes out during TFioS.

Moving on.

Because when you have the opportunity to use Dawson crying... you take it.

About Time

I don't know what it is about this movie, but when my friend Maria and I went to see it we were an emotional mess. She had legit tears running down her cheeks when we watched it. But I love this movie. Everything about it.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

I'm re-reading the Harry Potter series and I'm currently on Goblet of Fire, so it's on my mind. But seriously, I can't handle this ending. When I first read this book when I was in high school I remember sitting on my bed in shock because I couldn't comprehend what had just happened. I was SO SAD. You have to understand, when this series came out, GOF was the game changer. Which is why I chose this one over Deathly Hallows Part 2. Because... obviously that one you cry during that one.

Once you read the ending  of GOF you knew nothing was going to be the same at Hogwarts. No one had actually really died during the book before. Then watching the movie, it is so heart-wrenching to see Cedric's dad and Harry... UGH. It's so awful.

Les Miserables

I remember being in high school and my band director telling us that if you didn't cry at the end of the musical Les Miserables you didn't have a heart. Guys- it's so true. Heck, ever since I fell in love with the music when I was 17, I can barely listen to Do You Hear the People Sing? without wanting to bawl my eyes out. Part of it is because it's sad. (Hello! It's literally called "The Misery.") But also because the messages and themes are so powerful and at times even hopeful. You can totally be crying out of sadness and hope at the same time. It's awesome.

You know... cause apparently crying is awesome.

Saving Mr. Banks

You will never watch Mary Poppins the same way ever again after watching this movie. That's all I'm going to say about that.

Frozen

I know... I know... I'm one of the few people in the world who isn't sick and tired of this movie. But, I really do get emotional during Frozen. I love the dynamics between the sisters and the back story is so sad and with Elsa... I feel those feels. Even just listening to "Let it Go" I sometimes get misty eyed. Also, I watched this movie with my friend Maria again. I think there's something about us watching movies together which makes us both want to cry.

This is essentially Maria and I when we watch movies.

And as a special bonus movie in case you really want the tears to flow....

Lord of the Rings: Return of the King

This was the first movie I actually had real tears while sitting in the movie theater so I felt like it deserved a special shout out. The Lord of the Rings trilogy was a huge part of my high school experience. All of us would wait eagerly for the next movie to come out and we'd go multiple times and we were so attached to the characters and the story. Everything wrapping up in the last movie and all they had to go through... it really got to me.

So, confession time. What movies make you grab the tissue box?

Also, can we just take a moment to appreciate all of the fantastic crying GIFs Glee has given to the Internet?

Today's Blog Everyday in July Topic: 5 Tear-Jerking Movies. Link up here.

I'm also linking up with Mingle Monday!

What I Learned the Year I was 27

Birthdays.

Remember when you were a kid and your birthday was always so exciting because you were finally a year older and you got to have a party and lots of presents?

Yeah... those days are over.

It's not that I don't enjoy my birthday. It's just that whole getting older thing. I know 28 isn't old by any means. My head knows this. My logic knows this. But then there's the part of me who is freaking out and all "OMG I ONLY HAVE TWO YEARS UNTIL I'M 30! I HAVEN'T EVEN BACKPACKED THROUGH EUROPE OR GONE ON AN EPIC ROAD TRIP OR RANDOMLY MET A CELEBRITY OR ANYTHING PEOPLE IN THEIR 20s ARE SUPPOSED TO DO!"

No wonder my sister found my first "silver" hair last week.

Ugh.

Then I calm down (or my family and friends tranquilize me) and am reminded again that 30 isn't a scary age and 28 isn't old and I have my whole life to do things and learn and find myself. Also, last year on my birthday I was on a bus with 50 teenagers on the way back from Texas. This year my friends have helped me make plans to go to Dave and Busters tonight and I was able to meet up with some people for dinner and coffee through the week. So... not too shabby.

Looking back though, being 27 was interesting. I resigned from my job, traveled, moved to Chicago, got a brand new idea for a novel and have been working on that... so it's been a good year.

- While traveling in the deep south, picking up the accent is far easier than you'd think. Even if you are a native Chicagoan.

- Going to the courthouse which inspired LM Montgomery to write To Kill A Mockingbird and seeing a teenager walk into the world of her all time favorite book, and a jr. high boy see with his own eyes historic places of the civil rights movement and come to life for the first time, is an incredible experience.

- Love God. Love People. Do Stuff. -Bob Goff

- Choose your companions before you choose your roads. -Mark Burnett

- Nutella and banana crepes. You'll never be the same.

- Freshman girls can teach you more about beauty and self-esteem than you'd think.

- Why yes... I do still remember all of the colors of Joseph's coat and will never ever forget them. Ever.

- I used to not be a believer in theatre tabboos like saying the name of the Scottish play... until now. If you say the name I WILL HURT YOU.

- Having friends who are younger than you can actually be pretty amazing.

- It is entirely possible to survive being in an outdoor play when it's 20 outside. Not fun. But you'll survive.

- When celebrities are in town (like Neil Patrick Harris) to film a movie, go to Starbucks EVERY SINGLE DAY because the one day you don't go will be the day they are there.

- Having an awesome writing partner during NaNoWriMo makes all of the difference in the world.

- Buying a Tardis dress is always a good idea.

- Babies won't always cry when I hold them.

- When you are snowed in for a few days, get the idea to have a Harry Potter marathon on day one... not day three.

- Disney songs can totally define your life.

- It's okay to lock yourself up in your apartment and ugly cry all afternoon while watching the Glee episode to honor Cory.

- Even when leaving is the right choice, goodbyes really suck.

- Get the tattoo. In fact, get two.

- Get new tires on your car BEFORE the worst winter in the history of ever hits.

- A perk of working part-time is SO MUCH TIME TO READ.

- Preschool kids really do say the funniest things.

- When you say yes to one thing, that means you say goodbye to another. It's really hard.

- I'd probably die without my phone and social media to keep in touch with my Missouri friends.

- I need to learn how to live with other people again after being on my own for so long. Sharing the Netflix is hard yo!

- Being the sister of a bride means everything is about the wedding and nothing else. Ever. Also, weddings are hard.

- After some practice, driving around downtown Chicago isn't all that scary.

- When moving back after being gone for 5 1/2 years, your good friends are still there, but you still have to adjust to being in one anothers lives again.

- When even the guys at the Apple store think your iPad is possessed... it's time to get a new one.

- Visiting people after moving away six months ago is actually really fun.

- Not everyone is as judgy as you'd think when you're trying to figure life out.

- Neil Patrick Harris looks way better in a mini skirt and boots than I ever will.

- You don't always see what's coming next and everything might be cloudy... but it's okay.

What are some things you've learned this past year? How do you feel about getting older?

27 Secrets of Life

Cause who doesn't want some secrets about totally winning at life? Even if it is from someone who's entire life is still up in the air (Details, details...). This was a post idea from one of my favorites (The Life of Bon) and she's featuring some of the best ones on her blog on Monday. Since it's Friday afternoon - and who wants to think of a unique blog post on a Friday- I thought I'd jump on the bandwagon and join in. Bonnie did 26 secrets, but since I'm 27, I thought I would go with that number.

And yes... that is the same photo I posted of my new haircut a few days ago. I haven't had time to take more so... yeah. That's just how it goes. This secrets to life thing is going great so far isn't it?

1) Always have a book or two to read at a time, and don't let much time pass between books. In the book I'm currently reading (How I Paid for College) One of the characters talked about how this saved his life. While this is going to be a bit of an extreme- he had a great point. Always have a book. Always.

2) Speaking of books- be sure to always carry purses which can carry said books/whatever you read e-books on. Even better if it can hold both. It saves you a lot of trouble.

3) Be willing to go with changes. Whether it's changes in your life, technology, culture, etc. Change will happen and sometimes it's just better to go with it.

4) Keeping this in mind - don't forget the past either. Don't glorify it, but learn from it too. It's one of the lessons we learned from The Lion King.

5) Remember that purse which can hold a book/tablet/e-reader? Yeah, keep a notebook or journal in there too. I don't write in my journal as much as I'd like, but I try to have it with me as often as I can. Sometimes you need to jot down an idea or simply need to write about something you can't put on the internet.

6) It's okay to keep people as friends on Facebook. Even if you haven't talked to them in a long time. Especially if you're still on good terms. You never know when you'll need that connection again.

7) On the same note- there are also times when you need to let go of people.

8) Basically, have a good balance. Know when to keep a door open and when to close it.

9) You're never too old for Mac 'n Cheese.

10) Frozen meals in bags which you can cook on the skillet are amazing - especially if you are an awful cook like I am.

11) Get to know the workers at the places you frequent like restaurants, Starbucks, your favorite store, etc. Those people can make your day sometimes.

12) You don't need to step up to every argument you disagree with which comes your way. It's exhausting to always feel you have to defend your thoughts and beliefs.

13) This one technically isn't mine, but I think it's awesome anyways. "Preach the gospel always. Use words when necessary." - St. Francis

14) It's amazing what a new haircut can do for your mood.

15) People won't always remember what you say. But they will remember how you make them feel.

16) When a close friend has a birthday send them an actual text message or make a phone call if you can't see them in person. It's so much better than a generic Facebook wall post.

17) Sometimes, you just have to jump, even if you don't know what's at the bottom.

18) Accept who you are an own it.

19) But also don't always make the excuse "But that's just how I am" when you make a mistake. It doesn't give you an excuse to make poor choices and be a jerk.

20) When you mess up, own up to it. People tend to respect those who own their mistakes more than those who try to pretend they're perfect.

21) It's far less stressful to be early all of the time than late all of the time

22) It's not shallow if you want to feel pretty. You want to wear a cute outfit, do your hair, put on makeup, and get your nails done? Go for it!

23) But don't let looks control your life. It's a whole balancing act.

24) When you need to make a list, when you can divide a point into 2 points DO IT.

25) Create stuff. It can be writing, painting, sculpting, cooking, growing something, music, theatre - WHATEVER. Creativity is holy.

26) When you try to see the best in people, you might be more vulnerable, but you'll be more open and build strength along the way.

27) As Ellen says... be kind to one another.

What are some of your life secrets?

Why "Let It Go" is My Life Anthem

It's not a secret that I have become obsessed with the Disney movie Frozen. I've seen it three times now, and there's a possibility of my seeing it a fourth time this weekend. I just can't get enough of it. But you know, after all, I am a Disney character.

And yes, I'm going to reference that blog post as often as I can so Disney can notice and finally make a movie about me.

One of the main reasons I love Frozen, and I'm sure it's the same for so many other people, is the song "Let it Go."

This song has become my anthem. Whenever I'm driving around and it comes on my iPod I turn up the volume and belt, pretending that I'm Idina Menzel. Which happens often... I'm looking at you "Defying Gravity" (Wicked) and "Over the Moon" (Rent).

While, deep down, I really am like Anna. Younger sister, I would always bug my sister early on Saturday mornings to come out and play, I'm socially awkward, etc. there was still something that made me really connect to Elsa.

Elsa had this fantastic power, but it could be dangerous too. Growing up she always felt like she had to hide away and keep it in. She needed to control her power.

I've always felt like I needed to be perfect. I needed to be the good girl. Put on a smile and be strong. I don't think anyone ever pressured me to do so, it was something I did to myself. Then, when I was in college studying to be a youth minister and then going into youth ministry, I put even more pressure on myself to be this way. Be a good influence, don't mess up, have it together for the teenagers, have a smile and be confident for the parents, etc.

Now, these are all good things, and they are important. Especially when you are in charage of kids and teenagers and you need their parents to trust you. And you need them to trust you as well.

However, I also found myself not always being me. Not letting people see who I really was. Those who I knew for a long time and were close to me saw the real me - to an extent. But I still always felt like I had to be perfect. Especially when I was doubting if minstry was my real calling in life and after I had told my senior pastor I was leaving. For months I couldn't tell anyone what I was planning to do. I remember my last big trip, the National Youth Gathering, in July. There were so many emotions and thoughts going through my mind and I wanted to really treasure this last big event with the high school students, but I couldn't tell anyone about it.

But then, Elsa can let it go. When she runs away and leaves it behind, she can finally explore all that she can do. She doesn't have to be the perfect little girl anymore. She can be free to let everything out.

When I saw that scene in the movie, I instantly could relate. It was the last couple weeks of my days as a youth minister, and I could feel the relief Elsa had. I could finally let it go.

Granted, this was a pressure I put on myself for the most part. It wasn't like someone was telling me that I couldn't be me or my church was making me like this. So PLEASE don't take this as me blaming youth ministry or the church or anything. For some reason, I always felt as though I had to be this way. Sometimes, yes, there were moments when ministry and people in the Church (in general, not just the one I was working at) enforced this, but it really came from myself. There's something in me that has always wanted to be a people pleaser and not to disapoint everyone. Which can be a good thing, but also a bad thing.

But now, I feel like I can let it go like Elsa did. The past is behind me and I can only move forward. I'm finally giving myself permission to not worry about what other people think all of the time. I love the line of "It's funny how some distance makes everything seem small, and the fears that once controlled me don't get to me at all." Because it's true. It's funny how everything I was worried about before is gone and I don't think about those problems anymore. The only one whose opinion matters really is God's.

Then she sings "It's time to see what I can do, to test the limits and break through."

Now, I feel like I can really spread my wings. Take risks and chances I wouldn't have before. To really be a renissance woman and try everything. 

Also- I moved back to Chicago for the coldest winter ever. Such an Elsa thing to do, isnt it?

Source

And in case you want to sing along with me...

Are there any songs or characters that you've really connected with?