Wednesday, January 18, 2012

A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes

I love to learn from the lives of others.  It’s inspiring and gives hope that we too might achieve great things.

I recently read a biography about an inspiring man who was no stranger to dreaming big and achieving the impossible.  How to Be Like Walt: Capturing the Disney Magic Every Day of Your Life by Pat Williams and Jim Denney reinforces important life qualities Walt Disney maintained: honesty, enthusiasm, confidence, courage, and persistence.

Before Disney had an empire, he was often bankrupt, unable to finance projects, and literally eating cold beans from cans.  His first successful character, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, was taken, leaving his small studio to start again, from scratch.  When his cartoons and films became successful, Disney began plans for Disneyland.  His critics nicknamed the venture, “Disney’s Folly.”

I don’t need to tell you that Disney continued to dream BIG and achieve BIG anyway.

I found myself in tears reading about the death of Walt Disney.  After coming to “know” him, I literally felt the heavy loss of his optimism, tenacity, and creativity, which moved mountains and inspired so many.

Disney’s life and legacy left me wondering what else we could accomplish if we truly believed in ourselves and our dreams, instead of focusing on why they are too unrealistic.  What if we truly empowered those around us, instead of providing more reasons “why not”? 

Walt Disney’s life and achievements give us the answer.  Not even the sky is a limit!

1 comment:

  1. It is amazing how many families have benefited from his dreams. I remember watching his Sunday night movie with the whole family. And now, people from everywhere in the world can enjoy his dream. Thank goodness for his dreams and persistence.

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