Happy Anniversary To Us Mickey

Ten years ago, today, I boarded a plane and began the adventure that would be my longest relationship to date. Both bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, terrified and completely scared, I began a voyage that has stayed with me until this very moment.

Today, ten years later, it must mean something that my love affair with the Walk Disney Company began on Valentine’s Day 2010. The truth is, I could have never imagined what I was to expect when my feet hit the floor in Toronto. I was leaving a comfortable life, with my friends, my school, my loving parents and my dog for something new, exciting and honestly, kind of scary. But what I knew to be facts, even at the ripe age of 22, was that opportunities don’t come often to little brown girls that look like me. I knew that the journey in front of me was so much bigger than what I was temporarily leaving behind. I owed it to my parents, who raised me to be fearless, to take the job. I owed it to those loved ones who had supported each of my endeavors to return the love by being exactly what they thought I could be. I owed it to my friends, who supported everything I did, to be the best at this new thing, whatever it was. But mostly, I owed it to myself. At 22 years old, I was sitting comfortably in a space that I could have existed forever, but was I living? Really living?

They say your life begins right outside of your comfort zone, and 10 years later, I can say that truer words have yet to be spoken…

All these years later, I look back at my Disney Cruise Line journey with nothing but a smile. Every single person I met over those two years has stuck with me in more ways than one. I love them. Not because I see them often, or at all really, but because they opened themselves up to the outspoken girl from SoCal and let me find myself amidst a pool full of flaws. They dealt with my attitude, my opinions, and sarcasm like champs. They literally held me up when I couldn’t swim (what a MESS). Cheered loudly for me and kept me laughing one even the rockiest of cruises. But more than anything, they walked into that experience with an open mind and an open heart and made an effort to be all in. And that is all you can really ask of anyone… to make a choice, commit and do it well. Know that each of you are WONDERFUL to me and I am thankful for the memories. Ten years feels like 100 years ago now, but how lucky we were, for just a little while, to ride the wave together. I am just as in awe of each of you now as I was 10 years ago, and I pray the world has been beautiful to you because each of you deserves nothing less.

Mickey Mouse, you have been the toughest and most rewarding relationship of my life. We have found ourselves at each other’s necks many times over the last ten years but somehow, someway we make it work. Our relationship is complicated to the outside eye, often making strangers feel as though we are working toward a rough end, but our way of doing things works for us.  You’ve have opened me up, shut me down, pushed me harder, nagged me, judged me, broke me down, cheered me on, and made me better each day. I am thankful for all that you have taught me and do not take it for granted, even in the roughest moments. Our things is our thing, and though most don’t always understand you just get it. You get that I am hard on others but even harder on myself. You understand that while I have never claimed to be the best, I will give 1000% to be the best I can for you.  You have taught me resilience, disappoint and failure are all things that can exist simultaneously, and together make you strong. You have seen me when I felt lost and gave me a space to dance, live and smile through it. You have opened doors for me that have filled me with a joy that even I cannot describe. And at the very least I am thankful. Indescribably, overwhelmingly, and forever grateful.

Here’s to our 10-year Anniversary, Disney. 10 years later and the light in my eyes has yet to dim. It flickers sometimes, because well, sometimes you’re doing the most lol; but I still love you! No one said relationships are easy, and they weren’t lying when it came to us, but thank you for sticking with it. You are sometimes both the obstacle and the light at the end of the tunnel, and for that, you have made me better. Thank you for making space for me and making sure that the warmth of your light never fails to keep me going.

I am my happiest, most grateful, free, open, most full out and best self in your light Disney, and that is why you are magic.

xx