The Disneyland Magic - interlude

Before I continue, let me just mention that I have often wondered about visiting Disneyland when I was younger - sure, I knew it was in another country, making it difficult to just do. I likewise knew that this was just another theme park, but I wonder if my looking at it as such was a way for me to compensate (psychologically) for the fact that I was not going to see it... after all, I grew up in a family background that - due to its situation, we were relatively living on a hand-to-mouth existence... maybe not poor, but definitely middle-income comes to mind, and definitely just looking at overseas trips as pipe dreams... specially since Disneyland was just in the United States. This is not a sob story - just a fact.

I also grew up with Disney movies being shown intermittently, and literally liked their products (movies), from Pinocchio, Peter Pan, Bambi, Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Mary Poppins... these were great movies, and I ended up imagining how these things were done. As I grew older, newer Disney films would come... and as I endeavored to gather a collection of Disney DVDs, I would have my kids watch them and relive the magic with them as well - in this way, I could ensure that they would appreciate the Disney films.

I would, of course, remove the yearnings to see Disneyland. After all, this posed no reality nor practicality to me. Even if I wanted to see Disneyland, I had to contend myself with the thought that the closest I would get so something like it was to go visit the Enchanted Kingdom over at Laguna. To even think of stepping into Disneyland was, well... something I had put out of my mind - simply for its sheer impracticality.

I even thought I outgrew Disney's magic. Oh, I marveled at Hook - a Spielberg live rendition of Peter Pan's story as a grown up... but this was not Disney. Yet in some Disney movies, when things went right... I would find myself teary-eyed, take Mulan's movie... I silently wept with joy when her father accepted her for what she was... as opposed to what society expected from her. The Lion King was closer to home, far as I was concerned - after all, it represented tradition, teachings and a loving relationship between a father and his son. Hercules was a dud - and I think Disney did not get this as well as it could have, but their Tarzan was great as well. Toy Story (1 and 2) raised the bar with computer animation, and ensured my continuing appreciation for what they do.

This Hong Kong Disneyland trip, I will have to admit, came as a surprise. But it was a welcome surprise. Thought I would not openly admit it, I wanted to see Disneyland - my inner child was excited... and I wonder if my kids know how lucky they are. I had to wait for more than four and a half decades of my life to pass before seeing Disneyland.

I mention this, so one can get a feel of what I was going through, as I entered the Disney resort. I was cool and calculating on the outside - but my inner child was excited to experience something four and a half decades in-waiting.




Now that you know... I continue my blog about our H.K. Disney experience.

My "inner child"

Its been said that everyone has an inner child within them. One has to wonder exactly what this means. Is having one a sign of immaturity? A lack of responsibility? Does this mean that anyone saying that they have an inner child is suffering from a case of split personality? are all these questions valid to begin with?

Do I admit to having an inner child? You bet I do. But what does this mean? The way I see it, I use the euphemism to refer to actions that I would do that are easily related to what a playful child would do. What do I mean? I learn to enjoy life - even life's simple items... after all, a child knows how to play and enjoy, so by my doing certain things that allow me to enjoy myself, I am actually letting my inner child out to "play".

As of this writing, I'm a 45 year old husband and father of two, a facilitator/I.T. consultant, a Toastmaster, a Leadership trainer, a coach to some. That sounds like anyone who happens to have built their reputation, and enjoys the trust and respect of plenty. Its my professional face.

But friends likewise know me as a role player - a game player... one that many people of younger ages tend to enjoy. If this is a doubtful consideration, the fact that many of my gamer friends (and myself included) find it hard to schedule a new game, due to the realization that we've not enough time to spare for this particular activity. Yet should we find the time, I'm sure we would either try a start game or just hang around and discuss - relive those heydays of memorable games we had the opportunity to share with each other.

Another 'child-like' activity I still do is reading comics - again, something that young teens would normally enjoy - which is about the time I got into such hobby (reading and collecting) and have yet to let go of... that is, if I'm planning to let it go to begin with.

But my inner-child attitude does not end there. I like playing pranks with my kids, my wife, my friends and yes, even my professional colleagues - harmless but enjoyable pranks like getting a colleague's company ID so I can attach it to the room's sprinkler system - thus hiding it 'in plain sight', letting a family pet dog lick my face (and letting it actually remove excessive oil from my face) then kissing my wife - who earlier obviously reacted negatively to the dog licking me... thus in the process, actually letting my dog-licked face touch hers.

The pranks or actions are numerous... and they help give spice to an otherwise droll life. It may also be the reason for me to looks slightly younger than my age (when compared to other colleagues of like age range), and it could also be a reason for me to have a relatively low stress lifestyle.

My inner-child appreciates the natural environment, and if I could run, skip and jump, I might probably just do that at times - alas, my body complains at times with these sudden urges to do such activities, and I do need more exercise... and my inner-child tells me when I need to relax because I'm too serious - so I tend to crack jokes when a colleague, upon asking a question, seems too serious. To said colleague's benefit, she pauses for just a second, then proceeds to spank my shoulder - a sign that she appreciates the change of pace I just gave her.

If I can remember correctly, one book even ascribes a person's creative juices with their inner child. Do I think this true - heck, I have of late, been writing articles of the comics I like so much and have had the great opportunity to have these articles published in a well-known fan web site. So is it a creative endeavor that can be connected to said inner-child... I'd think so.

So here's a toast (a grown up tendency - and a Toastmaster's natural capability) to my inner-child. A definite part of me. I would even further posit this part to be the creative, fun-loving part of me... one that I would probably be considered as a Scrooge, should I not have had the opportunity to use.

Hmm... that may very well be another great example right there. Who's to say that the story of Scrooge was actually a story of rediscovery - where Mr. Scrooge, and old, sorry, creepy rich man, finally found (or I should say rediscovered) the spirit of giving gifts and the joy of Christmas - a child's favorite holiday, I must add.

I'm proud of my inner-child, i wish him more happiness, more enjoyment, more discoveries to find and look in awe - it prevents me from being too jaded in a very jaded world. It gives me reason to trust, to believe in Santa Clause (yes, I still do - though its more my becoming one, and my body sure seems to reciprocate with the idea), and the Tooth Fairy (too bad all my teeth are permanent) and yes - share these beliefs with my kids.

My inner-child allows me to relate with my kids. Now... I'm off to play. 'Til next time...