I got one of my life mottos from an unassuming Disney animated movie called ‘Meet the Robinsons’.
It is the story of an orphan named Lewis, determined to become a scientist so he can build a time machine to go back in time and find his birth mother. Things, however, take a turn when he meets a young man named Wilburn during a science fair. Wilburn is from the future and wants to take Lewis there to fix something important. Lewis ended up meeting Wilburn’s peculiar family in the future: The Robinsons. He then makes the interesting discovery that Wilburn is his son from the future. He also comes across one of his former roommates from the orphanage, who blames Lewis for ruining his life. This roommate has carried so much bitterness and resentment that his only goal in life is to destroy Lewis.
Lewis confronted his former roommates and told them he had ruined his own life by dwelling on the past, and that he would have been better off if he had kept moving forward. Lewis realised that this is the best way to see things: letting go and moving on. The movie ends with a quote from Walt Disney. The lesson ‘Keep moving forward’ was taken from the quote. The end credits song by Rob Thomas starts with the lyrics ‘let it go’.
I think this movie is one of the most underrated Disney movies ever. I recommend watching it. My sister initially watched it with my young nephew and kept telling him to watch it. When I did, I was so moved by it that I cried at the end. The lesson was so simple yet very true, especially for me.
I decided to make ‘Keep moving forward’ one of my life’s mottoes.
I am really good at dwelling on the past, especially the setbacks and the many times I failed. Those moments when I take one step forward, and it feels like I’ve taken five steps back, tend to haunt me the most. I carry the guilt of what I should have done or could have done. At times, it feels like my setbacks multiply and my progress slows. It is particularly during these times that I have to re-motivate myself with this life motto.
Over the years, I have started reframing the narratives of my hard times. Before, I used to see myself as a victim, an unlucky individual who was just destined to encounter one hurt after another. I was very negative and complained a lot. I now see my life very differently. Life has ups and downs, and there are many things we cannot control.
It’s hard, but it is more beneficial to see setbacks as lessons that help me grow. Moving forward is a way to hope for better times ahead. The past is the past. It’s gone already. I cannot change it. What has happened, happened, and there is no going back.
I can only accept it and grow from it. There is a time to grieve, but then you have to do the work to heal and move on. I am still healing from past traumas, and it is a long journey. But I am learning to let go a little bit more every day.
The future is uncertain. I have no idea what is going to happen. But I want to be hopeful that I will touch my dreams. But there is no need to think too far ahead, especially not to worry about it. Although it is normal to be anxious about it.
The best way to embrace it is to prepare for it now. The present is where we ought to be truly. We need to be actively present: live our lives while we are in them. Being grateful for it.
For me, the constant act of moving forward is a great way to deal with life’s plot twists.
It is an invitation to keep breathing in the chaos. It is continuing to swim because, somehow, you will get to the shore. It is the possibility that something will happen as you keep engaging. It will lead me to new paths and new opportunities.
I invite you to do the same…Keep moving forward.
