A.D.D., or what I learned from Tigger

So this is my first post. Everyday we are influenced by myriad role models, in both positive and negative ways. I decided my blog is going to incorporate television shows, movies, and real people, all as various role models. Today, I am going to review the Tigger Movie, an animated comedy drama film for all ages. My favorite character from the Hundred Acre Wood, in this movie Tigger is on the search for others like him, yet to be discovered family members. Even after 11 years, this movie still resonates with me, in a new way every time I see it (every 4 or 5 months haha). At the beginning of the movie, Tigger starts to feel pangs of loneliness and neglect. His friends become irritated with him due to his clumsiness and altogether youthful vibrancy, especially Rabbit and Gopher, who tend to be grumpy in general. Roo, Kanga's young son, considers Tigger an older brother figure and holds him very close in his heart, yet the bouncy tiger does not recognize this until much later on. Owl explains to them that in order to not be alone anymore, one must find their family tree. They take this literally and Tigger writes a letter to his family, but there is never a response. He gets more depressed as the days go on, so to cheer him up, Roo decides to make all the Hundred Acre Wood characters write a letter back from Tigger's "family" and dress up like other Tiggers. However, Tigger realizes what's going on eventually and runs off in the middle of a snowstorm in a bout of anger, feeling that his friends thought his whole struggle was one big joke. He leaves them with a TTFE, "Ta ta FOREVER". All his friends feel terrible and come looking for him, and in the midst of an avalanche, Tigger realizes how much they care about him, and everyone ends up safe through teamwork. Christopher Robin explains to Tigger and the rest of the group that his family based upon blood relations but friendship and who cares about him the most. Tigger realizes that his friends are his family, a very sentimental moment, and all's well that ends well.
Okay, yes, this can seem cheesy, but how many times have you had fights with your family? I know I have fights with mine all the time, much more than how much I fight with my best friends. I am closer with my best friend than my parents, and even though many people have very different relationships with their families, friends really do have the ability to make you who you are. This movie really did teach impressionable young me that friends are an important part of your life, and should never be taken for granted. It takes Tigger a near death experience with him and his friends to realize this. Luckily that's never happened between me and my own friends, but it does represent the fact that you have to go through tough times with your best friends to get closer with them. This movie had a great message for children and adults alike, that you're never alone, whether you have family or not, as long as you have people that care about. Yes, it's corny, but it's true. It also has a terrific soundtrack, including "The Tigger Song," but my main point of this blog post is that, besides the fact that Tigger is an OG with a hell of a lot of bounce, he represents the fact that you create your own reality. Yes, he does not know any of his blood relatives, or even if he has any, yet he chooses to live his life happily and not to dwell on what he doesn't have, but concentrate on what he does. I think life and living well is about thinking positively, and Tigger taught me as a kid just that. He also had fantastic stripes.