Without Disney I wouldn't have had a childhood. Whether it was the characters, the songs or the storylines, Disney was my obsession. I loved and I still love everything about Disney. It's become a way of life, and I'm not even slightly ashamed of it. Disney flawlessly demonstrates imagination, love, family, hope and so many other ideas that are crucial to growing up. While I have continued to grow up and have drawn lessons from other places in my life I'll never forget the ones I learned from the Disney movies. These aren't that eventually there is a prince and a happily ever after. I've seen enough of the world to know that's not always how it works. Even the newer ones have taught me something about my life.

Determination is all you need to achieve your dreams.

Fight for love, but especially for family.

Always be yourself.

Step outside of your comfort zone.

Friends are life's greatest adventure.

It's OK to feel your feelings.

Failure is an opportunity to learn and keep moving forward.

No one can ever take away your dream.

True friends are always there when it counts.

It's what's inside that matters.

Work hard for what you want.

Don't be afraid to face your fears.

Just keep swimming.

Positive thinking pays off.

There are so many more lessons that Disney has taught me and will continue to teach me. If there is one thing I believe in it's the power of Disney magic.