Have you seen Pixar’s movie Finding Nemo? I will never forget seeing it for the first time on the big screen. I was immersed in the story between the beautiful colors of the ocean world and the theme on the bonds we create as humans…um, or as fish.
A good friend of mine has a Zoom background of the Finding Nemo attraction at EPCOT with the seagulls in the background who say, “Mine. Mine. Mine”. In the education space, we can sometimes feel alone or isolated. Too often, we don’t have the supplies or support we need, so we might become a little selfish. Get it? Self-FISH. But being like the seagulls all of the time, only focused on what is mine, does not help us to be successful.
I got to thinking about this movie and the motif of relationships expressed throughout. If we imagine our colleagues at work and our outside network of friends, we might see some similarities to the relationships expressed in Finding Nemo:
Marlin and Dory
This relationship is essential and often can be surprising because It has unconditional tendencies and blind trust:
- A true partnership
- Your biggest supporter
- Helps you to grow
Bruce, Anchor, and Chum
Their friendship emulates a support group but that does not mean they aren’t willing to find the joy in life. Similar to the sharks, this relationship is:
- A fun social group
- Not always stable or secure
- Encourages you to be better
Nemo and Wannahockaloogie
These are people or organizations brought into our lives to help us to learn or pivot at crucial moments in our lives:
- Provides a sense of belonging
- Creates nicknames and inside jokes
- Enhances your personal/professional growth
Even though it is fun to imagine our support group or relationships in life to the Pixar characters, the important thing is to remember you are never truly alone. My hope is that you can recognize not only the different kinds of positive relationships in your personal and professional life, but you can remember to lean on those relationships more often because a connection to community can help you to…
- SOLVE PROBLEMS
- LEARN FROM EACH OTHER
- CELEBRATE LIFE
So, when you feel like you are swimming upstream, remember your relationships and lean on the person or group that will support you the most.
See You Real Soon,
Erin