The Tale of Despereaux is an exciting and funny modern fairy tale about a little mouse that is different from other mice. His qualities play well into those essential qualities that I’ve identified that help keep us youthful, joyful, and more successful. (Warning: Contains movie spoilers. If you want to see the movie first you can do so now and then read about it later.) Here’s how Despereaux hits on the “Child at Heart” qualities:
1. Despereaux has an ACTIVE IMAGINATION and finds many creative ways to get out of his predicaments.
2. Despereaux’s actions provide us with LAUGHTER. In one favorite scene, his parents are worrying about his future and discussing it with the community leaders. Meanwhile, Despereaux simply takes the time to play and enjoy his life without care.
3. Despereaux lives for adventure experiencing many things for the FIRST TIME in world’s outside his comfort zone. He sets himself on a quest to save the princess as a gentleman without any experience ever doing that before. Despereux expresses full curiousity and desire to learn by actually reading a book he is supposed to eat.
4. Despereaux lives in the PRESENT moment…fully taking advantage of everything available to him. He values the people around him and desires to make quality friends and relationships.
5. Despereaux is always LOOKING UP. As a mouse he’s super short. His outlook and perspective on life is positive. He sees himself as part of a larger story…the bigger picture. He is not afraid to act out the part that he has been given.
6. Despereaux BELIEVES THE IMPOSSIBLE IS POSSIBLE. He doesn’t let anyone else crush his dreams of saving the princess…even though he is an unlikely hero. He is no where near what a typical knight in shining armor should actually look like.
7. Despereaux is DARING and brave. Despereaux’s parents and the entire mouse community try to get Despereaux to cower, be fearful, and to scurry away when danger is anywhere nearby. Despereaux refuses to fear. It just doesn’t bother him. This irony to this is funny to us but it is what often really happens in our lives. We learn to be afraid and to worry. We don’t start out that way as kids.
Despereaux is the consummate child at heart. In the end he is the hero and winner because he remains faithful to his childlike spirit in the face of all odds. See the movie. You won’t be disappointed.
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