The Wizard of Oz

Title: The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Director: Victor Fleming
Starring: Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Jack Haley
Rank: 10

A Brain. Heart. Courage. A place to call home. These are the things coveted by the four yellow-brick-road-trekkers in The Wizard of Oz. Being smart, being a good person, having courage, and having people who love us are common human desires that most of us have. What we often don't realize, like the four characters, is that we already possess these traits inside of us, waiting to flourish.

The Scarecrow wants a brain. There are not very many people in the world who wouldn't want to be smarter. More often than not, it is a matter of applying oneself. If we didn't have brains, we wouldn't be breathing. Like any muscle, the brain needs exercise or it becomes flabby and weak. The more we use our minds, the stronger it becomes.

The Tin Man wants a heart. Deep down, I believe people want to be good. We all want to make a difference in the world, and leave something positive that future generations will remember us by. A good example of this is the situation in Haiti right now- there are people in need, and because of the dire situation, there are thousands of people who are reaching out to help those less fortunate than them. Whether it is by donating time, money, or blood, each little bit helps. (I myself tried to donate blood, but the Red Cross had to deny my donation due to the cancer and chemotherapy I had as a child. I was able to donate a little bit financially, though.) We all want to help others when they are in need, we all have a heart.

The Lion wanted courage. Life isn't easy, and often we have to do things that seem uncertain, and it takes a bit of courage to get by sometimes. People who are brave have the admiration and respect of others, two things that everyone would love to have. Being a valiant person doesn't mean looking for trouble, but facing it strongly when it comes.

Dorothy wanted a way home. What she is really looking for is familial love. No matter how far we may travel or how successful we may become, we still want the love of family and friends and the comfort of a place to call home.

What the four characters don't realize is that they had the things they wanted from the beginning, all it took was a little encouragement from the wizard for them to see that they were who they wanted to be. There is amazing potential in all of us, we just have to learn to tap in to it. So much easier to say than to do, but still entirely possible. People are astonishing creatures. As cliché as this may sound, we are all special. Each of us is a unique individual, and we all have our own interests, passions, and talents. People often don't realize how much potential they truly have, all it takes is a little belief in oneself.

When you put your mind to it, there isn't anything that you cannot do. We all have brains, heart, courage, and loved ones who support us. I firmly believe that the only limits we have are the ones we give ourselves.

Just because I think they are so pretty, I'm sharing with you a picture of the Ruby Slippers.


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