Finding Dory is for 20-somethings. Have you not seen Finding Dory, yet? What’s wrong with you? It has been so long since I’ve seen Finding Nemo, I really didn’t know what to expect. I just remember that I liked Dory a lot and that Nemo was a fun time. I did not expect to be emotionally WRECKED in the movie. This may not be true for some but Finding Dory hit on some major nerves for me being a 20-something. I’m telling you this movie was made for us not people born in the 2000’s
1. Finding a home outside of home.
When we first met Dory she, by happenstance, had ran into a hopeless dad tried to find his lost son; a differently abled son might I add. The angst was high and so were the stakes. We ultimately know how the story ended. An amazing adventure ensues and the story ends with a happy ending. Part of that great story is how these strangers created this new family or home unit. As we venture off into faraway places in search of love and opportunity, we go through the blues of being an outsider. We have to decide when to conform and when not to. We monitor how we eat, how we walk, who we talk to and what we say to not call attention to our “different-ness” (yeah I did it). Dory, thanks to her short term memory, can’t take the time to recall how someone perceives her. Sometimes having a short term method of processing criticism can be beneficial to your mindset as you voyage into new territory. Be who you are or be like Dory. It’s a win-win. Accepting yourself and what you offer to a new environment is the first step to building your home away from home.
2. The idea of being damaged and figuring out ways to work through tough situations.
So many of us are right now in university or in a job or in a place in our lives where we constantly ask ourselves, “what’s wrong with me?” We can’t get the right grades, we can’t make enough money, we can’t travel enough, we’re not learning quick enough, we struggle with being differently capable, we’re not married, we don’t have kids, and we’re basically failures with degrees attached to our forehead. So, we make apologies for it. Little Dory please don’t apologize you make me sob. Just like Dory, we should just keep swimming and not focus on all the things we can’t do but pay particular attention to the things we do well in our own unique way.
3. Life is a little easier when you do it with people you care about.
Every exploration and journey has its own obstacles, triumphs, lulls, and peaks. The thing that really makes it interesting is the fact that you get to share these moments with people who are hopefully dear to you. I don’t think that the depiction of Dory would have been as successful as it was if it had not included the sidekicks she’s picked up over her lifetime. Her ride-or-dies are noteworthy and could make anyone envious; even “The Plastics” from Mean girls. Marlin, Nemo, Bailey, and Destiny are the best friends anyone could have. Sharing important steps in your life with people that support you, challenge you, and uplift you are exactly what you need to continue to grow as an individual.
Dory did it right. We should be like Dory!