Get Lost!! Lessons on Navigating Life from Moana 2 … and The Buckeyes!!

With the College Football National Championship just behind us, you might expect me to write about my team, THE Ohio State Football Team, and their remarkable victory. However, as tempting as that may be, today’s focus will be elsewhere! Granted, it’s hard to resist sprinkling in a detail or two about the game, but the victory itself is something you can enjoy by watching it for yourself!

I recently took my kids to see *Moana 2*. I must admit, I loved the first film and was excited for the sequel. However, I approached it with realistic expectations, knowing that sequels often struggle to capture the magic of the original. As I left the theater, my initial thought was disappointment, particularly regarding the music. To this day, when I hear the words “you’re welcome,” I picture Maui singing his catchy song, yet his time around, I couldn’t recall a single song the next day, and I was left wanting more. Despite this, what truly resonated with me were the reflections on life that the film inspired. Even a day later, I’m still processing the multitude of powerful lessons woven throughout the story and know I will for days to come!

There is one quote in particular that struck a chord, words spoken by the character Matangi. She reminded Moana that “there is always another way, even if you have to get lost to find it.” Personally, getting lost is something I absolutely dread, and I’m grateful for modern technology that provides step-by-step directions. Yet, sometimes in life, getting lost is precisely what we need. It forces us to stop, catch our breath, and rethink our goals.

Long before the invention of cars, roads were designed for horses, and the planners were quite clever in their layout! By incorporating curves and bends, they ensured that horses never quite knew when they would reach their destination, compelling them to keep moving until instructed otherwise. While straight roads allow for quicker travel, speeding often causes us to miss the richness of our surroundings. The twists and turns of a winding road encourage us to appreciate the changing scenery, while the stops and starts prompt us to pause, reflect on our journey, and consider both where we’ve been and what we need to do to achieve our goals.

Similarly, while detours can be frustrating and time-consuming, they also offer opportunities to discover new places we might not have encountered otherwise. This serves as a profound metaphor for life: it is not, and never will be, solely about the destination. Let’s face it: the only true destination in life is death, and that’s not something I want to dwell on!

And so returning to The Buckeyes! Their ultimate destination was certainly reached last night, but that’s not my main focus. Somewhere along the way this season, the team faced a setback. The one game that is known as “The Game” for many ended in a loss, leading to calls for the firing of their coach. The disappointment etched on the faces of the players was palpable, and you could see the weight of the loss on each of their shoulders as they headed to the locker room. Their story could have ended there; it would have been easy to wallow in disappointment and give up. But they didn’t! By using that game as a moment to stop, regroup, and strategize for what came next, the team found an inspirational way forward. They refused to let that one loss define them or their season and with resilience, determination, and hard work, the rest is history!

Getting lost or reaching that point where we want to give up is no easy feat, and for many, it becomes their story. Yet, when we shift our perspective and recognize that perhaps getting lost is actually our greatest gift, we can reap the benefits as we chart a new course forward.

What will you choose? Will you stay lost, or will you seize the opportunity presented to you and run with it? I know what I choose!