You're never too old for a Pixar movie!
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Over the weekend I saw Inside Out 2. You’re going to laugh when I say this, but when I first walked into the theater I was shocked at how many children were there. The theater was filled with parents who took their children to see it; and then there were myself and the other twenty-somethings trying to reconnect with our inner child.
I may not be a little kid anymore, but I will never outgrow the magic of a Disney movie (or at least I refuse to!).
Even though I am years away from Riley and her experience going through puberty, I can still relate to many of the emotions and scenes from the film. From Ennui taking over and leaving you with nothing to say to sending bad thoughts and memories to the back of your head to never knowing how soon nostalgia should be allowed to come in, this movie had at least one scene for everyone in the theater.
The first thing about Inside Out 2 that struck me was how big of a role Anxiety took in Riley’s life. Looking back at my middle school years, I don’t instantly come to the conclusion that I had my own anxiety. I don’t know if this is because it wasn’t there or because I didn’t have the right word to describe it. Being able to recognize these emotions not only help kids to identify their own feelings, but also develop empathy for the emotions others may be feeling. Whether it was an adult in my life or friends at school, I’m sure if I knew what anxiety was as a kid I would have been able to recognize it in others and better be able to be there for those feeling it.
On the other hand, it is perfectly plausible that Anxiety is a big role in Riley’s story because anxiety is a bigger driving factor in today's world for everyone, even children. The world that I was a middle-schooler in is far different than the one kids today are being raised in.
When I was in middle school, the world was shifting onto Facebook and I remember creating my account and adding my friends on it. I have never used my Facebook more than in those middle school days and by the Facebook memories I get, I did not care who saw that page! Social media was like a glamorized group chat with a few family members hiding in a corner making sure you were being safe. Now, with algorithms pushing your content to anyone online and the pull of desire of wanting a video to go viral, children are caught in the public eye. The ability to connect with friends has been taken away by how big the internet has gotten and it may be the reason for anxiety taking such a big role in so many children's minds. There is no more speaking into a void, or speaking into an online forum for only your friends, instead your account is for anyone on the internet to see. Therefore, children have to move with not only the caution, but also the anxiety that anyone could be seeing what they are doing online. Even though the movie did not directly show Riley and her friends using their phones and apps, the emotions that come with being a kid of the world today seep into other parts of their lives.
Even though it is clearly tough to be a child with these pressures, Pixar did an amazing job of showing that emotions like Anxiety, Envy, and Embarrassment are in our heads for a reason. They keep us safe and forward-thinking, but they do not need to steer your emotions at all times. When there is harmony between all of our emotions is when we are able to be our best selves for our friends, families, and anyone coming into our lives.
The Inside Out movies are also a great reminder that any big emotions can be worked through. Both movies' storylines follow a time in Riley’s life where her emotions are all over and her head feels like chaos. However, by the end she, and the emotions in her head, are able to find a new way of working through her feelings.
Being in my 20’s in the last decade I have moved away to college, learned to live on my own, and had many other milestones. With each milestone has come a period of adjusting to my new way of life. In those times, my emotions had to feel out the big–and often exciting–moments that I was experiencing. As amazing as it was to be in college and meeting new friends, I had moments where I missed my mom at home. Much like Riley, I have morphed memories that are simultaneously happy and sad and anxious all at once.
So even in moments of our big emotions, Inside Out 2 has once again reminded us that feelings are okay! Emotions are something we all have and every emotion is trying to help us in their own special and unique way.
All of this is to say, go check out Inside Out 2! I promise you’ll leave feeling a little bit more gentle with yourself.
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