The Secret Ingredient of My Secret Ingredient Soup - The open secrets of Kungfu Panda

So here I am, a mother, and my screen time - for the most part of the day revolves around cartoons and animations - and I suddenly realise that they have so much to offer (not all cartoons though), but it’s amazing how many lessons one learns from these things.

We’ve watched Kungfu Panda how many times I really can’t remember, but A LOT!, and then this morning, it all hits me.

A lot of us are like Po -waiting and believing in someone to change us from the ugly, or unsuccessful or lowlife that we think we are.

Some of us are like the Furious 5, more specifically like Tigress – we’re too proud of our achievements in life and the privileged positions we occupy. We come from good stock, have attended Ivy League schools, have various educational qualifications from all around the world, and we look down on others who don’t match up to us (or we think don’t match up to us).

Now, while Po may have been that regular kid on the corner with no special privileges, no ivy league education, and no heroic or exceptional endeavours; he had a dream, an all-consuming passion for Kungfu, which saw him studying and reading up about it, even though he couldn’t even throw a punch to save his life. (Remember how he knew about all the battles the Furious 5 had fought, all the great Kungfu warriors and their histories), and something else he didn’t know about – his destiny as the Dragon Warrior.

In a way, perhaps his theoretical knowledge helped him in his mastery of the martial art. However, we must also remember that though his fate as the Dragon Warrior had already been decided, he still had to be trained for that purpose.

So sure, it has been prophesied that you will be world’s greatest artist, doctor, writer, or whatever great role has been ordained for you, but you WILL have to work towards it, then you will appreciate the true value of who you are, and you can believe in yourself.

Which brings me to the Secret Ingredient of My Secret Ingredient Soup. No matter what you do in life, believe that it is a special addition to the balance of the world…that in your own little way, you matter, and what you are doing matters. That is the only way you will find satisfaction, otherwise you will always be chasing what you think is the next best thing. This same philosophy applies to relationships and marriage. If you don’t believe your marriage or friendship is special, you will never feel complete in it, and you will never be happy in it too.

If you’re a janitor, sweeping and cleaning office buildings, schools, etc, every touch of your broom, or duster is magical. You’re creating the perfect environment for these people to thrive and work, so that they can achieve optimum results, which will in turn have an effect on the economy, and the society at large which in another way, still comes back to affect you. (This is just one example of many, apply it to any thing you do).

You’re not just ‘a big fat panda, you’re ‘THE big fat panda’. You’re not just ‘a writing on the wall’, you’re ‘THE writing on the wall,’ the one everyone stops to look at and read.

God bless you!!!