"In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun." -- Mary Poppins

I wanted to do a whole post on Mary Poppins and how the movie influenced me. The movie came out when I was five. And, it was a Christmas present. I remember begging to see this movie. I also remember the big dollhouse in the little girls room. Even though I was five I recognized the struggles we were still all going through in 1964. The movie took place in 1910 in London. I saw there were different classes of characters, yet Mary was part of both. But, she was working with the upper class, she was friends with the chimney sweeper. There was household help. Which, at the time we still had, even though my mom didn't work. There is a scene where the father comes home from work and goes on about what is expected when the clock strikes 6:00pm. There is Women sufferage, where the wife is wearing a "Votes for Women"banner. There is nanny tending to the children, so she can go to Marches. Mary Poppins points out the beauty of a woman in the park (later when I watched the movie I realized it was the stairs of St. Paul's in London) simply feeding the birds and she looks miserable. But, then I remembered I have a bought a book at Thunderoad books in Spring Lake. It is by a comedic London actress Katy Brand. The name is Practically Perfect Life Lessons from Mary Poppins. So, I figured I would do a blog post before and after I read it. But, I did learn a lot from that movie and influence me a lot. Luckily, a few a years ago my dream of visiting London came true. As a mother, I feel I was influenced by Mary Poppins attitude. Because, she was what I would have liked my mom to be like. As, a woman I loved the women's rights part of it. But, being a mom and working full time was not as easy as Mary Poppins snapping her fingers and getting it all done, made it look. But, most of all what I took away from the story is you got to laugh to feel lighter, a spoonful sugar does make everything easier to take, and there were many images to make life lighter. Simple pleasures like a merry go round ride, going to the park, feeding the birds and flying a kite. This year I am actually making an effort to laugh more. I watch Saturday Night Live on Peacock when needed. Quote of the day: "Open different doors. You may find a you there that you never knew was yours." - Mary Poppins. "Anything can happen if you let it." - Mary Poppins. "What did I tell ya? There’s the whole world at your feet. And who gets to see it? But the birds, the stars and the chimney sweeps." Song of the Day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBo9hcyUSa4