Putting the Jung in The Jungle Book
Everything’s connected.
Disney released the classic animated movie "The Jungle Book" this week on DVD. Our kids are of course glued to it these past few days. Ethan in particular likes to stand to attention and shout out "Bagheerrrraaaaaaa" at the top of his lungs.
Anyway, it may not be common knowledge but Rudyard Kipling was the author of the original Jungle Book which is a collection of short stories, the first in the book being the story of Mowgli, a boy raised by wolves in the Jungle.
In my room growing up as a child I had the poem "IF" tacked to my notice board [LINK]. Kipling is also the author of said poem.
This poem is very accessible and made a great impression on me. I would read at least some part daily whilst going through school and it became almost an affirmation for me. My favourite piece of the poem is
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"
Now that I have children I find they learn so much not from what I tell them but from what I do. With Karen’s surgery approaching [LINK], how strange that Disney would release this movie at this time, that I would think of Kipling, and be reminded of that poem on the notice board and think of these words.
