Finding Magic in the Everyday with Mary Poppins (1964)

We’ve recently celebrated the most wonderful time of the year. Cheery faces, infectious music, and good will wafting through the air as strongly as the scent of freshly baked pies. Then a week or so later, it hits — we’re back to reality. Suddenly, the magic is gone.

But…does it have to be this way?

Walt Disney was a believer in magic – he practically pioneered it and made it his mission to share it with the world; however, his brand of magic couldn’t be found in a bottle or contained within a wand.

It is found by looking within.

Walt Disney’s Mary Poppins (1964) tells the story of a magical nanny (Julie Andrews) who restores love and happiness to a family who desperately need it. But, she does even more than that.

She breathes new life into every soul living inside the Banks’ home, from the preoccupied patriarch (David Tomlinson) to the crusty cook (Reta Shaw).

Feeling the need to recapture magic in my everyday life, I was reminded of the timeless wisdom in this masterpiece. I invite you to take a look with me at the fantastic happenings on 17 Cherry Tree Lane and revisit the beloved characters once again.

As you ready yourself to shake hands with a sweep (and be the recipient of good luck), here are 4 ways to reignite the magic with Mary Poppins.

1. Seek Out the Fun in Everything

This one hits home for me.

I detest household chores. As a creative person (who can think of 1,000 other things I would rather do…) it feels like a tragic waste of time to have to clean, do laundry, etc.

But, I know that accomplishing those necessary, albeit boring tasks helps me gain more discipline, more efficiency, and the end result is a clear mind, contentment, and a healthy environment. All of which will benefit and foster creativity.

Mary Poppins teaches the children that if they can find a little fun in their task, it won’t be a job anymore; it turns into a “lark, a spree.”

In short, it’s all about perspective.

I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “If you dont like it, change it. If you cant change it, change the way you think about it.”

Whether it’s singing while completing a mundane chore, listening to a podcast while doing a workout, or simply thinking of the rewards that await when the task is complete, there is always something to hold onto while that (wretched) medicine goes down.

It’s our job to find it.

2. Indulge in Laughter & Nonsense

One of the perks of having a magical nanny is the fantastical adventures lying around every corner. Like popping into chalk picture drawings, having tea parties on the ceiling, and moonlit continentals across the smoky rooftops of London.

In addition to her ability to entertain, Mary Poppins possesses an astonishing vocabulary. She teaches Jane and Michael the biggest word they’ve ever heard. You’ve guessed it! Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.

In a pivotal scene in the film, we realize just how important this word is to the future of the Banks family.

Mary Poppins placed this word where it needed to be – in the minds of the children – so they could pass it on to those who needed it even more than they did.

Let’s face it. As humans, our lives can get hectic and stressful. We’ve got work commitments, health to maintain, relationships to foster, pets to care for, children to nurture, and a mile long to-do list.

Letting ourselves go and indulging in nonsense goes a long way in balancing out our responsibilities, reminding us not to take life too seriously. And ironically, when all else fails, sometimes we find the best solution is to laugh – even at ourselves.

3. Invest in Something Bigger than Yourself

It’s no secret that Feed the Birds was Walt Disney’s favorite song.

This moving lullaby summed up his philosophy perfectly – give to make the world a better place. When we do this, it enriches our souls, gives our lives purpose, and fosters a legacy that will last long after we are gone.

4. Realize the Value in Little Things

When you hear stories of couples who have been married for many years, they often remark how it is the little things that they remember most fondly. It’s not the luxury vacation or the new car; it’s the cozy night in during a snowfall, or the surprise gesture that showed thought and care.

It’s easy to overlook these moments when we are living through them, but they are important and meaningful nonetheless.

Though a physically weightless object, Jane and Michael’s kite carries a great deal of narrative, symbolic, and emotional weight in the film. At the start it is the kite that blows away from them, causing Katie Nana to lose them in the park and quit her job. Then coming full circle, it is the kite that reunites the children with their parents.

To Mr. Banks the kite was a meaningless object, but when he realized how important it was to his children, that all changed. Together, with a little help from Mary Poppins and a new outlook on life, his mending of the kite restores his fractured family to happiness and wholeness.

“Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.”

Robert Brault

This post is written for The Great Muppet Guest Star Caper Blogathon hosted by two lovely ladies, Gill of Realweedgiemidget Reviews and Rebecca of Taking Up Room. Please visit their sites for more stars who graced the Muppet Show!