Disney’s Beauty and the Beast is a tale I have loved since I was a little girl. I could relate to Belle in ways that I couldn’t relate to the other princesses. People thought she was weird, she had brown hair, her mother was deceased, and she read a lot of books. She was my princess (P.S. This is why it should not have taken me as long as it did to understand why representation in media is so important. I’m sorry for that.)

The animated film and its live-action counterpart are beautiful to me. The animated version has sentimental value, the live action version has Audra McDonald. I realize the story on which this particular fairy tale is based is horrific and deals with some triggering issues, but I fell in love with the Disney version and that’s the one I’m sticking to. It taught me many things, so I’ll outline a few of them for today’s 10 things post.

1. It’s okay to be a bookworm. Even Disney Princesses are bookworms.

2. It is okay to stand your ground and be a little stubborn sometimes, even if it means you have to stand up to a real beast.

3. Sometimes, the most popular guy in town is a total jerk face. A tool. A butthead.

4. It’s okay if the whole town thinks you are weird. It means you stand out. Own it.

5. It’s okay to talk to yourself a little, but you should probably be worried when the furniture starts to answer you.

6. No matter how crazy your family is, there is always someone out there who is crazier (like a beast who talks to a candle, a clock, and a teapot for company).

7. There is nothing like having your own personal library.

8. You’re not always going to like what you see in the mirror, but you’ll always have the power to change it.

9. It’s really better to tidy up the whole house and put things away rather than to make one room (or wing) “forbidden” and try to hide the mess.

10. The more you love someone, the more attractive they become to you. 

I could have written a post like this for any and all of the Disney Princess line, but Belle holds a special place in my heart. Also, I’ve been incredibly busy lately and got sick to boot, so I wanted to focus on something light-hearted and fun. There’s nothing like a good story to make you feel better.