It’s A Small World Revisited 🎶

Disclaimer: I apologize for the earworm you may endure as a result of this blog post. Proceed with caution. 😉

Have you ever met someone and been pleasantly surprised to discover an unlikely connection between the two of you? It could have been due to a mutual acquaintance (How do you know so-and-so?). Or someone seeing your maiden name on Facebook and realizing you were friends at summer camp years ago? Or you may notice someone in line at Disney World wearing a t-shirt in support of your favorite football team. For those of us who love the Philadelphia Eagles, a simple “Go Birds!” shout across the crowd can turn into an entire conversation. And what do you say when you have these encounters? Wow! Small world!

This has happened to me on several random occasions, like:

• The woman I started physical therapy with who belongs to my synagogue. (In Judaism, we refer to this “Jewish geography.”)
• Someone in my writing workshop who also has a close family member with Parkinson’s Disease.
• The experienced traveler sitting next to me on a long flight offering words of reassurance because I hate turbulence.
• A stranger who approaches me in the mall, introduces herself, and reminds me that we briefly met at a networking event.
• The frustrated lady at the DMV who I decided to strike up a conversation with because I forgot to bring a book with me. I needed a way to pass the time and she was equally annoyed because no one knows WTH they are doing in that place!  🤬

Sorry…I digress.

The beauty of these encounters is that you meet all kinds of people from different backgrounds and cultures. Nowadays, there are people who appear to be afraid of these interactions. Many leaders in our current administration want to push people away instead of welcoming them and their differences with open arms. With all of the political strife happening in the world today, I crave the kindness of strangers and their willingness to share their stories.

As some of you may know, my favorite ride at Disney World as a kid was “It’s a Small World .” When I was little, I loved cruising through scenic rooms and watching the dancing dolls dressed in traditional costumes sing the same iconic song. I drove my family crazy asking to ride it over and over again. This past May, I boarded the boat and enjoyed the same ride, but secretly wished the rooms weren’t so segregated. Each one represents different continents and the animatronic animals and landmarks that are found there. But how nice would it be to sail into a room that celebrates all of the world’s diversity?

As far as I know, Disney has no current plans (or desire) to update the ride in this way, and that’s okay because they did something even more magical instead.

It was recently announced that the ride’s finale would play a new verse of the song. The son of the original songwriter, Richard Sherman, said the new verse is “intended to celebrate that there’s more that unites us than divides us.” To me, including this beautiful verse serves as a reminder that music is a universal language that can evoke the connection we may be seeking.

Here are the words in the final verse. Feel free to sing along with me.

Mother Earth unites us in heart and mind
And the love we give makes us humankind
Through our vast, wondrous land
When we stand hand in hand
It’s a small world after all.

XO,
Elisa