Mary Poppins taught the Banks family so much, and there are so many lessons from Mary Poppins that everyone can learn. The character of Mary Poppins has a warm heart and a firm hand, which is perhaps why so many children have fallen in love with the book and the movie. I know I watched the movie over and over again when I was little. I wished Mary Poppins could be my nanny. However, she is a fictional character, which doesn’t mean there are not many lessons from Mary Poppins that people of all ages can learn.
One of the lessons from Mary Poppins that the Banks children were taught was that work can be fun. Work may have a negative connotation, but it doesn’t have to be a negative experience. It can be fun. As Mary Poppins skillfully taught, you can make any job more fun; you just need to change your perspective. If you are dreading an upcoming project at work or a school assignment, try to look at it as an opportunity to challenge yourself and learn.
“A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down” is perhaps one of the catchiest tunes in the Mary Poppins movie, and it is also very true in real life. Something sweet will always help you swallow a bitter pill. When you have to do something that you really don’t like doing, reward yourself at the end. For example, if you hate cleaning the house, go out to a nice dinner afterwards. You will have something to look forward to while you are scrubbing the bath tub.
Laughter is so important; it lightens your mood and lifts your spirits. Who could forget the scene where Burt, Uncle Albert, the Banks children, and Mary Poppins all end up on the ceiling due to their laughter? It truly lifted them up! To keep your spirits up, try to laugh every day.
In the movie, Mary Poppins exclaims, “I never explain anything.” This may seem like a bold statement, but it points out that you don’t have to explain yourself all the time. You don’t have to explain all of your decisions and why you like certain things and dislike others. You get to be who you are without always explaining yourself.
Mary Poppins is not the only person who is “practically perfect in every way.” Without even trying, you are also “practically perfect in every way.” Just by being yourself, you manage to be perfect. Everyone is unique, and everyone is perfect just as they are.
Mary Poppins’ carpet bag was a bottomless pit that contained everything a person could want. Its appearance would not suggest that it could hold a lamp, but it did! Judging things by their appearance is never a good idea. You don’t know what is really behind the person or the object in front of you.
As much as the children loved Mary Poppins and wanted her to stay, she couldn’t stay forever. She left when she was no longer needed. Nothing can stay permanent forever, and change can often bring about wonderful things. You just have to be willing to embrace it.
Mary Poppins may be a fictional character, but the lessons she teaches are very valuable for real life. They instil confidence and ability to face the world. What did you learn from Mary Poppins when you were young?