Ain't MGM Grand?

Or

Frankly Speaking: Lessons I've learned through L.Frank
Baum, Author of The Wizard of OZ.

By Jennifer Tagle

So far, in 2007 (my year of overcoming adversity) I've learned more than I have in the past 34 years. It began by learning that I've always known how to get back to me; I just wasn't willing to do it. I now understand that willingness is everything and acceptance is half the battle.

I've learned the answer to the question that Dorothy innocently asked at the beginning of The Wizard of Oz... "A place where there isn't any trouble. Do you suppose there is such a place Toto?" If Toto had been a talking Dog with some "Dog Years" under his belt, he would have ended the movie right then and there. One bark for "yes", two barks for "no." Thank God Toto was not a talking Dog. He would have ruined everything for us.
Talk about overcoming adversity. Dorothy was, at the beginning of the story, bullied by the town bitch, ignored by her friends and family, victimized by a tornado, and truly abandoned by the life she once knew it. Without much choice in the matter, she started out on her journey. She had only one goal; find her way back home.
She found herself in unfamiliar territory, lost and alone, with no-one she knew, but her faithful Cairn Terrier. She woke from the wreckage of the storm only to find that she accidentally killed a witch she didn't even know. In doing so, she really pissed off the decommissioned witch's sinister sister. She truly felt bad for her accidental house dropping. It was, however something beyond her control, and something she could not change. She met a Good Witch, a rarity that gave her some advice on acceptance and willingness. Glenda told her, "It's always best to start at the beginning," She also advised her of the fact that she could not go back home the same way she came. Dorothy concurred.

Lesson # 1 "Try a different approach."

That brings me to one of my favorite words of wisdom from a dear new friend of mine. "If you want something you've never had, try doing something you've never done." Wise words; the opposite of the definition of insanity. That definition really annoys me today. It is so over used. In its definition; I find no solution. I find real solutions in doing something I've never done to get something I've never had.

Lesson #2 "Ask for Help."

Dorothy was, in the story, a reluctant hero. After realizing that she was somewhere over the rainbow, where at first she had romanticized that the grass must be greener, she found out that she was wrong. She was filled with bewilderment and overall confusion. I've been there, feeling terminally unique, surrounded by some really queer little admirers. Those munchkins, as it were in the story, began to sing her praises. She felt completely undeserving of their grandiose applause, praise and obligatory appreciation. She had done for them what they could not do for themselves and thus became their Higher Power of the Day. Dorothy wanted nothing more than to go back home to her comfort zone. Back home to her simple life in Kansas. That's all she wanted ~ her old life back. Luckily, she was a resourceful little girl and smart to boot. She was not too proud; she asked for help. Rhonda Byrne, the Author of The Secret, says in her book, "The healthy and strong individual is the one who asks for help when she needs it, whether she's got an abscess on her knee or in her soul."

Lesson #3 "Have Faith, for it is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not yet seen."

Dorothy had a plan you see, but she needed to ask someone that had some real answers. She just knew that finding the Great and Powerful Wizard was the perfect plan. She needed desperately to find a power greater than she was. She was certain of that, and he just had to be the one! Along the seemingly endless road paved with yellow bricks she did what most of us do along life's road. She recruited the help of some well intentioned strangers. The first had no brain. He didn't think he'd be any help at all. Dorothy wondered how a scarecrow could begin to think at all. She had instant faith in him; I mean none of the scarecrows she knew back home in Kansas could do that. She saw more potential in him than he could possibly see in himself. Like many of us, he was suffering from insecurity. He just didn't believe in himself at all. She thought he should come along with her. The Wizard could surely help both of them.

Lesson #4 "Be aware of your shortcomings."

Their next encounter was with a self-proclaimed heartless S.O.B. Like many of us, he was made only to be broken, abused, neglected, and abandoned. The Tin Man didn't have a visible heart. How could he? He was made by a metal bending iron-worker that just left him there to rust. Again, Dorothy and the Scarecrow saw in him something that he could not see for himself. He was loving and compassionate. Just being worried that he didn't have a heart proved that he indeed had one. Try telling that to him. He thought for sure he was heartless. In the words of Henry Ford, one of the greatest employers of steel and iron workers in America, "Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, either way; you're right." We aren't all "naturals". We aren't "all born with it." The Tin Man wanted desperately to have a heart. Whether he did have a heart or he didn't have a heart; he was somehow totally right. He also jumped at the chance to hit road with Dorothy and the Scarecrow. He too was in search of what he was sure he didn't have.

Lesson # 5 "Fear is not an option."

The third character was a real piece of work. The Cowardly Lion is my all time favorite character. I'm sure that's because I identify with him the most. He was the offensive, know-it-all; wanna be King of the Forest. He laughed at his own jokes. Usually he was the only one laughing and ending his laughter with "Oh nuts". He knew there was nothing funny about his real problem. He was nothing more than the quintessential King of the ingrates; forever trying to stack him self up against creatures weaker than he was. Dorothy wasn't gonna stand for him trying to bite her little dog, so she smacked a little sense into him. Although he wasn't trying to hurt anybody, he did. He pissed off Dorothy. That was pretty bad, she was fairly easy going. He was desperately trying to prove his worth. Problem was for him, he had no self-worth. How would he ever become 'King of the Forest'? The three friends had no idea how to help him. They felt really bad for him though, especially after figuring out that the poor Lion was just a big scaredy cat. He, like so many of us, to include myself, was living in outright fear. He was afraid of his own shadow. They all knew that he had it in him to be one of the great ones. Perhaps the Wizard could help him muster up some courage. Fear of the unknown was his biggest fear of all. The fact that he went along with them was a freakin' miracle!

Lesson #6: "You keep what you have by giving it away: be a real friend."

The absolute brilliance of it all is that, as friends, they were not dysfunctional nor co-dependent. Every once in a while, throughout their journey to the Emerald City, they turned to each other for solutions. They were looking for answers that, according to the predetermined facts, none of them were supposed to have. Somehow though, by putting their heads together and forming an alliance, they got the job done. That's what friends do; like I hear at many "focus group" meetings: I can't, but WE can. I love that. The four friends went through the storms of life together. Each character was hit head-on with their greatest fears. Fire meant certain doom to the scarecrow. Luckily his friends were there to put out the flames. Rainwater began again to rust the Tin Man, but Dorothy kept the oil can nearby. The inviting beauty and intoxicating scent of the poppies, a seemingly easier way, or short cut, as it were, to the Emerald City; could have crippled Dorothy and her friends to sleep for the rest of their lives. They were this time saved by Dorothy's first acquaintance, and temporary sponsor in Oz: Glenda the Good Witch; woke them up and got them back on the yellow brick road to recovery.

Lesson #7 "Take time out to pamper yourself"

They took time out along the way to treat themselves to some healthy grooming and feel good treatment at the Salon/Sauna just inside the city. There is nothing wrong with treating yourself to the good things in life after you handle all your responsibilities. From time to time, we all need a well deserved break. Life can be very monotonous. All this adversity of life, with its trials and tribulations, can truly get you down. Get a massage, get your nails done, get your hair cut and if you are a lion; get a perm. You'll be glad you did. You deserve the very best. So pamper yourself when you can. Rest, read a good book, meditate, relax. When you look good, and you feel good, you'll do good.

Lesson # 8 "You can't run from your problems."

Then life happened again. The lion finally got his - in the form of a loud booming voice. Sounds of anger and resentment, and coming from the man they thought had all the answers. The man they had traveled so far to see would send him off - running scared for his life. Par for the course, 'Scaredy Cat' Lion. His friends talked him into staying; after all they'd come too far to turn back now.

Lesson # 9 "You'll never ever make everybody happy."

The Big Booming Voice, of a man they'd never even seen, sent them out to acquire something that he thought they'd never procure, The Broomstick of the lady that Dorothy had already pissed off to no end. She dropped a house on her sister and was wearing what she felt were rightfully hers; The Ruby Slippers. Dorothy didn't even care about the slippers; poor Dorothy - the consummate people pleaser. She didn't even know what she wanted or liked. She knew she loved her dog. That was about it. She was too busy doing what other people wanted her to do. She was too busy trying to save everybody, make everybody's world go around, and too busy trying to make other people happy to know what made her happy. She wanted Glenda to like her, so she wore the slippers. The Wicked Witch was already assembling her army of flying monkeys to take them out. There was no making the Wicked Witch happy. "Not no way, not no how!"

Lesson #10 "Willingness is everything."

What the Wizard and The Wicked Witch failed to realize is that Dorothy and her friends were in enough pain to try anything. They were willing, ready, and able to try anything that they had yet to try. They started back out on their journey with nothing but willingness to get their hands on the solution. Even if it meant facing their greatest nemesis, they would do it. They would go to any lengths to get that goddamn broomstick. The man behind the curtain soon found out that you can truly help those who help themselves.

Lesson #11 "Be Loyal, no matter the circumstance; true friends stick together."

Dorothy and her friends picked themselves up, dusted themselves off, and went out on their newest wild goose chase. They were struck by adversity almost immediately upon arriving at the edge of the forest. Dorothy and Toto were abducted by flying monkeys and taken to directly where they needed to go in the 1st place. She found herself, yet again, frightened and alone. Toto escaped and led the others to aid in her rescue. They hadn't given up. True friends never do. They didn't know how they would get the broomstick, or how they would rescue Dorothy; they just knew that they had to try. Their undying loyalty to Dorothy was all they had left. Dressing up as the Wicked Witch's armed guards, the three gained entry into the dark castle. They kept their friends close and their enemies even closer. Smarties!

Lesson # 12 "KISS" (Keep it Simple Stupid.)

Every living thing is vulnerable. They would soon find this fact to be true; even for the Wicked Witch. Again, trying to hurt the brains of the operation, the dark lady tried to set the scarecrow on fire. To everyone's surprise, Dorothy's efforts to put out the fire, solved two problems. She hurled a bucket of water, putting out the flames that threatened her straw-filled friend, and then watched as that same bucket of water melted her troubles away. Ding Dong the Wicked Witch was dead! Whodathunkit? Another one of Dorothy's simple and practical solutions saved the day. Why, oh why, do we feel the need to complicate our lives trying over and over to reinvent the wheel? The simple solutions must be just that; too simple. How could the steps, taken and proven to work by so many great people who have gone before us, possibly work?

Lesson # 13 "Delusions of Grandeur are just that: Delusional"

Like most wanna be Wizards, he couldn't be bothered by the little people. He did his very best to get rid of the heartless, brainless, homeless, and the fearful. Having those nosy peeps around could really blow his cover. Hiding in his little room for fear of being exposed was his M.O. He wasn't about to give up what he had. He was after all, The Great and Powerful Wizard of Oz for a reason. Wasn't he? Why should he risk it all to help out his fellow man? Oh, that's right; they weren't his fellow man anymore. He was above all that. He had it going on. He had masterminded and manipulated all control over everyone in Oz. He had a reputation to uphold. He was even able to pull off the old, "do as I say, not as I do" routine. He didn't go by the book. Why should he? He rewrote the book. He was the ultimate authority. Period. If that was indeed the case, why did he need others to do his dirty work? He might get his hands dirty? He might slip and fall? He had worked very hard to develop and keep up his facade. Those meddlers had the power to ruin it all. They might expose him for who he really wasn't. They just seemed like the type to him. They wouldn't go away. They had to know the truth. But they would never find that broomstick? No Way, he thought, they wouldn't even have the guts to try.

Lesson #14 "If you keep your eyes closed you won't see a thing."

Much to the surprise of the Wizard, the Fab 4 had indeed returned. Not only had they returned, they had returned victorious! With broomstick in hand, they had done what the Great and Powerful Wizard of Oz couldn't even do for himself! He was shocked, so shocked in fact that he didn't even want to engage in a conversation with them. Having been empowered by their accomplishments they demanded to see him. He wasn't about to come out. He hemmed and hawed, refusing to let them see him in all of his powerlessness. Then the consummate hero, Toto, pulled back the curtain and exposed the Wizard for who he really was. Just a Man! A man behind a curtain. All smoke and mirrors! Even after having his cover blown, he tried to divert them. "Pay no attention to the man be hind the curtain", he said..."I am the great and powerful...wiiizzard of....oz:( They were mortified and shocked to find out that he was not their higher power. He was in fact in the same predicament as they were. Mis-placed, heartless, brainless, and fearful. He knew it was time to come clean. He knew it was time to share "The Secret."

Lesson #15 "The truth will set you free."

Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain? It was a little to late for that. Toto showed them what they were too manipulated and blinded by smoke and mirrors to see for themselves. They wanted to believe in the Wizard. He just had to be the one. He was their only hope for salvation. The Wizard, who would serve them up a house, a brain, a heart, and courage. Wouldn't he? Now they knew the truth, he wasn't even a Wizard at all. They had to face the facts. They had to look at themselves. Dorothy was heartbroken. I'm sure that was the single most painful realization of all, to know that nobody had the answers. Glenda showed up in a nick of time with some friendly advice. She told Dorothy that she always had the power to go back to Kansas. Home was where her heart was. At the time her heart was right there, in Oz, helping her friends and becoming a survivor instead of a victim. The Wizard, just an old Kansas man himself, explained to all of them that he too had suffered many losses. He knew what it was like to be scared, homeless, heartless, and without all the knowledge he had today. He passed along some great advice and gave them the tools that had been given to him along the way. As the story drew to a close, they all realized that no human power had all the answers. No human power could save them from themselves. For it was they who doubted their own God given talents. Deep down inside, they found out that what they thought they lacked, was already inside of them to begin with. Through overcoming adversity, persevering, facing their fears, having faith, and believing in themselves; they could accomplish anything.

Everything I ever needed to know; I learned through the Wizard of Oz.
Special thanks to L. Frank Baum for your literary brilliance. Thanks MGM Studios for Producing the Film. Thank You Judy Garland for giving us a piece of your soul. ..and The entire cast of Vaudevillian Performers. I will never forget the lessons I've learned through your classic tale.

I hope this Essay shines some light on those who thought this was just a "kids" movie. It is a Timeless classic. It should forever be, passed down the line of generations to come. This movie was made for the Young at Heart. All of life's lessons are in it~ If you watch it really closely, and listen really intently, you too will find the answers to life's questions. Art imitates life. The Wizard of Oz is indeed a Masterpiece.
The End

Written by:

Jennifer Tagle
jennifer.tagle@yahoo.com
April 2007

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