Life Lessons Learned from Pixar’s "Soul"
While 2020 was undeniably a difficult year for everyone, Pixar’s Soul releases at the right time to remind you about finding happiness in the small and ordinary things in life. Streaming exclusively on Disney Plus, Soul is an animated film about a man named Joe Gardner, who is a middle school music teacher but dreams of being a jazz musician. However, after a small accident, he dies and ends up meeting an unborn soul, 22 at the You Seminar, a place where mentors help new souls discover their spark in order to come to earth. Through the film, they both end up teaching each other about the importance of life as well as treasuring every small moment and little thing.
This film taught me a lot about the meaning of life and reminded me of the Korean phrase: “small but certain happiness” (sohwakhaeng). This word trended on online communities in 2018 and people were more interested in adopting an attitude of contentment found in the small things rather than the ‘big’ things like marriage, home and career.
At the climax of the film, Joe discovers little trinkets in his pocket which 22 had collected over time. A flower petal, lollipop, spool of string. Joe thought that 22 needed a great purpose to live, an unique ambition in life but in reality, sometimes, living in the present moment is enough. He learnt that “a spark isn’t a soul’s purpose,” that instead a spark is about enjoying regular life on earth. This means that even walking around your neighbourhood can be a spark for some people and shows us that we should not take our lives for granted. This doesn’t mean that having music, books, your career or religion as your soul is a bad thing but the movie emphasises it’s okay to not always know that spark. The little things that get you out of your bed each morning is enough for now and reminds you of the true beauty and wonder of living in this world, even if it's shadowed by a pandemic.
There’s also a lot of expectation and pressure on people of all ages these days to find their dream or passion, their major in college, their first job right away and stick with it for the rest of their lives. Like 22, they might not know their spark or like Joe, maybe they have a little voice in their head that dares to dream, but is weighed down by societal pressures of parents, money and stability. Whatever it is, it’s okay to keep trying new things and take one step at a time. BTS’ song, “Paradise” on their Love Yourself Tear (2018) album similarly talks about this topic of slowing down the busyness of living in this world and to accept not knowing your next destination in life. The lyrics in the chorus correspond well with Soul’s meaning:
”It’s alright to stop / There’s no need to run without even knowing the reason / It’s alright to not have a dream / If you have moments where you feel happiness for a while.”
BTS shows us that it’s okay to not have a distinctive dream and that the little moments of ‘small happiness’ we feel day-to-day such as watering your plants or drinking a cup of tea is special and memorable.
As we approach the new year, we might have a lot of hopes, aspirations and dreams. But at the end of the film, Joe realises he is going to live and value every moment. I hope that this encourages you to embrace the small connections and normal, everyday experiences of life, as well as allowing you to think more deeply about what brings you joy even in this uncertain time. Make sure to bring a tissue box and let your feelings out in the best way possible.
Tiffany is a recent Creative Writing graduate at UTS, based in Sydney. Growing up, she had always loved stories and the power of words to build a connection with an audience. You can find her usually at home curled up with some milk tea or listening to pop/indie music.
