Most people recognize King Moonracer immediately from the Rankin and Bass Christmas special, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. He is the flying lion who lives in a castle. He is the King of the Island of Misfit Toys.
King Moonracer is also my hero. Let me tell you why.
As King of the Island of Misfit Toys, King Moonracer flies around the world each night and gathers up all unwanted toys. He gives them a home on his island. He shares his love with the toys others would just cast aside.
When King Moonracer is forced to reject Rudolph, Hermi, and Yukon Cornelius’ request to remain on the Island of Misfit toys, you can see that it pains him to do so. You can sense his internal struggle.
After all, King Moonracer is not a toy. He is the ultimate misfit, a flying lion who wears a tiny crown.
But unlike the all the other misfits on the island, no one laughs at King Moonracer. No one calls him ridiculous. They are awed by the majesty of his presence. He is alone in the world. Yet, he seems so content and focused. He is driven by a sense of responsibility to his mission.
This is why I love King Moonracer. This is why I say King Moonracer is a lifestyle choice. Some people laugh at this. They should because it’s meant to be funny, but at the same time it means something more.
When I say that King Moonracer is a lifestyle choice, I’m saying it’s okay to be different. It’s okay to be driven by a sense of purpose that perhaps few understand. I’m saying it’s okay to believe as only a child can believe. It’s okay to have a flying lion as your personal hero.
One could certainly do a lot worse.
King Moonracer is a Lifestyle Choice
I used to have King Moonracer as my profile picture on LinkedIn. I told myself that I was doing this because I was proud of King Moonracer, but really I was afraid to use my own picture. Over time, I learned to put myself out there and be who I am without fear. I learned to laugh at myself and to be at peace with my own shortcomings.
It wasn’t that long ago that I changed my profile picture to my own. It was a happy day. I’d just written a post on How Not to Write about overcoming fears of being anonymous. I’d been blogging for eight years but always under a pseudonym. Now I was stepping out into the light.
Most people who know me might wonder how on earth that I, Jamie Grove, could be afraid of anything, let alone putting my face out there. I’m an outgoing person, always ready with a smile because I am genuinely happy to be alive. I sit in front of the cafe in summertime with my bare feet propped up on a chair. I love life. But this only proves that fear can strike anyone, even those who seem the most confident. The question is what do you do with that fear? Do you allow it to consume you, or do you press on?
After that post went up, HNTW sort of went from an obscure place where I spoke mostly to myself and a handful of friends, into an experiment in connecting with people. It is still growing, but I can say that it is a wonderful little community of writers. I share with these writers my thoughts and struggles, my triumphs and failures. Together we overcome the fear that is so prevalent in the world of would-be writers.
As much as I owe to my love of King Moonracer, I don’t believe HNTW would have grown had I stayed behind the lion’s mask. I’m proud to display him on Twitter though, and I think he’ll stay there for a long time. He’s a lifestyle choice to be sure.
One could certainly do a lot worse.
Who are your heroes and why? Please share in the comments!