I Just Can't Wait to be King (Simba's Version)

This child is getting wildly out of wing! Welcome back to the Daily Debrief.

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Witches, evil queens, good wives & allies,

We began our journey confronting the duck in the room — fxminine rage. Next year promises new topics, but first, a promising young cub has cautioned me against the hornbills of the world.

Let’s carve out some 🛖house rules before they start sliding into my DMs. ⬇️⬇️⬇️

🎵 Kings don't need advice

from little hornbills for a start. 🎶

📌 This is how a lion king responds to Daisy Duck’s feelings:

📌 And this is how they respond to a mad woman:

📌 The rest of the pack 🦁🦁🦁 reads along quietly. A valid response when lacking a perspective that adds value to a conversation, especially when coming from a position of privilege.

I don’t know about you, but I just have a feeling that little hornbill 🦅 in the 1994 film Lion King would disagree.

Maybe because he’s never seen

a king of beasts with quite so little hair? 🎶

If he happens to be with us in the 2024 film Mufasa: The Lion King — I hope the above helps clarify his role in this monarchy.

📣Little hornbill from 1994, are you with us in this decade?

This is what we call setting a boundary in 2024.

🎵 I'm shaping up on looking down,

I’m working on my roar. 🎶

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“Thus far a rather uninspiring thing.”

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That’s what he said to Simba — and Simba didn’t even ask for feedback!

Can you believe it?!!

Somehow, I can’t, even though it’s the least surprising thing to ever happen.

Simba was a real lion king about it though.

First, he showed his lack of interest by not responding to such an unproductive statement. We know that never works though, and — you guessed it — the little hornbill boldly squawked again!

So, Simba did what every young lion cub working on his roar must do.

He wrote and performed an entire musical number to help that little bird understand:

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The direction of his monarchy👑 will never be swayed by the unsolicited opinion of a hornbill.

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🎵 I’m going to be a mighty king,

so, enemies beware. 🎶

Bringing awareness to cartoons that think they’re better than me is quickly becoming a beloved pastime at the Daily Debrief.

📌 Here’s what the witches🧙‍♀️ think (they’re allowed to do that here!) —

Check out Emma’s work — she writes on being with the present moment as she journeys through motherhood, neurodivergence, and finding her footing as a creative.

Check out Bex’s work — she writes on the messy truths of life and the magic we create by being authentic.

🎵 Everybody Look Left, Everybody Look Right.

Everywhere you look I’m standing in the spotlight. 🎶

📌 All this to say —

Don’t be surprised if the hornbills of the world meet you with this energy as you work on refining your roar:

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If this is where the monarchy is headed

Count me out!

Out of service, out of Africa

I wouldn't hang about!

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And guess what?

May the hornbills of 2025 contribute with kindness as we shift our focus the good stuff, like:

• breaking the good girl myth

• healing intergenerational drauma

• the messy middle of unmasking

See ya next year!✌️

<3 Nic

recovering workaholic | former good wife | angsty, childless, cat lady | promising young cub