Family isn't always about blood. Sometimes it's about the people who show up, who stay, who see you at your worst and love you anyway.
As Thanksgiving approaches, we often think about gratitude and family. But for many of us, some of our most meaningful relationships aren't defined by genetics—they're chosen, built, and strengthened through years of laughter, tears, shared adventures, and unconditional support.
Who better to teach us about chosen family than Disney? From Lilo finding her ohana with an alien experiment to Winnie the Pooh's adventures with his Hundred Acre Wood friends, Disney has always understood that the family we choose is just as important as the one we're born into.
Welcome to Take My Breath Away #12, where we celebrate Friendsgiving with Disney's most beautiful lessons about friendship, chosen family, and the bonds that sustain us. Because sometimes the most magical families are the ones we create ourselves.
Friendsgiving: Disney's Lessons About Chosen Family
Featured Quote
"Ohana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten."
— Lilo & Stitch (2002)
The Hawaiian concept that perfectly captures Friendsgiving—chosen family sticks together, always.
Disney's Wisdom on Chosen Family
Disney has always understood something profound about friendship: it's not about perfection, it's about showing up. From Stitch finding his broken but beautiful family to Winnie the Pooh's simple joy in spending time with friends, these quotes remind us that the best families are built on choice, loyalty, and unconditional love.
"This is my family. I found it all on my own. It's little, and broken, but still good. Yeah, still good."
— Stitch, Lilo & Stitch (2002)
Stitch's heartfelt declaration that family doesn't have to be perfect—just loving.
"Any day spent with you is my favorite day. So today is my new favorite day."
— Winnie the Pooh
Pooh's simple wisdom: the best days are the ones spent with the people you love.
"Trust, it's what friends do."
— Dory, Finding Nemo
Dory's simple reminder that trust is the foundation of every great friendship.
"No matter what anybody says, you'll always be a prince to me."
— The Genie, Aladdin (1992)
True friends see your worth even when you can't see it yourself.
Adventures Are Better Together
Disney teaches us that the greatest adventures aren't about where we go—they're about who we bring along. Whether it's toys supporting each other through childhood's changes or a forgetful fish helping find a lost son, these quotes celebrate the joy of shared journeys.
"As soon as I saw you, I knew an adventure was going to happen."
— Winnie the Pooh
Some people just make life more exciting—that's the magic of friendship.
"Hey, we can look together."
— Marlin, Finding Nemo (2003)
The simple offer of companionship that changes everything—we don't have to face challenges alone.
"You've taught me a lot about the power of friendship."
— Toy Story
Sometimes our friends teach us the most important lessons of all.
"Every minute spent in your company becomes the new best moment of my life."
— Bolt (2008)
When you find your people, every moment becomes precious.
The Wisdom of the Hundred Acre Wood
Winnie the Pooh and his friends have been teaching us about friendship for generations. Their simple wisdom reminds us that friendship doesn't need to be complicated—it just needs to be genuine, loyal, and filled with honey (the sweet moments that make life worth living).
"A day without a friend is like a pot without a single drop of honey left inside."
— Winnie the Pooh
Friends are the sweetness that makes life worth savoring.
"If there ever comes a day when we can't be together, keep me in your heart. I'll stay there forever."
— Winnie the Pooh
Distance doesn't diminish true friendship—it lives on in our hearts.
Beyond Disney: Celebrating Chosen Family
While Disney teaches us valuable lessons about friendship, the theme of chosen family spans across all storytelling mediums. From classic literature to modern television, the celebration of friendships that become family is universal.
"You're my person."
— Cristina Yang to Meredith Grey, Grey's Anatomy
Three words that defined an entire generation's understanding of chosen family.
"The family we choose for ourselves is more important than the one we were born into."
— Charles de Lint
Sometimes the most powerful family bonds are the ones we intentionally create.
"A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you."
— Elbert Hubbard
True friendship means being fully seen and fully accepted—flaws and all.
"There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends."
— Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey
The fierce loyalty that defines real friendship—boundless and unconditional.
Final Thoughts
This Friendsgiving, as you gather around tables with the people who chose to be your family, remember that these bonds are something to be grateful for. Disney has taught generations of children (and adults) that family isn't just about who shares your DNA—it's about who shares your adventures, your struggles, your laughter, and your tears.
From Stitch's "little and broken but still good" family to Winnie the Pooh's simple joy in friendship, from Dory's reminder to trust to the Genie's unconditional support of Aladdin—these stories remind us that chosen family is real family. Not everyone gets to experience friendships that feel like home, relationships where being yourself is not just accepted but celebrated.
Whether you're celebrating with childhood friends who've known you forever, college roommates who became siblings, work colleagues who turned into your support system, or online friends who understand you in ways others can't—these relationships deserve recognition and gratitude.
As Lilo taught us, ohana means nobody gets left behind or forgotten. This Friendsgiving, take a moment to tell your people what they mean to you—because friendship, at its best, truly does take our breath away.
📚 More from the Take My Breath Away Series
Explore all the unforgettable quotes that stop us in our tracks:
Which friendship quote resonates most with you? Who's your "person" or your ohana? Share your favorite friendship moments in the comments—I'd love to hear about the chosen family that makes your life richer.
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