**Spoilers** What I learned from Madagascar 3

As you probably know, the first two Madagascar movies depict a group of comical animal friends trying to get back home to the New York Zoo. Stranded in an unfamiliar and untame Madagascar, they all remember the zoo as a place of perfection, provision and safety. Through a myriad of unfortunate events, they are ever prevented from reaching their only goal in life, getting home.  Throughout the first 2 movies the animals had experienced wild adventure, near death experiences, open wilderness and treachery of all kinds. Madagascar 3 is a continuation of their efforts to reach the destination that in their minds is ideal.
After succeeding in purchasing a dying circus, inspiring its tired members and transforming it into an amazing show, the animals finally made it home to their New York Zoo. Standing at the metal bars of the zoo gate, they gazed in shock at the smallness of the painted African mural and hard brick walls between their cages. Although the zoo had not changed, it was not what they remembered. Idealized for so long, the zoo fell short of each of their imaginations. It was not the open plains of Africa or the thrill of the circus high wire. The animals had grown too much to go back there. The dream was empty. All at once, they realized that the thing that was a mere vehicle to the dream of getting home, was the real source of their joy. They return to the circus, everyone is happy and the movie is over. Polka Dot Afro!

What does this have to do with anything? Well, what I took home from the movie was that its ok to change the dream, shift gears, admit its not what you want anymore and look for the joy. Evaluate what you're doing and why you are doing it. Wig out if you need to. Nothing else matters at the end of your life except whether you had any joy and whether or not you had any joyous effect on other people. We all belong where the joy is. Joy is a clue to your destiny. If you don't have any, that's your first clue!