Initially I wasn’t going to play but as I saw all the fun cartoon characters come to life, I thought I’d jump right in.  Not sure who to pick, my daughter asked “Well, what did you watch as a kid?”   The first show that came to mind was Top Cat (remember that one?).  I got all excited and quickly found an image of Top Cat and then searched You Tube so I’d be able to share a clip or the theme song with all the youngins’ who hadn’t seen the show. 

Off to You Tube I go and found the most amazing discovery – Top Cat was a scoundrel! A “Bad Boy” and a womanizer.   He doesn’t tip the doorman (he pretends to and then pulls back the coin), he steals a construction worker’s lunch and uses his quick mind and slick tongue to survive on the streets, all the while dazzling the lady cats with his charming ways.  With this type of programming going into my head, is it really any surprise that I was attracted to “Bad Boys” and had many failed relationships?

As I reflect on some of the other ‘programming’ that filled my mind and created my image of reality [“Leave it To Beaver” (with that ‘perfect’ family picture and Eddy Haskell), “The Beverly Hillbillies” with Mr. Dreisdale taking advantage of the Clampets, and of course “Batman” the ultimate Super-Hero], I can see the roots of much of the distorted belief system that ran my life. 

While I previously considered how some of these shows affected my beliefs about money, rich people and the fantasy of “happily ever after” I had never before made the connection to the effect of those early childhood cartoons.

What shows did you watch?

What shows do your children watch?

Things that make you go “Hmmmm?????”

And to sum it all up, I went with Mighty Mouse as my cartoon profile “Here I Come to Save the Day!”   Ah, perhaps I’m still waiting for the Knight on the White Horse.  Clearly, more reflection to follow.