Did you have a favorite Barbie doll?
Mine was Day-to-Night Barbie. She came in this awesome pink suit, complete with a blazer and pencil skirt. It had a matching briefcase and hat. After her day at the office, she took off the blazer to reveal a pink sequin top, and her pencil skirt could be reversed to reveal a pink tulle skirt perfect for meeting Ken for date night. I loved her because she represented the kind of life I wanted to have as a grown-up. She had a job that fulfilled her and a relationship that delighted her.
Barbie was created in 1959 by Ruth Handler. Ruth was married to one of the founders of Mattel Toys and came up with the vision for Barbie as she watched her daughter’s play be limited to only baby dolls. Her daughter had no toys that allowed her to expand her imagination beyond caring for a baby.
Barbie made her debut on March 9, 1959. The original Barbie came dressed in a black and white striped swimsuit, sporting her signature ponytail and a pair of cat-eye sunglasses. Despite skepticism that this type of doll would not be excepted, she was a huge success. Barbie allowed children to play out their dreams in ways other toys had not.
In this way, Barbie wasn’t just a toy to be played with. She was a tool for self-discovery.
Barbie taught us to explore our passions, interest, and strengths. She taught us there is no dream that isn’t within our grasp. Think of any job, any hobby, and likely, Barbie has done it. In fact, since her debut, she has had over 250 careers. Her professions have ranged from astronaut to veterinarian to President of the United States. She’s been a ballet dancer, a scuba diver, a gymnast, and a soccer coach.
Barbie lives the Something More life.
She seeks out her passions and interests, then explores them. She isn’t afraid to give something new a try. From fashion to hairstyles to hobbies to jobs, Barbie intentionally identifies and acts on her dreams.
As adults, we don’t often think about the dreams we had when we were young or the stories we acted out with our dolls. In adulthood, with jobs, mortgages and families, our dreams and aspirations can take not just the backseat but can be relegated to the third row or the trunk.
What if we could take a moment, grab our favorite Barbie, and let ourselves remember our favorite story to play? Let’s do it now! Take a minute, close your eyes and think back to when you played with your Barbies. What was your Barbie’s job? What did she like to do for fun? What were your favorite adventures for Barbie? Was Barbie living out things you aspired to as you got older?
The stories we played out with our dolls came from a place inside of us where we were inspired. Sometimes the key to unlocking Something More in your life is reconnecting with something you loved as a child.
It may be as straightforward as making time to read more books because, as a child, you loved to read. It could be taking something childlike and finding the grown-up version. For example, your love of playing with dolls and making up your own stories could be turned into writing your stories, even if they are never shared with anyone other than yourself. Or, you loved your Easy Bake Oven, and now is a good time to try out recipes in the air fryer.
No matter your age or where you are in your life journey, you’re never too old to experience Something More in life. If Barbie has been doing it for 64 years, so can you! Let your inner Barbie out by taking a step toward that dream or that passion that pulls at your heart.
Day-to-Night Barbie joined the Barbie family in 1985. That same year, Mattel released the We Girls Can Do Anything ad campaign. Barbie once again showed herself as a model for self-discovery through ads encouraging girls to believe in themselves and to pursue their dreams and passions. I was only 9 when that campaign launched, but I remember it fondly. Nearly 40 years later, when I feel challenged, I can still hear:
“We girls can do anything, right, Barbie?”