I have a confession to make. I am a Goonie. Through and through. Growing up The Goonies was my favorite movie. I’ve probably seen it 500 times, no joke. And whenever we visit Oregon, we make the trip out to Ecola State Park and Astoria to revisit filming locations from the movie. It is non-negotiable.
In this 1985 movie, Mikey Walsh (played by Sean Astin) and his friends are outsiders, but they stick together. They live in a community that is called the Goon Docks. It is set to be purchased by a wealthy realtor who wants to develop the land that is on their home into a country club. Homes in the Goon Docks are facing foreclosure. Mikey and his friends, the Goonies, gather for one last weekend together.
On this last weekend, they go up into Mikey’s attic and come across an old treasure map. The map supposedly leads to the treasure of legendary pirate One-Eyed Willy, and it is believed to be located somewhere nearby. The friends go off on an unforgettable adventure and end up saving their parents’ homes from foreclosure by finding the treasure.
We can learn a lot from the Goonies. Even though they are facing foreclosure and an end to living close to one another, they see an opportunity to change their outcome and they take it. They take matters into their own hands. They have nothing to lose. And in the end, they win. Never ever give up on your dreams. Whenever you set out to pursue anything in life, you will be challenged. You will experience setbacks and failures. There will be a lot of dark days and lonely nights. But don’t quit. Because Goonies never say die.
