Mindleader Message in Lilly and the Pirates

At Orlando Family Stage, we believe storytelling has the power to build empathy, spark conversations, and support the emotional well-being of young people. That is why we are proud to partner with AdventHealth for Children through their Be a Mindleader initiative. This community-wide campaign encourages open and honest conversations about youth mental health and provides families with expert insights to better support the children in their lives. Together, we are working to destigmatize mental health challenges and uplift the next generation of Mindleaders—young people who are emotionally aware, resilient, and compassionate.

Orlando Family Stage’s 25/26 Season is Presented by AdventHealth for Children.

What Lilly and the Pirates Teaches Us About Courage, Anxiety, and Letting Go of Worry

At the start of Lilly and the Pirates, ten-year-old Lilly is already preparing for everything that could possibly go wrong. She writes her fears into what she calls her “Worry Book,” a notebook where she records every anxious thought so she can feel a little safer.

What if sharks attack?
What if her parents never come back?
What if she isn’t brave enough when it matters most?

For many children, this moment feels deeply familiar. Worries about the future, about safety, about being brave enough, these are common parts of growing up. Lilly’s instinct to write them down reflects something mental health professionals often encourage: giving fears a place to live outside our heads so they don’t overwhelm us.

But Lilly’s story shows something important too. While acknowledging our worries is healthy, letting them control our choices can keep us from discovering our own strength.

Bravery Doesn’t Mean You’re Not Scared

Throughout the adventure, Lilly constantly compares herself to her fictional hero, the fearless explorer Millicent Murray. In her mind, Millicent never hesitates and never worries.

But Lilly does.

She gets seasick.
She panics during storms.
She wants to turn back when things get hard.

And yet she keeps going.

When Lilly sails into a violent storm to rescue her parents, she realizes something powerful, bravery isn’t the absence of fear, it’s the decision to act even while fear is present. As Mrs. Teagarden reminds her, sometimes the only way forward is “straight ahead.”

For young audiences, this moment reframes courage in an accessible and compassionate way. You don’t have to feel fearless to be brave.

Letting Go of What We Carry

One of the most meaningful moments comes when Lilly is underwater after a shipwreck, struggling to reach the surface. To swim free, she must drop the heavy things in her backpack, books, supplies, and finally the heaviest item of all, her Worry Book.

The moment works as both action and metaphor. Sometimes the fears we carry, while understandable, can weigh us down more than we realize.

Mental health experts often talk about helping children name worries without letting those worries define them. Lilly doesn’t erase her fears entirely. Instead, she learns that she has the ability to move forward even without holding on to them.

When she finally surfaces and rescues Mrs. Teagarden, Lilly proves something to herself, she is capable of more than she believed.

Stories Help Us Practice Courage

At Orlando Family Stage, we believe theatre helps young people rehearse life. Characters like Lilly allow children to see their own emotions reflected onstage and imagine new possibilities for themselves.

In this story, Lilly doesn’t become a different person. She remains thoughtful, imaginative, and sometimes anxious. What changes is her understanding of herself. She discovers that courage can exist alongside worry, and that bravery often begins with taking the very first step.

That lesson aligns closely with the mission of AdventHealth’s Mindleader initiative—encouraging young people and the adults who care for them to talk openly about feelings, build resilience, and support one another through life’s challenges.

Because every child deserves to know that feeling scared doesn’t mean they’re not strong.

Keep the Conversation Going

After seeing Lilly and the Pirates, these questions can help start meaningful conversations:

• What were some of the worries Lilly wrote in her Worry Book?
• When did Lilly show bravery during the story?
• Have you ever felt scared but done something anyway?
• What helps you when you feel worried?
  

Sometimes the best way to begin talking about mental health is through a story.

Learn more about AdventHealth’s Mindleader initiative and how you can support youth mental wellness through everyday empathy and conversation.