1. It’s okay to take time to figure things out (Moonrise Kingdom)
Sometimes we can’t plan how things are going to work out and we may feel completely lost without any sense of direction. Make some mistakes, learn from them and let it all figure itself out over time.
2. Stick together with those who are closest to you (The Royal Tenenbaums)
Yes, the Tenebauns are a dysfunctional family and this tarnished their ‘legacy’. Everyone has their problems, but by sticking together with your family and friends things will get better. It’s important to respect those close to you and be there for them like you hope they’d be there for you too. The Royal Tenenbaums showed that whilst family can be the source of some problems, it can also be the solution.
3. Be proactive (Fantastic Mr. Fox)
Life is short (even if you’re not a fox) so make the most out of it and be in charge of your own destiny. If there’s something you don’t like, be proactive and change it.
4. Be true to yourself (The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou)
At the end of the day, people are going to think what they want to think. As long as you are able to stay true to yourself, and what you believe in then what everybody else thinks should soon enough become irrelevant to you.
5. Honesty is the best policy (Bottle Rocket)
Truth hurts, but sometimes being honest with yourself and to those around you means you can move on with your life and life the life you want to live. Plus, you won’t have to answer another water-sports question again.
6. Money can’t buy everything (Rushmore)
Having money is not the be-all and end-all of everything. Whilst you might be able to buy expensive, luxurious things with money you can’t buy life experience and you definitely can’t buy ‘backbone’. Earn your right to be rich in life experience and ambition.
7. Never miss out an opportunity to show love (The Darjeeling Limited)
If you like someone, make it clear and tell them just how much they mean to you. You never know when the day might come that you won’t get the chance to tell them this again, and it’s always a nice feeling when someone realizes how much they’re appreciated.
8. Show affection (Moonrise Kingdom)
Sam’s old-fashioned way of showing his affection for Suzy is a lesson we can all learn from. By complimenting and taking an interest in Suzy, we see that true love can conquer all.
9. Being rude is a way of expressing fear (The Grand Budapest Hotel)
It’s fair to say that anyone with a rude or mean attitude is just openly expressing their fear or anger at not getting what they want. By showing respect and being respectful, you can not only set a good example but also make sure you don’t let it slip that you’re scared.
10. It’s alright to feel good about yourself (Fantastic Mr. Fox)
We all have our own goals we want to achieve and an idea of what perceptions we want people to have of us. It’s not a bad thing to want to exceed what people already think of you and to aim high. It’s also totally fine to be able to feel good and believe in yourself. Knowing you can do something, as opposed to doubting yourself, might be the difference between being able to get it done or not. Featured photo credit: Lucius Kwok via flickr.com
