10 Important Lessons About Life I Learned From Ferris Bueller.
- Your Parents Are Ignorant.
You know the expression “I’m turning into my Father/Mother”? You probably are. Realize that your parents are essentially young old people, not the other way around. - People Love Cocky Loveable Jerks.
Billy Murray. Mark Twain. Burt Reynolds in nearly every movie he’s ever been in. Bugs Bunny. Heck, George W. Bush somehow won two elections (Ed.: Let’s not get into that). The fact of the matter is that being cocky is a much beloved American value. When most people are bored to tears with their jobs and lives the Cocky Loveable Jerk comes in and shakes it about and makes you think just that much more about other ways to view the world. It’s what the country was based on. The Founding Fathers? If they weren’t the Cocky Loveable Jerk personality we might all still be drinking tea. Put that in your pipe and smoke it, Jefferson. - You Can’t Respect Someone Who Kisses Your Ass. It just doesn’t work.
In watching the movie with friends, I’ve noticed two polar opposite reactions to the scene where Cameron freaks out over putting mileage on his Dad’s car: either that of “So?” or total sympathy. It boils down to how people react to controlling influences on their lives. Everyone has had the insane boss who’s flipped out over minutia. Some people cower, and some people shrug.
The point being, hey, so you put some mileage on the car. Big deal. Apologize and move on. They’ll see that you stood up for yourself and didn’t just roll over. Worst case scenario, you lose your job, but not your self respect. And that’s something that once you give away you can never get back. - “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
In an age where we are glued to our phones, iPads, laptops, and televisions nearly every waking minute of our lives, it’s easy to forget that - hey! - there’s quite a large world out there that isn’t on a glowing rectangular screen. Disconnect. Turn off the phone for a few hours, and read a book. Take a walk. Go to the café. Talk to your girlfriend, or boyfriend, or put some effort into finding one. - Don’t Overdo It With The Lady.
While it might be culturally more acceptable to continually forward the notion that a man who spends a lot of money on a woman is more likely to get the girl, it’s just not true. Unless you’re some kind of Type-A asshole with too much time and money on his hands and unresolved issues with your stepmother.
Men (and women, too) often forget the notion of free fun: the kind of activities that cost little to no money that are all around us. Go to a museum. Take in a parade. It’ll give you infinitely more to talk about that blowing $300 on a meal or plying someone with drinks. - Fake It ‘Til You Make It.
Wanna do something interesting with your life? Shut up and do it. Don’t wait for someone to give you the OK, because chances nobody gave them one either. Being a self-starter is one of the most important qualities a man can have. If you want to have something, just ask for it. If you want to be something, just do it. - “A Person Should Not Believe In An ‘ism’, They Should Believe In Themselves.”
We only get one go-around on this big blue marble hurtling through space at speeds we can barely comprehend, and you shouldn’t be worried about what the big imaginary man in the sky might think of you the whole time you’re here. - “I asked for a car, I got a computer”
Make the best with that you’ve got. It’s the only way you’ll get better. So Ferris got a computer when his sister got a car. Big deal. You can still bum a ride off your friend if you help them out changing their grade, so to speak. Use what you have and making the best of it. - Help Your Friends Realize Their Potential.
Life’s no fun alone. If you have a friend in need, do what it takes to help them. It’s a wicked world out there and a lot of people are out for themselves. Get them out of the house and doing something new for a change. - “It’s Over. Go Home.”
Every man should know when to walk away, when to put his cards on the tale and walk towards the door. There’s nothing sadder than a guy who doesn’t know when to when to stop, or to just let it go.
That, and if you find a girl like Sloane? You should probably marry her.
No comments:
Post a Comment