8 Things I Learned About Life From Legally Blonde
I. love. Legally Blonde.
It's funny and witty with exciting twists and an overwhelming dose of girl power. Not to mention, it's probably one of the most quotable movies on the planet, and if you object at least you feel comfortable using legal jargon in everyday life.
When I first watched the movie, however, I didn't fully realize all the important messages hidden in Elle's inspiring journey. So, if you're prepared for a few spoilers, scroll below for eight lessons I learned about life from Legally Blonde.
Don't Judge a Book By Its Cover
It's an age-old mantra, but it couldn't be more true for our lovable Elle Woods. Elle is misjudged by practically everyone she meets. Her sorority girl status and overly positive personality cause people to think that she is incapable of being smart, kind or driven. Even her own parents don't think she can get into law school. At every turn, however, Elle proves that she is so much more than a pretty face. She is smarter than many of the people around her, a devoted friend, a trusted confidant, and she still manages to look amazing through it all. Much too often, what you see is not what you get, and if you allow people to show their true colors before you pass judgment, you will probably be pleasantly surprised.
You Have to Work for What You Want
It's no surprise that the best things in life won't just be handed to you, but Elle is the epitome of hard work. She decides exactly what she wants and goes after it, ditching parties, social events and other fun times to put in the needed effort to be successful. Eventually, her hard work lands her a spot at Harvard, a highly coveted internship and a place in the top of her class. Her story proves that if you put in the work, nothing is out of reach.
Never Let Anyone Tell You You're Not Good Enough
Throughout the movie, Elle is continually told she's not good enough. She's told that she can't marry Warner because her family isn't worthy, she isn't smart enough to get into Harvard and she won't make a successful lawyer. Instead of believing everyone's negative assumptions about her worth, Elle uses their doubts as her motivation to be successful. She refuses to believe that there is anything she can't accomplish. She teaches us not to listen to anyone saying you won't meet your goals. Instead, put on a pink outfit, practice a little bend and snap and say "watch me."
Don't Waste Time Chasing a Boy
It took poor Elle a while to learn this lesson, but it's important nonetheless. Although winning Warner's love was Elle's motivation for getting into Harvard, it wasn't until she realized that Warner would never think she was good enough that she truly began to take law school seriously. Chasing after a boy will get you nowhere. If you have to chase someone, they are more than likely not interested in a meaningful relationship. It's better to wait for your Emmett, who will respect you, support you and love all the quirky parts of you unconditionally.
Being Trustworthy Is Important
Sometimes in our friendships, we forget how important it is to be trustworthy. While working on Brooke's murder case, Elle is faced with a difficult decision: tell her colleagues Brooke's alibi and break her friend's trust or keep silent and endanger her professional career. Being the good friend who she is, Elle chooses to protect Brooke. Brooke's reasoning for not revealing her alibi might be a bit shallow and shortsighted, but Elle respects her friend's decision nonetheless. Because she's a trustworthy and kind friend, Elle is eventually rewarded by becoming Brooke's new lawyer, which launches her successful career. Being trustworthy is important not only because it is an essential element of being a good friend, but also because it lets people know that you can be trusted with bigger responsibilities over time.
Find Friends Who Support You No Matter What
Elle's devotion to her close friendships throughout the movie is beautiful, but her companionship with her closest friends, Margot and Serena, is particularly inspiring. Although they don't fully understand Elle's desire to attend law school, they support her decision and help her reach her goals. They understand even less when Elle actually enjoys being a lawyer, but they still show up to her trial excited and ready to cheer for her. Find people who will stick by you, even when they might not fully relate to what you want to be doing because a solid support system is one of the most important elements of a friendship.
Don't Lie
Just don't do it. You will almost always get caught because someone will know the truth. It's better to be honest from the beginning and save yourself and those around you a lot of pain. For example, don't say you showered after getting a perm, especially to someone who is obsessed with hair care.
Believe in Yourself
This is probably the most important lesson I learned from Legally Blonde. Throughout the movie, Elle trusts her instincts, and they always lead her down the right path. She is unapologetically herself, despite the negative reactions of people around her. We can all take a page from the Elle Woods Handbook when it comes to trusting ourselves. You know what you want and what you are capable of better than anyone else, so believe in yourself and don't let others bring you down. In the words of Elle, "You must always have faith in people. And most importantly, you must always have faith in yourself."
Looking for more girl power role models? Click HERE for six way's Disney's Moana taught us how to be a girl boss!