Lessons learned from Harry Potter
I am a huge Harry Potter fan. I have seen all of the movies, several times each, and own them on DVD. I have the entire series of books and thoroughly enjoy immersing myself in them. The stories have so many aspects of the human condition that I can identify with, as can millions of other fans, I presume.
This week was the release of Part I of the final movie in the Harry Potter series. My daughter and I went to the midnight showing of the movie the very first night. It was all that we anticipated, and more.
As I watched this most recent film of the series, I was drawn in completely into the story, as I usually am. However, as I sat there this time, I was also drawn into the pure humanness of the aspects of the story, and what lessons there are in it, for all of us:
First of all, we all possess light, and darkness. Even those of us who try to be the best person that we can be, we have a side of ourselves that we keep hidden from those around us; that is less willing to come out into the light.
Secondly, humans want to be loved and cared for. Whether we are Ron Weasley in the movie, wanting Hermione to care for him as much as he is also resisting her; or we are a person who feels alone and unloved, we all crave that human connection.
Thirdly, we all need to believe in our own ability to make magic. Even Harry cannot create magic unless he truly believes in his own power to do so. We all carry within us the power to make our dreams happen, to bring magic into our own lives. The key is to believe in it.
Fourth, we all love the feeling of home. Even though Harry's parents are dead, he returns to the place of his childhood and it connects him to who he truly is.
One final lesson is that we all are much more brave than we realize we are at times. Even when facing off against death, the characters in the movie fight fully and bravely. I know so many people in my life, who would see themselves as ordinary, yet their bravery is nothing less than extraordinary.
I know that the impact of these films will always be with me, but what will also continue to impact me, is how they tell the story not only of Harry and his friends, but of all of us as well.
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