Life Lessons from Don Corleone
I watch 'The Godfather Trilogy' at least twice per year; I simply love the artistry; the writing, acting, directing, lighting...it all comes together masterfully. Even the 3rd film, agreeably the weakest of the three, is a stunning masterpiece. Watching them back to back over the course of a few evenings gives it a very new perspective and I find myself learning more and more each time from it.
Life lessons from a movie? You might ask? Sure! You just have to be open to the meaning of it! Here are a few of the life lessons I have learned:
“Never go against the family” - Vito says this to his oldest son Sonny and even today it has a strong ring of truth. While the saying about never being able to pick your family is true, it is your family that shaped the person you are, for better or for worse. And while you may have issues from time to time, there is a nice confidence in knowing that your family will always be there for you. And even if they are not there for you; it is an strong emotional wellness knowing that you will always be there for them.
“…it’s business not personal” - This is a simple one and one that I often find hard to follow. It has nothing to do with business per say, but the simple mantra of not taking everything personally can help you lead a healthier life. You can only control what you do and say, you cannot control what others do or say; so it's simple, don't take things personally!
“You can act like a man!” - Whining about what is due to you or what you should have had will never get you anywhere. This simple yet elegant statement is meant to chin up and approach life head on! Life doesn't hand you anything; you have to work at it and for it. Forge ahead!
“I believe in America” - No matter what happens in your life; it is great knowing that we live in a country where we can make our dreams a reality; all we have to do is believe in them. Only in a country like America can we do this; even in these times of economic uncertainty!
There are many other lessons from 'The Godfather Trilogy' as well and perhaps we will explore them another time. In fact, there are a lot of lessons about romantic relationships that can be interestingly explored!