3 Important Life Lessons Elle Woods Taught Us
I’m in a very emotional place at the moment so what I tend to do during a time like this is escape. I put on the girliest, chick-flick I could find this weekend (Legally Blonde) and watched it for the first time ever. I wasn’t expecting it at all but I felt so motivated by this sweet, intelligent, optimistic character and after watching the films (I watched both Legally Blonde and the sequel back-to-back), I realised that Ms Woods is exactly the kind of person I want to be more like. Here’s what I learnt:
We need to normalise crying.
Elle cries. Like a lot. And in public sometimes too. My initial reaction to this was “girl, no! people can see you” but by the sequel, I was comfortable with it and actually started to like it. I think crying is viewed as a sign of weakness and while it’s really important to learn how to control your emotions, we should also learn to accept that we’re all real human beings who cry sometimes. Of all the ways to react in a situation, crying is probably the least harmful and it can be really helpful to just let it all out!
Be yourself
I am so sorry. I know you’ve heard this a million times but it’s such an important lesson and certainly one that I need to keep learning. You’re probably thinking it’s easy for Elle Woods to say since she’s rich and also stunning according to Western beauty standards but she just has a real knack for turning everything people view as weaknesses into unique, positive qualities. Staying absolutely true to herself and letting her heart shine is what helps Elle stand out in the end.
The brilliance of naiveté
In both of the films, Elle showcases an astonishing display of forthrightness. It’s something the people around her mock her about however, I see it as one of her greatest strengths. Elle’s naiveté makes her powerful because she has absolutely no perception of the possibility of failure. She has no idea how difficult the process of getting into Harvard Law School is and that unawareness gives her a sense of fearlessness which ultimately gets her in. Of course, there’s a lot I can say about why Elle is even able to maintain this kind of girlish innocence in the first place (*cough* privilege *cough*), but that’s not for this issue!
Stream Legally Blonde now on Showmax
Food
For me to enjoy a meal it needs to be delicious, beautiful and most of all, practical. I’m not sure why but papaya boats did not strike me as something that would tick all three boxes but since beginning this elimination diet, I’ve grown OBSESSED. They are so easy to make and healthy, I’ve had at least 4 in the last week so they’re definitely something I think I’ll be taking with me moving forward. Here are a a few reason why:
Rich source of vitamin A and C
Contains papain (the natural painkiller)
High in potassium and antioxidants
May aid in reducing inflammation
May protect skin from free-radical damage
I would fill each one with whatever fruit I could find and top with crushed flaxseed for some healthy fat but I’ve found my favourite combo: cubed mango + sliced banana = tropical magic.