Today is Shakespeare’s birthday and the 400th anniversary of his death. In thinking about how much Shakespeare means to me, I decided that the best way to celebrate his legacy in this special week would be to try and articulate what I have learned from him.
1) Nothing is simple. Being rich or powerful does not mean life is easy, even if you’re royalty–maybe even especially if you are royalty. And being poor is no walk in the park, either. Nothing is ever simple.
2) Bravery comes in many forms–the obvious and bold, and the quiet and subtle.
3) Bad things happen. It’s how you handle it that counts.
4) It’s okay to just be silly. It won’t usually give you your finest moments, though.
5) When something hurts, let it hurt, but don’t let it make you bitter.
6) Everyone struggles to feel like they belong. We’re all misfits in one way or another.
7) Sometimes our best isn’t good enough. It’s just a fact of life and there’s no use losing any sleep over it. (Saying this as I am working into a frenzy about whether my Master’s thesis will be good enough or not…)
8) Guys, listen to your wife, and don’t go to the Roman Senate on the Ides of March.
9) There is astonishing beauty in even the darkest moments.
10) There is always more to learn.
The lessons that can be gleaned from the Bard’s work are countless. I have heard people elsewhere say that Shakespeare teaches us how to be human. This is no exaggeration in my mind. There is no author I have ever read that has a better understanding of the human experience.
Happy birthday, Mr. Shakespeare. And thank you.
