Calvin and Hobbes was one of my favorite books to sit down and look at for hours on end when I was little. Each comic made me laugh and I fell in love with each character.
I have to admit that I still love reading Calvin and Hobbes, and now that I’m older I’ve found that there are actually some strips that teach lessons that are both relatable and profound.
1. You can appreciate a friend without presents—it’s okay to just give them a hug and tell them you love them.
2. There’s something wonderful about exploring our “magical world.” It’s truly incredible—look at the sunsets, the mountains, the oceans. All of it is amazing and deserves our exploration and thoughts.
3. It’s the simple things in life that bring us pleasure. Riches or power doesn't bring you the happiness Hobbes exudes in the last panel. When you learn to appreciate those simple things that bring you joy, you’ll truly be happy.
4. Appreciate today! We all think the time we’re in will last forever, whether it’s elementary school like Calvin or our college days. The truth is that these days will be gone before we know it. It’s important to slow down and notice the time we have while we have it.
These are simple yet powerful lessons to be learned from the antics of a 6-year-old and his stuffed tiger, but I think these are lessons that we tend to forget. We forget that we can’t buy our friends with presents, but we can build friendships to last forever through the gifts of time and appreciation. We forget the beauty and grandeur of this world we live in and don’t take the time to leave the technology and chaos of society in order to truly take in the wonderful sights of nature. We get too caught up in wanting the newest and latest iPhone or clothing and forget about the simple things, like a sunny field or spending time with family, that bring lasting happiness. We forget that time moves quickly when we’re not looking and spend too much time watching everyone’s lives on Instagram or Facebook rather than watching in real time without a phone.
I get caught up in the fast pace of today's society all too often, and I have to remind myself to slow down and see the beauty in every moment. I have to remember that these moments will be gone once I blink, so I need to take advantage of the time I have.
What a different world it would be if we took the advice of Calvin and Hobbes. I hope we can all learn something from them.
