The book 'Eleanor & Park' by Rainbow Rowell is more than an interesting love story between two high school students. It deals with many world issues such as bullying, insecurity, abusive home life, and much more. This book follows two teenage outsiders named Eleanor and Park. What stuck with me after reading it was the fact that these two innocent people are able to find love despite the awful situations that life puts them through. They are polar opposites but soon become great friends, which then turns into something more. Their story teaches us many important life lessons that have become very easy to forget nowadays. Here are 7 of the most important ones.
1. Everybody deserves love and happiness.
GiphyNo matter how insecure you feel right now, remember that you do deserve to feel happy and to be loved. One day you will meet someone who understands you and loves you just the way you are, even if it seems unfathomable to you at the moment.
2. Always be kind, you never know what people are dealing with.
GiphyEven though it may look like some people have it all figured out, they may actually be dealing with so much more on the inside than what meets the eye. So be kind to everyone, and greet people with a smile on your face even when you're having a bad day — you could end up making someone's day instead of ruining it.
3. Opposites can attract, which is a good thing.
GiphyWhen we become involved with someone who has a completely different personality and way of seeing things from us, it can allow us to learn new things and look at things from a new perspective.
4. Be yourself.
GiphyIt is important to become comfortable in your own skin because, in the end, you are your own best friend. Love yourself first.
5. There is more to a person than their looks.
GiphyRemember the popular saying "don't judge a book by its cover," and get to know people before making a superficial assumption.
6. For people that are dealing with abusive home lives, this book shows that they are not alone.
GiphyIf you're dealing with something unmentionable at home, just remember that there are other people like you who face similar struggles. Reach out to a friend or join a support group — no one should be experiencing what you're going through alone.
7. For those who have grown up in safe homes, this book can educate you.
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GiphyIf you come from a loving family that has always supported you, you should be aware of the fact that some people aren't as lucky. This book will give you a glimpse of what it's like for people to be afraid in their own home. It creates awareness for something that most people tend to neglect.
These are crucial life lessons that I took from the book "Eleanor & Park." I am sure if you were to read it you could find many more. It can be extremely easy to forget that there is more to life than what we look like and what our circumstances are. We can choose to be stuck in the past, or we can work through our issues and change the future. That's what this book means to me. It shows that two people can take their past and their current negative circumstances, and learn from them. They don't focus on their circumstances to the point where they forget to live. Eleanor and Park grow together and become comfortable with who they are, which is an important lesson for everyone to learn.
