Lessons From The Princess Bride

The Princess Bride is a cult classic made over three decades ago in 1987 by Rob Reiner. Arguably one of the best movies of that year and of all time. We've had more than 30 years quoting "My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die." But the film is more than great one-liners, it is full of life lessons. 

Life Is Pain

The first noble truth of Buddhism is that life is suffering. You will likely encounter grossly unfair situations, but it's important to acknowledge it and continue moving forward – as Westly attempts to show Buttercup the entire way through the film "Life is pain, your highness. Anyone who says differently is selling something." Only once we accept that our desires lead us to suffer can we see the path to freedom.

Anything is Possible (if only we had a wheel barrel)

Those who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones that do. Find your B.H.A.G. (Big Hairy Audacious Goal, not rodents of unusual size) and go for it. The greatest tragedy in life isn't that people aim to high and miss; it's that they aim to low and hit. Nothing is inconceivable. "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means." Inigo Montoya

Love conquers all

The entire movie is about love, whether it's the romantic love story of Westly and Buttercup or the love between friends (Westley, Inigo, and Fezzik) who shared the adventure or the love between generations in the story of a grandfather reading the tale to his grandson. Whenever my sons or anyone I love asks me for something, my response is always "As you wish." It's more than "yes" in my response, they know it means "I love you" every time.

Have fun storming the castle.