To many, Spongebob Squarepants is just a dumb cartoon meant to entertain children-- and during the occasional innuendo, parents watching as well. But with further considerations, Spongebob teaches some vital life lessons in subtle ways. If you look deeper than the giggles and immature antics, you'll see that Spongebob has some vital life lessons to teach us all. Here are the 12 life lessons I learned from watching Spongebob Squarepants.
1. Make every occasion a little silly.
No matter what shenanigans Spongebob and his gang got into, it could be guaranteed that it would be silly. In life, it is always important to remember that not everything should be taken so seriously. It helps to embody a sense of silliness like Spongebob when dealing with the stress of life. After all, no one makes it out alive...
2. Value others.
Spongebob taught me how rewarding life can be when you value others. Spongebob and Patrick seemed to be the happiest when they were together-- that's because they valued each other and the time they spent together. No event was too small and no joke went without laughter when these two were together. Their friendship taught me that to value others is to value oneself.
3. Never give up.
If anyone was resilient, it was Spongebob. Does anyone even know the number of times he failed his boating exam? But he never gave up! No matter how many times Mrs. Puff hinted that he should really just throw in the towel, Spongebob continued to try. Over and over again. In life, there will be many times that giving up will not only seem like the easiest option but maybe the only option. Never give up on something you want whether that be getting your boating license or that promotion at work. Be resilient!
4. Look for the positive in everything you do.
Spongebob was always positive about everything he did. When Squidward was cranky, Spongebob continued to smile. When his alarm clock rang on Monday morning, he jumped up chanting "I'm ready! I'm ready!" When was the last time you tried with a sincere effort to find the positive in every little thing you did? Spongebob did this, and he rarely suffered from a bad day. Spongebob taught me that changing your outlook on life can actually change your life.
5. Be confident.
Spongebob taught me that being confident doesn't mean being rude; it means knowing that you're just as amazing as others are! From watching how Spongebob carries himself around others, I learned how to be confident in my own abilities.
6. Kill 'em with kindness.
Squidward was perpetually in a bad mood, but this never stopped Spongebob from being kind. From this, I learned that those who are kind are always better off than those who are hateful. Squidward was often bogged down by his own negativity while Spongebob used his positive attitude to brighten the days of those around him. I quickly learned that it was better to be a Spongebob than a Squidward.
7. Take advantage of learning opportunities.
Often while you are in school, all you can think about is working. But while you're working, all you want to do is be back in school. Spongebob was always grateful for the things he had-- even if it was a homework assignment. Take advantage of your opportunity to learn while you're in school. What other time in your life will it literally be your job to learn things? There is something wonderful about learning something new. Cherish it.
8. Don't be afraid to express how you're feeling.
This is not to say it is okay to be dramatic, but expressing your feelings can often be a very healthy thing. Spongebob wasn't afraid to cry-- after all, crying is just another amazing expression of an emotion that makes us human. Spongebob taught me to not shy away from my emotions but that they make me who I am, and they are worthy of celebration
9. Turn your jealousy to support.
Spongebob taught me that everyone's a winner when we play as a team rather than as enemies. It's a nasty habit to be jealous when others do well. Instead, try being supportive and genuinely happy when others do something cool. The positive energy only propels you forward to do cool stuff, yourself.
10. Value yourself.
It is completely underestimated how important it is to value spending quality time with yourself. In order to truly value others, one must first truly value themselves. Being comfortable in my own company was a vital lesson I learned from Spongebob, one I hope to carry on throughout the rest of my life.
11. Do what you love, love what you do.
Spongebob had a profession many look down on, and he continued to love what he did despite this. No matter what it is you do-- flip burgers, teach grade school, CEO of a major company-- LOVE WHAT YOU DO. Life is too short to not chase your dreams, and too long to spend it doing something you hate.
12. Being yourself never goes out of style.
Things come into style just as fast as they go out of style. One thing that never goes out of style, though, are the people who are genuinely themselves. Spongebob never feared getting made fun of for his weirdness, rather he embraced it as a core part of his personality. Regardless of what others are saying or doing, be yourself. By doing so you will attract all the right people!
