If you've watched "One Tree Hill" for even a couple of seasons, you know just how amazing Brooke Davis is. Brooke Davis' character developed so phenomenally over the show that it is hard not to fall in love with her. We all watched Brooke Davis go from the party girl in high school to a well-respected business owner, mother, and wife. As we traveled with Brooke Davis through the journey of her life, we have learned valuable lessons from her that are worth remembering for a lifetime.
1. Forgiveness always wins.
From her love triangle with Lucas and Payton, all the way to her marriage, Brooke Davis always forgives. Sometimes it's hard to understand why she would forgive someone after the things they have done to her, but she always chooses the higher road. With Brooke, forgiveness wasn't an option, it was a way of life. She firmly believed in second chances for others and put her feelings past her in order to mend a relationship. In the end, she could realize that her time wasn't worth being upset or angry over the things people had done to her. She knew that from her past that forgiveness is the only way she would have made it past those dark times. So, rather than hold onto to that hurt in her life, she chose to forgive and let go.
2. Family is important.
Growing up, Brooke did not have the greatest role models for what a family looked like. To fill that gap, she usually turned to other things such as boys. However, as Brooke got older, she knew she wanted to provide that thing she always craved but never got for someone else. She selflessly put other people before herself. From fostering to adoption, to finally having a family of her own; she knew what it meant to provide unconditional love. Because of this, she changed the lives of so many and finally created what she had always wanted in unconventional but amazing ways.
3. The right guy is worth waiting for.
In the first few seasons of "One Tree Hill," you can identify Brooke as the boy-crazy girl who is a hopeless romantic. In high school, she dated many guys and had her heart broken just about the same amount. As she got older, she then devoted her time to Clothes Over Bros, seemingly giving up on love. She found what it meant to be married to her work, and nothing else seemed to matter. During her business, she went through a couple of guys here and there but no one could ever handle Brooke Davis. Then came along Julian, and everything changed for her. It was so hard for her to trust Julian because of how many times she had her heart broken by someone else. She tried everything to push him away, but he loyally stuck by her side. If high school Brooke would have known just how amazing this guy is, she probably would have been searching for him sooner. I know in hindsight she is so glad she didn't pursue any of her boyfriends any further because she had finally found the one her soul loves.
4. Integrity matters.
Brooke has always been unapologetically her honest self. She will tell the truth whenever you don't want to hear it, in the best interest for someone else. She has always stayed true to who she is no matter what life throws at her. She knows when to have righteous anger, and when to gracefully let things go. When things happen that are beyond her control, she has been faced with decisions that either benefit herself or keep her integrity strong; even if it means losing everything. Brooke will always choose to put others before herself because she knows just how worthless material things are. The girl who has it all can see right through the worth of material things and knows it's who is on the inside that really matters. Because while you can sell all the clothes in the world, kindness is absolutely free.
5. Having fun is one of life's greatest treasures.
Anytime anyone needed to be lifted up, the first person they knew they could call was Brooke Davis. In high school, Brooke was a party queen. While over the years her definition of fun may have changed, she still always knew how to make people smile. From her witty humor to the way she saw life as a party, she knew that being able to laugh could help the hurt in any person's day.
Brooke Davis has taught us so much throughout the show. We got to walk through some of the most heartbreaking moments together with her and see what it meant to be strong on the inside and outside. She taught us how to laugh through the pain and be strong when you feel it's impossible. Brooke Davis is a force to be reckoned with, and it's hard to not fall in love with her. The girl behind the red door will always be in our hearts as a true example of what character means.
