I had my first encounter with The Beatles when I was about 4 years old. I was sitting in a Supercuts with my dad, watching the little TV they had in the corner when my dad pointed out to me, "You see that man playing a left handed guitar? That's Paul McCartney, he used to be in a band called 'The Beatles." I believe I then asked something along the lines of, "Why were they called that? Like the bugs?" Though I can't say for certain. Over roughly the past fifteen years, that specific memory has grown a bit fuzzy although the conversation proved to be a turning point in my life. That initial interaction is what sparked my fascination with The Beatles- throughout my childhood I would continue to ask my dad questions and become excited when he pointed different Beatles songs to me; I believe "Yellow Submarine", "Octopus's Garden", and "Let It Be" were my first favorites.

As I got older, particularly during my uncomfortable days spent in middle school, my love for the band grew stronger. I replayed the Sgt. Pepper album over daily, occasionally venturing into The White Album or Abbey Road if I was feeling up for a change. I collected Beatles t-shirts, Beatles books, and was even gifted a Beatles clock by my cousin as a birthday present one year. They were literally all I wanted to talk about and to this day I accredit my Beatles obsession to successfully phasing me through three years of middle school (with only minimal damage to my self esteem).

Now, as a 19 year old about to enter my sophomore year of college, I love The Beatles more than ever. Though my musical interests have expanded to other artists and I'm capable of holding conversations on topics other than the real meaning behind "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" (drawing or drugs? You be the judge), the band still holds a special place in my heart and in my life. I even made the decision to have the phrase, "Let it be," discretely tattooed onto the back of my neck as a physical bond between me and the band that has helped to shape the person that I am today. This past week, I was even lucky enough to see Sir Paul McCartney in concert for the second time and after being brought near to tears and belting out the chorus to "Hey Jude" (albeit probably off-key because my ears were ringing), I was inspired to write this list. Who knows? Maybe you've learned a few of them too. So, without further ado, here are the 9 most important lessons I learned from The Beatles.

1. You can always “take a sad song and make it better” If life has got you down, whether it be from schoolwork, relationship struggles, or even minor occurrences that make you feel less than stellar, there is always another way to look at the situation. I’ll admit, I have a tendency to be slightly dramatic when I’m feeling especially stressed. In these moments though, it’s important to remember that “any time you feel the pain, hey Jude, refrain,” just take a step back and gather yourself before tackling the task. “Then you can start to make it better…”

2. Sometimes you just have to "let it be" Throughout my life, this seems to be the one that I struggle the most with. I often find myself reflecting on past experiences and thinking, "I should've handled that differently" or "I should've spent more time preparing for that test." But what I tend to forget is those events are gone, they're finished. Like it or not, I can never go back and change what I did. All that's left to do is look forward to the future. "Shine on until tomorrow, let it be."

3. "We can work it out" I feel like this one can be applied to a multitude of situations- group projects, romantic relationships, friendships, talking to your parents, speaking with co-workers, etc... We've all run into situations where we just don't agree with the person we're talking to. It's difficult and sometimes awkward, but also inevitable. However, "life is very short, and there's no time, for fussing and fighting," so you learn how to compromise to achieve the best result possible

4. I got my "ticket to ride" I touched on this briefly in my last article when I described my family's trip to Italy (https://www.theodysseyonline.com/summary-trip-life...), but I absolutely love traveling to different countries and learning about different cultures around the world. So far I've also been lucky enough to visit Istanbul, Turkey, Amsterdam in the Netherlands, and I hope to study abroad in Spain during my junior year of college. True, traveling comes with its own challenges, such as leaving behind my family and close friends, but in order to really break out of my comfort zone I need to experience life outside of the cozy suburbs of Philadelphia. (Side note- I've never been to Russia, but I might have to plan a trip there someday just to blast "Back in the U.S.S.R." upon landing. "You don't know how lucky you are, boy...")

5. "Rain... I don't mind" because "here comes the sun" When I was younger I absolutely hated going outside. (I'm not kidding, my parents literally had to lure me to the outdoors with a book on a string. It was bad...) But after years of taking my dog on walks and even playing a sport, I have learned to enjoy nature. To embrace the coldness of rain, the warmth of natural sunlight, even the bitter chill of autumn wind. I must say though, winter still proves to be a bit of a challenge for me, as this year I was diagnosed with Seasonal Affective Disorder (also known as "S.A.D."), so especially cloudy or rainy days make being productive a bit more of a struggle. But at the first sign of spring, you better believe I'll be the first one outside, "the smiles returning to the faces."

6. It's okay to be the "fool on the hill" If you're like me, then you dance to the beat of your own drum- which is great! Albeit, this also means that people might think you're a bit odd at times (see above where I talk about being a 13 year old Beatles fanatic). But you know what? That makes you unique, because you see the world differently. Accepting your own quirks is a lot easier said than done, especially when you encounter those who want nothing more than to fit in with the status quo. Personally, I don't- I'm an introvert who loves talking to people, a bookworm that also dances, and a sensitive soul who enjoys Quentin Tarantino films. Essentially, I'm a walking, talking, pun-making enigma. There are people that like me for it and those that dislike me for it, but the important part is that I love myself for all of my conflicting traits. As cliché as it sounds, ignore the haters, "...they're the fools."

7. "I am the walrus" A little bit of nonsense never hurt anybody. Goo goo g'joob.

8. Truly, "all you need is love" Yes, you knew this one was coming. I find this lesson especially prominent given recent acts of violence and hatred that keep popping up in the news. It is so easy to become angry and bitter towards the world we live in. So easy in fact, that we forget to love each other. "There's nothing you can do that can't be done" if you remember to choose kindness and compassion over hostility and ruthlessness. I am entirely guilty of holding grudges against those whom I feel have wronged me in the past, but what does retaining this negative energy really accomplish? In the long term, not much. We cannot continue to preach cruel words and expect our world to change for the better. Instead, there's "nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you in time, it's easy."

And finally...

9. "And in the end, the love you take, is equal to the love you make."