I strongly suggest that if you’ve never seen the movie Leap Year, go watch it now because this article will spoil a lot. It’s one of the most heart-warming romance movies you’ll watch. In short, Anna travels all the way to Ireland to propose to her career-driven boyfriend on Leap Day, because she heard that a man who is proposed to on Leap Day in Ireland can’t refuse. As a serious of misfortunes happens she recruits Declan, a laid-back Irish man, to escort her to meet her boyfriend. Declan and Anna fall in love and the rest you can watch.
Here are four lessons of love that you can learn from Leap Year:
1. Enjoy The Journey
Anna was so set on getting married. She was so set on traveling halfway across the world to propose to her boyfriend. She was so distracted accomplishing her mission that she didn’t for one second try and enjoy Ireland and the company of an excellent Irish fellow. Love isn’t about reaching all the milestones, and marriage isn’t a destination. It’s a journey and an adventure, and it should be treated as such.
2. Don't Ignore The Red Flags
Anna was ready to marry what is seemed like the perfect guy- smart, handsome, and with great career. But the guy loved his career and status more than he loved her. The only reason he wanted to marry her in the end was to secure his status. Just because someone looks like they have it all together doesn’t mean they don’t have their red flags.
3. Make Plans Together
Declan (the guy she ends up with) actually loves her. He might not have had it all together, and we can see in the movie that he was heartbroken and owed a debt to a man for his pub. However, he didn’t see her as a step in his five year plan. He generally wanted to be with her even though he didn't have a clear cut plan for life. Settling for someone who just sees you as a step for their five year plan isn’t good. Don’t settle for that kind of mediocre relationship. Be with someone who wants to make plans with you not make plans for you.
4. Love Is In The Little Moments
Declan and Anna didn’t just fall in love over an adventure across Ireland to find Anna’s boyfriend. They fell in love in the little moments, like whenever Anna woke up to find herself asleep on Declan’s lap. Or when they we’re in the garden picking up vegetables to make dinner. It was in those small interactions that the deeply started to understand each other and fall in love. As much as we want love to be this epic adventure, which it sometimes is, love and relationship can be a little mundane and ordinary, but it is in those small day-to-day acts love flourishes.
As the movie continues Anna does fall in love with Declan and finally leaves her serious boyfriend, who didn’t ultimately love her for who she was. We shouldn’t settle for that kind of commitment or that kind of “love.”
