Up: It's Never Too Late to Be Happy
Everyone has a goal in life. Some pursue love, others money, success or fame. However, we all wish to be happy. The movie Up hints at some ways to reach and enjoy happiness, no matter how old you are.
Many people spend years of their lives searching for ways to be happy. However, life is full of emotional moments that evoke that feeling of content. Making the most of each of those moments is one of the keys to finding and maintaining satisfaction.
Find out how the movie Up shows us that it’s never too late to be happy.
Up: a movie with a message
In 2009, Disney released Up, a family movie featuring a grumpy widower and a boy scout. We’re first introduced to a small and lonely child who idolizes a famous explorer. Then we witness how Carl, the main character, meets curious, nature-loving Ellie, who tells him how she plans to move her house to Paradise Falls. As time goes by, Carl and Ellie grow up, get married and, since they can’t have children, they focus on adventure.
When Ellie dies, Carl’s life changes. Threatened by builders who want to evict him, he decides to fulfill his wife’s lifelong dream. This is when Russel, a boy scout, steps in. Together they go on a journey to take Carl’s home to Paradise Falls.
How does Up teach us to be happy?
If we want to be happy, we must pay attention to what lies beyond the surface. Discover how some of the qualities of this movie’s characters will serve as a guide in your search for happiness.
Be humble
As the movie starts, all we see is a grumpy grandpa who shies away from all contact from the outside world. However, as his relationship with Russel the boy scout develops, he learns that adventures must be completed, and that it’s important not to give up. Russel then learns to love and the value of generosity, something the little one doesn’t get from his family.
Learning to give without expecting something in return can help reduce the frustration that everyday situations bring. Acting this way can actually make you feel happy.
If you don’t give up, results will come
The character of Russel teaches us this lesson. Though his initial goal was just to get a badge, over time he learns to help selflessly.
Even with a child’s limitations, his attitude shows us that we must persevere if we want to be happy. We must overcome our challenges and set limits when necessary.
The importance of friendship
The beautiful relationship that both main characters build reminds us of those friends who make us happy and become a part of our family.
It also portrays the idea that good friends complement each other, give each other support through difficult times and help us bring out the best in ourselves. Up definitely teaches us to choose friends who make our lives better.
“A brother may not be a friend, but a friend will always be a brother”
–Demetro de Falero–
Learn to put flaws aside
Loving someone in spite of his or her flaws is another lesson we learn from Carl and Ellie’s relationship. Being honest means showing yourself as you are. We must give people the chance to value us for who we are, with our virtues and also our weak spots. That leads to strong bonds, which are necessary in any couple.
Believe in dreams
One of the best things about Up is that it helps us understand the importance of valuing life and believing in dreams. It also allows us to see how, despite problems, situations or age, there will always be a reason for us to be happy.
It also encourages children to believe and trust in themselves in order to be successful, motivating them to try and live new adventures.
In conclusion, Up is a movie with a great message. It teaches us to value each and every moment and enjoy life to the fullest. It also warns us about how easy it is to forget what really makes life worth living.
Enjoy this movie as a family and you’ll see that there are still more lessons to encourage you to be happy.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
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- Goleman, D. (2018). Inteligencia emocional. Editorial kairos.
- Rangel, A. E. N. (2014). Inteligencia emocional. Salud vida, 1.
- Trujillo Flores, M. M., & Rivas Tovar, L. A. (2005). Orígenes, evolución y modelos de inteligencia emocional. Innovar, 15(25), 9-24. http://www.scielo.org.co/scielo.php?pid=S0121-50512005000100001&script=sci_abstract&tlng=fr
- Jonas Rivera, John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton y Pete Docter, Bob Peterson. (2009). Up. Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar Animation Studios.
