What I Learned About Life From One Tree Hill

When I first watched One Tree Hill, I didn’t realize how much I would learn about about life, love, and loss. Every time I watch it, I learn something new. I’ve heard that when you can still learn something about your partner after being married for 50 years, you are in the right relationship. So I guess you can say that I am a bit married to One Tree Hill. I have watched the series upwards of 10 times since the first time I watched it 4 years ago, I can find a connection to OTH in just about every real-life situation, I view who I am differently, and my first son will be named Nathan.

Here are 10 things I learned from One Tree Hill that made me fall in love with it. I hope it makes you fall more in love with it too.

To set the scene, press play before continuing to read.

Everyone grieves differently.

When Keith died, Lucas spent a lot of time being angry. When Ellie died, Peyton cried. When Lydia James died, Haley was depressed and shut people out. And although there are five stages of grief, the time spent in each stage changes, and I learned that there was never a wrong way to grieve.

A lot of people treat others the way their parents treat others.

It shouldn’t be a surprise that Nathan treated people life crap considering how terrible Dan treated other people. It also isn’t a surprise that Brooke never truly trusted a guy because her parents fought so much. Kids learn by watching their parents. So if you want your child to be a good person, you also should be a good person.

Be the best you you can be.

Everyone has their niche. Lucas had writing, Nathan had basketball, Peyton had art, Haley had music, and Brooke had fashion. Although they were all good at their own thing, it was amazing how, at one point, all of them apologized or felt uncomfortable about their talent. If you just embrace what you are good at and love to do, you will be successful.

Fight for the things you care about.

All Brooke wanted from Lucas was for him to fight for her, Nathan wanted to beat the odds and make it to the NBA after his spinal injury, Peyton wanted to find the person that wasn’t going to leave her, Haley wanted to be was the best wife, mother, and friend she could be, and Mouth wanted to make a difference in someone’s life. So whether it is a person or something you are passionate about, go after it with everything you’ve got.

Sometimes a good comeback is all you really need.

When Brooke fought with people (which was most of the series), it brought the best comebacks out of her. She definitely built up my list of comebacks in case anyone ever crossed me and made me confident in standing up to someone who hurt me.

Learn how to love someone.

I think it is fair to say that Nathan and Haley are the perfect couple even though they are far from being perfect people or having the perfect relationship. What makes them so loveable is that they teach you about forgiveness and loving someone through the most difficult times.

Don’t take life for granted because it really is short.

If there wasn’t enough death in OTH for you to realize that life is short, we have a problem, but there are plenty of other times that made the characters want to turn back the clock. Nathan lost basketball when he went through that window and Brooke was told she couldn’t have children. What made the difference is that they both made the best of those situations and didn’t take life for granted.

It gets better.

One of the biggest story lines of the show was the school shooting. If it didn’t make you cry, I don’t think you watched it. As someone who struggled with depression in high school, I know what it is like to feel like you will never get out of it. But something that does tend to help is listening to someone who has been in your shoes and has come out better on the other side.

Don’t let labels define you.

Brooke said it the best. “People are going to label you. It’s how you overcome those labels. That’s what matters.” Don’t be embarrassed of who you are and remember that no one knows you better than you know yourself. More likely than not, the labels people place on you are often wrong, so don’t even listen to them.

Give people a chance.

Whether it is trying to be friends with the nerd or tutoring the mean jock, you never really know someone until you get to know them. They could end up being your best friend or the love or your life.

What did OTH teach you? Comment below or tweet us @LiterallyDarling