Five Things I Learned From 'The Holiday'

Believe it or not, I’d never seen The Holiday before this Christmas. My sister absolutely loves it, so it became our family’s Christmas Day movie when we got back in from seeing our extended family. The Christmas classic starring Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, Jude Law, and Jack Black is a staple for many people, so I was very excited to see what all the fuss is about. It is a class film, truth be told. I completely understand why it’s beloved by so many people. However, I have made some observations from this film, and I think there are some valuable lessons to be learned here. So, pour another Bailey’s into that hot chocolate and sit tight to learn some of the lessons that The Holiday taught me.

#1 Men are in tune with the Devil

Now this is a theory I’ve had running for a little while, so hear me out. Have you ever had it when everything is going swimmingly? Your life is going very smoothly; you’ve worked hard and are now reaping the rewards. You’re just going about your business, enjoying your life, and then your phone lights up with a notification from THAT ex trying to slip back in. I believe this is because men get an itch of some sort when the ungodly forces alert them that they can wreak some havoc on your life. (Full disclosure; I have equally had this feeling but this only strengthens my theory.) The Holiday proves this perfectly. Jasper has NO business ruining Iris’ fun like that. She’s getting to know Jack Black a bit more, and her relationship with Arthur is only getting stronger, yet there he is. Phoning her asking to “check a few pages” for him and then having the gumption to show up after being told she wants space? That sounds like devil behavior to me, and therefore, The Holiday has really convinced me that men are in tune with the Devil.

#2 It sometimes does take gumption to be a better person (and it feels great.)

On a similar note to point #1, the gumption that Iris shows in throwing Jasper out and taking that step to protect her happiness is something that I wish I had done more. She told him how she felt; she shushed him when he tried to interrupt and then she told him ALL about himself. After this, she kicked him out and slammed the door, all because she needed to put herself first and was done with his devilish behavior. There’s a truly heart-warming scene with Arthur and Iris in which he says she needs to become the leading lady of her own life instead of the ‘best friend’ trope. Absolutely iconic behavior from her, and let Iris be a role model to all those people out there that are settling for less; be the leading lady of your own life and take the gumption to step into the spotlight. It’ll be worth it.

#3 Jude Law is an absolute sort

He is the epitome of the female gaze,” – said my sister. I can also confirm that he is the epitome of the male gaze too. If I were a betting man, I’d wager he’s the epitome of all the gazes—no further explanation required on this one.

#4 Sometimes platonic relationships are the best ones

A truly lovely relationship that blossoms throughout the film is the relationship between Iris and Arthur. Entirely platonic, they help each other learn and grow to achieve new things in their lives. Sometimes I feel like it’s sometimes all too easy to prioritize romantic relationships, but I cannot stress how wrong this is. I feel blessed to have such an amazing group of friends. They support me through everything: celebrating the highs and being by my side during the lows. I can safely say that I love them and would be lost if I didn’t have their friendship in my life. Romantic relationships are of varying importance at different parts of your life, and there are times when they need prioritizing, for sure. However, don’t ever underestimate the power of friends; Arthur taught Iris her own worth, and Iris gave Arthur both the physical and emotional strength to make it up those stairs onto that stage. That speaks volumes.
 

#5 Physical fitness is of the utmost importance

Let me land on this one. Towards the end of the film, when Cameron Diaz starts crying in the back of the cab, it hit me. I really need to get my stamina up when it comes to running, as you never know when you’ll need to get out of a cab and run back to profess your love to someone. It could happen to any of us, and, thankfully, The Holiday reminded me of this. Even Cameron got a bit tuckered out at one point, running back down that snowy, English country lane to Jude Law, but she was able to keep going. Would I? Doubtful. I’m not about to let love slip away like that, so The Holiday taught me that physical fitness needs to be a priority.

Conclusion

If you haven’t seen this film, I would totally recommend it. It’s the right amount of funny, heartfelt, surprising, and Christmassy. Not only this but there are also some golden life lessons to be learned in there. If even after that you’re not convinced, you get to stare at Jude Law. Do it for the art.

Up Next, 5 Sustainable Gift Ideas for the Holidays.