I love comedy.

Itโ€™s such a delicate art in the form of funny faces. Behind the silly conversations and laughter, subtle life lessons are hidden. Thatโ€™s why I love it. My heroes all know how to use and respect humor: Carl Sagan, Richard Feynman, Julia Child, and especially those in the comedy industry: Tina Fey, Mindy Kaling, and Miranda Hart. Theyโ€™ve always been there for me through good times and bad with their smart conversations and their ability to make me laugh.

Miranda is a show created by Miranda Hart, an English comedienne, as a semi-biographical sitcom. Ever since I watched the first episode, I became a massive fan. Thereโ€™s just something special about Miranda. Sheโ€™s pure, inexperienced, clumsy, awkward, and frank. Sheโ€™s an underdog who we all can relate to. The show ended after five years of running. It was one of the best shows Iโ€™ve ever seen, and I watch a lot of comedy!

 

Lesson 1: Know how to entertain yourself

Miranda doesnโ€™t have a lot of friends. Sheโ€™s not good at dating either. Sheโ€™s awkward and unique. But she doesnโ€™t let it affect her in negative ways. Instead, she makes fruit friends, jumps on the bed, plays human velcro ball catcher, sings and dances. Sheโ€™s the perfect example of how you have to know how to make yourself feel better, no matter what.
 

Miranda in a ball pool
Miranda in a ball pool, because she can.

 

Throughout my life Iโ€™ve encountered lots of grown-ups who have had no idea how to use their free time. Itโ€™s fine when they are in their normal routine: going to work, coming home, cooking, watching TV, and sleeping, but the problem comes when thereโ€™s a sudden change. When theyโ€™re given a window of free time, they are lost. It happens a lot in Korea, where everyoneโ€™s used to having a tightly packed routine. Iโ€™ve been asked questions like, โ€œWhat should my hobby be?โ€

Try to understand who you are, and donโ€™t waste your valuable free time. Entertain yourself in those precious moments. Sing, dance, watch movies, have a TV show marathon, cook, hike, anything.

 

Lesson 2: Life is (or can be) a Musical

What Miranda taught us over the last five years is to sing and dance as much as you can!

 

Lesson 3: Have a Friend who can share the silliness

Miranda and Stevie are best friends and business partners. But thereโ€™s something special about their relationship. While Stevie is more of a high-achiever, sheโ€™s a constant support to Miranda and they enjoy their games and competitions. They play games like Where is Miranda and Pepperoni Jenga, host sherry and cake night, and often get into odd competitions.

Itโ€™s important to have someone to share the silliness. Someone who doesnโ€™t judge or criticize. They are usually the one who sticks around in the hard times. Just like Stevie and Miranda.

 

Miranda's cast
Miranda’s cast

 

Lesson 4: Donโ€™t take yourself too seriously

“Iโ€™ve tried to be a grownup. But I have no interest in living by the adult rule book. I want to do fun things that make me happy, which by the way, for the record, include making vegeta-pals. Meet Mr. Butternut. You might call me a child. Good. If adults had even a slightest in the moment joy of a child then frankly the world would be a better place.โ€

She sums it up pretty well. While growing up, we are taught to be more grown-up, serious, and dignified. We often make the false connection between behaviors or appearance and intelligence. But we donโ€™t need to take ourselves too seriously. The show Miranda and her successful comedy career never would have taken off if she were defensive of her own life. The show is exaggerating things that didnโ€™t go well in her real life. See? Itโ€™s okay to goof around. Itโ€™s okay to laugh at funny words, sing out loud, and gallop instead of run. Why not? It doesnโ€™t mean that youโ€™re not mature. That attitude comes from an individualโ€™s insecurity. We are taught to โ€˜actโ€™ dignified because thatโ€™s how people judge each other. If you are truly a mature and dignified person, you shouldnโ€™t be afraid of what other people think of your jolliness.
 

Miranda knows how to celebrate Christmas
Miranda knows how to celebrate Christmas

 

Lesson 5: Love is important, but it’s not everything

โ€œSince I split up with Gary, Iโ€™ve truly sorted out who I really am.โ€

Miranda announced that after her final break-up with Gary, the one who she’d been in love with for the last fifteen years. Their paths crossed many times, but it seemed like it was too difficult. But at the end of the series, Miranda gave us a great ending: their wedding.

They had numerous bumps on the way, but finally found each other. Itโ€™s a great romance that everyone had hoped to see, but it was more meaningful because it happened after Miranda got to know herself more and found out that she could be independent without love, or Gary. Finding love is important, maybe the most important thing in oneโ€™s life, but it is certainly not everything. Love can only happen when individuals are independent, and content in their own lives.

 

Miranda, getting over Gary for the last time
Miranda, getting over Gary for the last time

 

If you want to know more about Miranda Hart, and you should, here are some starter’s kit.


 
#This post includes affiliate links from Amazon.

 

7 thoughts on “My, What I Call, Life Lessons Learned from Miranda”

  1. What great advice. We like #4 the most – we aim to never grow up in some ways, always wanting to enjoy simply pleasures, like seeing an animal in the wild, and always being able to laugh. I’ve already made a plan of dying my hair purple once I get white hair – I see it as a tapestry. ๐Ÿ™‚
    It’s looks like you are indeed having lots of fun in your life!

    We believe that while love IS everything but doesn’t need to have a narrow definition of a romantic love to another person. Love for oneself, love for one’s friends and family and love for the world are very important too. ๐Ÿ™‚

  2. I love these lessons!! My personal favorite is #5: Love is important, but it’s not everything.

    That’s pretty powerful stuff, if you ask me! People tend to put love up on a pedestal and seek it in favor of developing themselves as an individual first. I know I used to be guilty of that!

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