How many times have you imagined Green Gables and Avonlea while daydreaming? Have you ever caught yourself smiling when thinking about the friendship Anne and Diana share? Haven’t you ever wanted to have an uncle like Matthew Cuthbert—or an aunt like Marilla? Well, well. You are not alone, I must say. It has been nearly 115 years since L. M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables was first published, and if you haven’t read the book or seen the anime, you have probably come across “Anne with an E” on Netflix, which unfortunately has been stopped (a bummer, indeed!).
Why after over a century, we are still reading and watching the stories of our beloved Anne Shirley? I’m sure at least half of us have experienced feelings of not being wanted a few times in our lives If not more! Wanting to be better-looking, dreaming of finding true love, looking for kindred spirits. The enduring story of L. M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables is truly a lesson for us all. Anne Shirley’s journey is an inspiration and if you’re asking why, continue reading!
L. M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables is full of relatable characters. What’s more important for me personally, is how astute Montgomery was in the era she was living to create such real characters. In fact, Anne’s quirks and sometimes annoying characteristics are what make her so relatable. Her tendency to talk to herself, her imaginative storytelling, and her emotional vulnerability humanize her character. In a world that often celebrates perfection (I can’t imagine how worse it was a century ago!), Anne Shirley reminds us to embrace our imperfections. Anne’s legacy of courage and authenticity is a lesson for us all. She started out as an unwanted orphan; someone whose presence was not pleasant to almost anyone. There were times when I was on the verge of crying to witness how cruel Anne’s foster families were to her, but to my surprise, Anne always managed to create something spectacular out of every unbearable truth. This “uncanny” looking, talkative, red-haired girl whom we have come to receive as a dear friend, is a lot more than just a fictional character, no doubt, and there is a lot to learn from Green Gables lessons.
1. Embracing Imperfections and Authenticity: Anne Shirley’s Journey of Self-discovery
Remember Anne’s red hair? And her freckles? From the moment she steps into Green Gables, she gains attention to the fact that her unruly red hair and freckles do not meet conventional standards of beauty. Although she spends many nights praying that she will turn good-looking as a grown-up, at some point, she embraces her imperfections and even comes to like them. It is not only limited to her appearance. Being an orphan itself was a fundamental issue in her time, but look how things turned out for her.
Do you spend hours in front of the mirror rebuking yourself for having some extra pounds on? Or telling yourself how unlovable you are? What if you make friends with the person in the mirror? The journey of self-discovery starts with self-acceptance. Not having blue eyes? Fine. Not tall enough? That’s also fine. Maybe a little inspiration from Anne Shirley’s journey of self-discovery will help.
Our Anne with and E came across as imperfect to some, but it didn’t take long for anyone around her to start becoming fond of how comfortable she was with herself, how authentic, and how imperfectly perfect she was.
We’re living in an era where technology dictates what we should pay attention to, but Anne Shirley’s journey reminds us to navigate our own unique paths, whether by standing true to who we are. What she does is definitely no easy task, but it gives us hope, doesn’t it? No matter how much L. M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables reminds us of how ugly or pale-looking Anne is, to everyone around her, she is beautiful inside and out.
2. Kindred Spirits Forever
How about bad relationships, miscommunications, and misunderstandings? Well, you could learn a lot from Anne’s quest for kindred spirits indeed. From her earliest moments in Avonlea, Anne’s heart gravitates toward those who understand and resonate with her spirit.
The concept of kindred spirits—simply individuals who share a profound connection—becomes a cornerstone of her journey. I’ve never come across a better friend than her. Her profound connections with the ones she loves tell us a lot about the importance of nurturing genuine bonds. The nature of her friendships highlights unwavering loyalty and support. There are no better testaments than her best friend Diana and her sweetheart Gilbert. Even through the hardest of times, somehow, she manages to forgive, empathize, and stand by them.
What’s even more beautiful is that she does not try to mold her loved ones into who she wants. On the contrary, she appreciates their unique qualities. She not only is herself with her friends but also lets them be authentic around her. She appreciates the time spent with her loved ones.
So next time you’re having a get-together with your classmates, friends, or colleagues, try to enjoy every seconf of it, because who knows what the future might bring, right? If you have found your kindred spirits, don’t let those bonds break easily, as they are probably not replaceable. So, before you send that angry text, think: Is it worth it? Here’s what we could all learn something from Anne Shirley’s journey: Be a good friend! Whether you’re experiencing a misunderstanding with your BFF or have gone off the track with your specific someone, and if you’re true kindred spirits, see if you can sort things out instead of burning every bridge behind you.
3. Dare to Dream and Be Ambitious: Anne’s Legacy of Courage and Ambition
Always chase your dreams; never settle. This is the advice Anne gives us. Imagination is what keeps our aspirations alive and who better than Anne to learn from? She is not some extraterrestrial lunatic doing crazy things, on the contrary, what she does are as simple as extraordinary they are. Her vivid imagination is a cornerstone of her character. She sees magic in the everyday and transforms ordinary moments into extraordinary adventures. Looking for adventure is not childish, it’s human. Anne reminds us that nurturing our imagination not only feeds our inner worlds but can also fuel our ambitions.
Have you ever stayed persistent in reaching a dream and tried to turn it into reality? Remember the ecstatic feeling that came after that? What if we could all do that on a daily basis? Of course, there are doubts along our journeys, but that is no excuse. Time and again Anne faces doubt and skepticism from those who question her ambitions. However, her self-belief rescued her.
Having a vision and staying focused on it despite all conundrums will bring our aspirations into reality. However, what’s also important is hard work. Dreams require passion and sweat and the journey toward them is as important as the destination. What we grasp from Anne’s legacy of courage and ambition is: Always dream, work hard, never settle.
4. Resilience and Determination: Give up? Never!
Afraid of challenges? Maybe you should think twice before you step away from the next challenge in your life. I cannot emphasize enough how resilience and determination are vital to our survival in this complicated world. From her very early days, Anne with an E faces a series of challenges that could easily break any of us. Instead, she confronts them with a spirit of determination and a refusal to be defeated. Do you have an evil landlord? Are you struggling with a mean boss? Maybe you should see these adversities as a catalyst for your personal growth! Now I am not paying lip service here. I actually mean it. L. M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables gives us a lesson of not giving up.
The setbacks Anne Shirley experiences are enough to discourage even the strongest spirits. Yet, she remains steadfast in her pursuit of goals, she refuses to take no for an answer. Whether it’s overcoming academic hurdles or navigating complex relationships (either romance or friendships!), her resilience always reminds me that setbacks are not the end of everything, but rather opportunities to reassess, and ultimately prevail.
Anne’s optimism and determination serve as reservoirs from which she draws inspiration when things get tough. How many obstacles can we overcome by being resilient and determined? I would say a great many! We have just recently been hearing about how we should refuse to conform and must let ourselves be defined by our environment and circumstances. Well, guess what! That was basically what Anne did more than a century ago. So, it makes her even more special.
I must say though, embracing Anne’s example does not mean that we should avoid difficulties. Quite the opposite, resilience means confronting setbacks with courage and using them as opportunities for triumph. As a writer, I have faced many obstacles in my career life, but now that I look back, resilience helped me not fall apart through hard times.
5. Life Lessons from Anne of Green Gables: Speak Your mind, Do What Your Heart Says
How many times have you wished you were able to express what you really think but were not able to? Well, here’s your chance. This time when you’re sitting with a group of people who are telling misogynistic jokes, don’t be afraid to tell them how uncomfortable they are making you feel. If you truly believe in something let nothing impede your potential to express it. Anne does not stay silent; she teaches us to be courageous enough to communicate what we think without the fear of being judged or rejected.
Over the past few days of my life I’ve heard this a lot: Follow your heart. But how do we know what our hearts really want? Well, why don’t you take another look at our dearest Anne? From the moment she arrives, her unique way of expressing herself strikes us all as a surprise. Her vocabulary is out of the ordinary and she is not the least bit afraid to share her thoughts and dreams and her unfiltered authenticity.
In a society that can pressure us to conform, Anne’s example encourages us to stay true to our individuality and express ourselves without fear of judgment. Wanna drop out of college and become a painter? Go head! Wanna become a famous singer against all odds? What are you waiting for?! Isn’t it scary? Of course it is! But Anne is unafraid of vulnerability. Speaking up against injustice or inequality is kind of her specialty. In other words, if you want to see change, be an advocate for that change.
So, to conclude I must say, as we read through the sweet pages of L. M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables, we come across timeless lessons that could simply transform our lives. Anne is authentic, she values friendship more than anything, she dreams big and is not ashamed of it, she is resilient in the face of adversity and she is courageous to speak her mind whenever it is needed.
Aren’t they rare qualities we all look for in our relationships with significant others? Well, why don’t we try and learn them from her ourselves? Her story reminds us that we are all imperfect and that’s what makes us perfect. Imperfections are what make us beautifully human, that true friendships are nurtured through loyalty and understanding, and that the path to self-discovery is a journey worth embarking upon.
So as we bid farewell to Avonlea and Green Gables, let us carry Anne’s legacy in our hearts. I say let’s choose to embrace our uniqueness, forge meaningful connections, chase our dreams relentlessly, overcome challenges with unwavering determination, and always be brave to express what we think matters. Anne is one of us. She can be any of us actually—you, me. Take a moment and think about it, what other life lessons from Anne of Green Gables can you learn?