How Can Zombieland Change Your Life?

The movie Zombieland is a comedic action-packed movie starring the awkward Jesse Eisenburg, crazy Woody Harrelson, the gorgeous Emma Stone, and the loveable and almost classic Bill Murray. It’s a movie about a ragtag bunch that must survive when hell literally appears on Earth. From the beginning, we know there is going to be a lot of zombie killing, which is half the reason to see it; the other half being that you will die laughing due to the comedic genius of Harrelson and Murray. There is also the added bonus for some of us just to look at Emma Stone. I was surprised to get anything out of it besides a few cheap laughs and a few good actions scenes, but in plain view there is one of life’s greatest lessons.

Throughout the film, our main protagonist, played by Eisenburg, has a few rules to surviving in an apocalyptic situation: good cardio and “the double-tap,” or shooting zombies twice to make sure they stay down. Meanwhile, Harrelson is on a relentless quest for the delicious Hostess Twinkies. It is from this small quest that Eisenburg reveals to us life greatest secret: Rule #32: Enjoy the little things.

Most people strive to be the best they can be and work their butts off their entire lives to try and do more and more and more. It’s important to try to live up to your full potential, whether that’s starting your own company, becoming president, or just making it through grad school. Whatever you want out of life is important, but is it worth anything when you never stopped to enjoy what you already have? Sometimes, no matter how hectic your schedule might be, you should just take some time for yourself. Spend it with family and friends, material positions will always be around, but memories you can make with the people you love can run out. Take the time now to just grab some friends and a beer (or “soda”) and hangout. Instead of worrying about the future or dwelling in the past, live now in the present because that is time you are guaranteed. Let things like letting someone help you change your tire or spending time with your grandpa be the things that stick with you. Smile for no reason. Laugh for no reason. Be that annoying guy that’s always happy because he has life figured out.

The moral of it all: just stop and smell the roses in life that are real and forget about the fake ones. Don’t let stuff get to you, and just enjoy the little things. Don’t let it take an apocalypse to help change your life. In the words of Frank Sinatra, “You gotta love livin’, baby, ’cause dyin’ is a pain in the ass.”