When Love Teaches You to Live: Lessons from Me Before You
Watching movies has been one of my favorite hobbies ever since I was a child. It doesn’t matter whether it’s in English, Hindi, Tamil, or any other language, if a film feels interesting, I’ll watch it. Over the years, my brother has been a huge influence on this passion of mine. He’s the one who always recommends movies, introducing me to stories I might have otherwise missed.
Some movies entertain us, making us laugh and forget the world for a while. Once in a while we come across movies that are like rare gems that quietly touch our hearts, reminding us of the simple beauty in life and offering gentle lessons we didn’t even know we needed.
This is about one such movie I watched a year ago, a film that has now become my comfort movie.
Me Before You, the 2016 romantic drama based on Jojo Moyes' bestselling novel, is a sensitive, heartbreaking, and deeply inspiring story about love, loss, and discovering meaning in the most unexpected places in life.
The movie follows the story of Louisa Clark, a quirky, cheerful young woman with a colorful wardrobe and an even brighter spirit, and Will Traynor, a once adventurous, charismatic man whose life is changed forever after a tragic accident leaves him paralyzed.
As the story unfolds, we witness how Louisa, with her infectious energy and relentless optimism, slowly breaks through Will’s hardened exterior. What begins as an awkward, professional arrangement gradually turns into a beautiful friendship, and eventually, something even deeper. Through their bond, both Louisa and Will begin to see life from a different perspective, teaching each other about courage, choice, and the importance of truly living.
What makes Me Before You so special to me isn’t just its romantic storyline or the emotional performances, but the way it gently reminds us to cherish the simple, ordinary moments in life. In a world often obsessed with perfection, youth, and happily ever after, this movie reminds me how the simple acts we sometimes ignore in our day-to-day life leave the deepest and most lasting impacts on a heart.
The ending of the movie and the Will’s decision about his future isn’t what I hoped, or even Lou wished for. But it is portrayed with grace, deep respect, and a genuine recognition of individual dignity in the movie. It opened my mind to a meaningful conversation about life, the power of choice, and the complex meaning of love. Not love as possession or control but love as true understanding and acceptance.
I remember watching this movie a year ago, completely unaware of how much it would stay with me. It quickly became my comfort movie, the one I turn to on days when I need to feel something real, when I need a reminder that life, and I can’t remember how many times I watched it. I can’t remember how many times I’ve watched it, but with all its ups and downs, I still find it beautiful every time.
If you haven’t watched Me Before You yet, I’d definitely recommend it. It’s a story that will make you smile, break your heart a little, and leave you quietly grateful for the people and moments you often overlook.
