7 Life Lessons Learned By Watching M*A*S*H
(303 words, 1.5-minute read)
A while back, I wrote a post titled “8 Life Lessons Learned from Thomas Magnum.” An unusual source for life advice, but the post seemed to hit a sweet spot among several people, and I wasn’t quite sure why.
I admit, I watch old TV programs while I am cooking dinner. I have several theories about why I gravitate toward the oldies, one of which is nostalgia for my own childhood. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized there are underlying themes I gravitate toward that mirror my own life philosophy and writing: resilience, grief, friendship, leadership, and finding humor in difficult times.
M*A*S*H fits perfectly into the trend.
Unlike Magnum P.I., M*A*S*H presents situations that highlight all the cast members and range from petty disagreements to true teamwork under extremely difficult conditions. So, here are seven lessons learned from watching reruns of M*A*S*H.
Corporal Maxwell Klinger - Uniforms are optional, or at least accessories well. Individuality matters even in highly structured environments, and people find creative ways to express who they are.
Colonel Sherman Potter – Sometimes you don’t get the chance to tweak your work. “Done and Closed” is better than “Pretty” and Perfect.”
Captain Benjamin “Hawkeye” Pierce - Humor can defuse the tension in the most stressful moments.
Major Margaret Houlihan – No matter where you stand in the pecking order, integrity and character matter more than your title or pinned collars claim.
Captain B.J. Hunnicutt- In the end, they have each other’s back.
Major Charles Emerson Winchester – There is always room for humility and growth. No one arrives fully formed. The people who grow the most are willing to admit when they’re wrong and keep learning.
Father John Mulcahy – Being kind and understanding doesn’t mean you have to be a pushover.
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