J.R.R. Tolkien uses names and words in his stories, like "Rivendell, Hobbiton, and Lothlorien," that instantly conujure up images and thoughts of peace in the readers mind. Although that his stories take place in areas where there are none of the petty everyday concerns that we face, the inhabitants of those places still teach us many valuable lessons about true happiness and fulfillment. There are 6 lessons that stand out most in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
(1.)Delight in Simple Things-
The Hobbits enjoy in simple pleasures like eating, drinking, and attending parties. They live in a close relationship with the earth. The elves, not unlike the Hobbits, enjoy simple pleasures such as telling tales, watching the stars, and making beautiful things. The greek philosopher Epicurus said that there was a distinct need for simple things because they were often nicer and easier to obtain.
(2.)Make Light of Your Troubles-
The Hobbits will often experience painful and very trying tasks, but right after will be conversing in a jolly manner again. Gandalf comments on the Hobbits amazing ability to recover. When Merry and Pippin are seperated, they miss ech other's unquenchable cheerfulness and when they are reunited, their talk is so light-hearted you cannot even tell that they were just in dire peril. Making light of troubles also means finding hope and beauty in even the most dire of circumstances.
(3.)Get Personal-
The Hobbits are a highly sociable people and their dwellings are often spacious and full of members of distant families. They dont lock their doors at night, and no Hobbit ever killed another on purpose in the Shire. The inhabitants of the Shire are all so close-knit that they dont have the need for government and have only the minimum amount of security force. They all have a remarkable capacity for friendship and all insist on accompanying Frodo on his task to destroy the Ring. The most important thing necessary to happiness is satisfying close relationships with your family, friends, and romantic partners.
(4.)Cultivate Good Character-
Tolkien once said that one of his goals in the writing of the Lord of the Rings series was the encouragement of good morals. In the Lord of the Rings, most good characters come to good ends and vice versa for the bad ones. Goodness is neither a necessary nor a sufficient condition for being happy, but most the time there is a strong connection between goodness and happiness. Hobbits knew the truths in their bones, and so do we most of the time, we just have a need to be reminded.
(5.)Cherish and Create Beauty-
All the cities of the good guys are white or colorful, well lit, and beautiful, whereas the towns associated with the orcs are black, barren, and ugly. Tolkien saw a connection between creativity and happiness. Our happiest moment are often periods of self-conscious absorption. The reason the Hobbits and Humans in general are so fascinted by and need beauty in their lives is because God made the word and so is an artist, and humans are made in his image and likeness and so we too are all artists.
(6.)Rediscover Wonder-
Certain characters in Lord of the Rings have the ability to find winder in all things. Tom Bombadil took the vows of poverty and has no desire to own anything so much so that the One Ring of Power has no effect on him. Elves see the sunlight with infinite wonder and desire, where humans look at it and say "ho-hum." the elves rarely experience boredom because of their fascination with smaller things. Tolkien wants us to learn from the elves, and cultivate wonder, delight, and freshness of vision.
When done reading Lord of the Rings, your view on the normal things of life are altered. After we view ents, we forever see beeches and elms differently. The ocean and moon and sun suddenly seem majestic. We begin to see the world as the elves view it, as miraculous and entirely full of the grandeur from Iluvatar their Creator.