What’s the most important lesson Emma Swan has taught you?
Lizzie: The most important lesson Emma taught me is that you make your own destiny, you decide who you are and no one else can define you or tell you how to act or how to feel. You are in control of your life.
Sameera: Your past doesn’t define you. You may spend the first 28 years of your life thinking your parents rejected you, you may believe your boyfriend abandoned you in jail-but one day, you will be walked down the aisle by your parents to the love your life waiting for you at the altar. (I would continue but I get really emotional thinking about the Captain Swan wedding…)
Stephanie: Keep going. No matter what life throws at you, don’t give up. Emma never gives up. She literally had to make the decision to kill (not just kill but stab with a giant sword!) the love of her life in order to save her family. And then within a day she’s figured out a way to get him back. She never quits. She never backs down. She keeps pushing for what she wants and what she believes in.
Ginny: That love and happiness is worth it and is nothing to be afraid of, even if you’ve had bad experiences in the past. Being kind, compassionate and loving is a key part of life, but you don’t have to be afraid to kick ass if someone decides to question who you are. You are unique, special and have every right to make your own choices and live your life how you decide.
Pip: Be yourself, the haters be damned. Allow yourself to be open and real and maybe a bit unsavory, and own every part of that. You aren’t defined by your experiences but by how you choose to live because of, or in spite of, them.
Lindsay: I did sort of answer it in an earlier question, but to add in another quote. ‘I am not nothing! I was never nothing!’. Emma Swan has taught me that yeah, life is terrible and people can be terrible but it doesn’t have to be. We make the most of it, because we are worthy.
Charles: That no matter what life throws at you, you don’t have to be afraid to open yourself up again to love and being happy with yourself and your life. Never stop fighting for the people and things you care about the most in your life.
Katie: You have the power to define yourself, and you should always surround yourself with people who give you that power and don’t try to take it from you. You are worthy of happiness and love, and embracing the belief that you’re worthy of those things will make you stronger than you ever believed possible.
Maria: The most important lesson Emma Swan taught me was to find a new definition of strength. Strength can be physical and mental, but we can be strong in a plethora of different ways. We can find strength through our significant others, our family, our friends, our pets, or ourselves. Emma Swan taught me to be brave in the midst of conflict, to be selfless and how to rise above any challenge. We are all insecure, it’s natural, and she has shown us how it’s okay. You aren’t weak for feeling scared or small, but you can gather strength from your weaknesses. If she has taught me one thing, it’s okay to be wrong and to be proven wrong by people who love you. Life is a journey (wear comfy shoes!) and learning from your mistakes is something that gives us strength.
Heather: That you’re not always going to be that sad lonely little girl. Your past doesn’t define you. Your weaknesses build character. You have the power to change your life and circumstance. That love comes from the most unexpected of places and people. Self acceptance and love are key.
Meredith: Do I have all day?! Emma Swan has taught me how to be my own hero, whether that is being brave enough to go after the things I want, persevering and fighting the tough battles, allowing others in when the urge to go it alone is strong. She has taught me that leaning into love can bring joy. She’s been an excellent example of a selfless friend willing to lay her life down for the sake of her loved ones.
Funmbi: Emma Swan has taught me that we all deserve to love and be loved. No matter your circumstances, you are worthy.
La Shawna: For me is that the past doesn’t define you as a person. A person’s life is ever evolving and that you as a person have the power to change that. No one else has that power. Love is worth fighting for as is happiness.
Rose: Emma has taught me not to give up – there are days when you want to give up but you can’t, you can’t let fear or anger take over. So many things in life get you down, but you have to rise above it and know that tomorrow will even be better if you don’t give up today. That you could be missing out on something down the road, that you need to keep fighting for it it may not happen overnight but eventually it will.