Positivity (and Hope) – The Shawshank Redemption

Andy Dufresne is a young and successful banker whose life changes drastically when he is convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his wife and her lover. Set in the 1940s, the film shows how Andy, with the help of his friend Red, the prison entrepreneur, turns out to be a most unconventional prisoner.

Human beings have the potential to be some pretty resilient creatures, but sometimes it can be hard for us to get back on our feet once we’ve been knocked down. The Shawshank Redemption is such a great story because it reminds us of the importance of staying positive no matter what your circumstances. Andy has it rough—imagine being imprisoned for a crime you didn’t even commit—but he builds a secret world within himself, separate and removed from the harsh realities of daily life in jail. With this inner strength, he shrugs off all the blows that Shawshank rains down on him and, even more importantly, he inspires other prisoners, like Red, to do the same.

Remember Red, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.