House of Cards

I’ve been watching the great American TV series “House Of Cards” a little over a month now. For those who haven’t heard of it, let me break this down for you.

House of cards is a political drama, created by Beau Willimon, starring Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright and many more shining stars. It first appeared on screen  in 2013 and is expecting its 5^th season in 2017.

It tells the story of a US Rep. Frank Underwood, hungry for power and very manipulative, who got promised Secretary of State, but later learns that the President changed his mind. He then plans for revenge and seeks a higher position, with greater power and stronger will.

In order to achieve his evil-like plan, he gets to persuade a lot of people from his entourage and manipulate them, and plays them as a chess game.

I’m only halfway through the second season and I got to learn a lot from the show especially that I’m going for Political science as a major.

Here are a few lessons I’ve learned;

-“I never make such big decisions so long after sunset and so far from dawn”
How many times do we make tough decisions and face harsh consequences due to our lack of thought? We think so little before we act, and we often hit so many walls as a result. We find ourselves put in situations where our decisions and choices may determine our future, it may be decisions on a personal level, career wise, or whatever it may be. Take the time to think it through, see the whole picture and think of further results. Being a rush in such things may hurt us afterwards.

–“Insecurity bores me.”
Confidence, confidence, CONFIDENCE. There’s nothing sexier, greater, better than a confident person. Believing in yourself and in your abilities allows you to go all the way on the road to success, as well as it makes others put a whole lot of thought when it comes to “YOU”.  Believe in yourself, so others have the courage to believe in you too.

-“There are two kinds of pain: the sort of pain that makes you strong, or useless pain; the sort of pain that’s only suffering. I have no patience for useless things.”
It’s completely normal to grief, to feel pain and to experience it. But, what is smart is to never let pain define you. Never let it control you, and lead you, instead, you lead it and you define it. You learn from it and you overcome it. Never give people the chance to think that by hurting you, they can end you.

-“Friends make the worst enemies.”
Does it mean you should isolate yourself from the world and lock yourself in your room? NO. It means, simply, never show all your cards to anyone, not even your closest friends, cause when  the table is turned on you, they are the most powerful enemies, they can hurt you bad cause they know you.

“If you don’t like how the table is set, turn over the table.”
There are so many rule we are ought to live by, but sometimes, breaking the rules is the only way to survive and to break free. You shouldn’t feel oppressed by the rules, if you don’t like how things are going, change them.

“I wouldn’t be sitting here if I wanted a shoulder to cry on.”
Do. Not. Expect. Pity.
The world isn’t a wish granting factory, you won’t get the sweet treatment every time you’re hurting. Whatever the situation, be your own shoulder to cry on, that’s between you and only you. In the outside world, you’re strong and you can handle it all.

Life is hard, politics is harder. I’m pretty obsessed with this series, and I suggest you all watch it. It lights a flame of motivation to get things done. I’ll be posting about it when I get to finish the 3^rd and 4^th season !

Enjoy your weekend my friends 🙂