Life hacks from the Fellowship of the Ring.

We all need role models. Why not pick someone as epic as Gandalf? Or as strong as Boromir? The nine characters that conformed the Fellowship of the Ring have many lessons to give us. Here, I present just a few. Prepare your sword!

Aragorn

"'Strider!' cried Frodo. 'Yes,' he said with a smile. 'I ask leave once again to be your companion, Frodo."

Be a king, but be humble

For three lengthy books, he flatly denies that he is destined to be a king. Recently I have heard a lot about impostor's syndrome. Aragorn had a bit of it, he didn't think he was good enough to be king. Rings a bell? Maybe you or someone close to you has the big problem of being incredibly talented without actually realizing it.

Yes, you deserve a kingdom, but don't forget your subjects.

Although Aragorn knows that he is the heir of Isildur, he treats everyone with humbleness. He is the first to save a group of hobbits, a minority within a land ravaged by wars and injustice. Sometimes, we forget that we must not only pursue success but make the trip lighter for others.

Take a moment to think about who are the hobbits in your life. Who needs your support while they are threatened by Nazgûls? With them you must to be humble. Behave like the king that you are.

Gimli

"Hammer and tongs! I am so torn between rage and joy, that if I do not burst, it will be a marvel!"

Be clear like a diamond

Gimli has no qualms about saying what the heart feels. Unlike his companions from other races, he has a little appreciation for diplomacy (or reason) in things.

It's not about you going everywhere telling the elves in your life some home truths, even if they look a lot like your angry boss. It's about putting on fewer filters and taking time to say: "I'm happy, let's drink mead!" "I'm sad, hug me!"

Legolas

"Yes, they are Elves,' said Legolas; 'and they say that you breathe so loud that they could shoot you in the dark."

Breathe: go, aim, shoot

If you live in the Black Forest, where everything wants to catch you and you have to deal with eight-legged evil beings, you need to know how to use a bow, you need to mind your environment with patience and learn to defend yourself.

That takes time, though.

Legolas is one of the best archers precisely because he takes his time to aim and hit the target.

We live in an era that requires us to live at full speed. Also, we have to be multi-faceted and resourceful. Legolas is just like that, one moment he can be using a bow and the next one he'll be wielding a sword to annihilate orcs. However, he takes his time to aim, and when he sees his target, the world around him freezes.

Boromir

"I tried to take the Ring from Frodo,' he said. 'I am sorry."

Have the courage to say you're sorry

The end of the Fellowship of the Ring is overwhelming. Suddenly, the great Boromir, the human recognized for his large body is riddled with arrows of the orcs. He dies, but with dignity.

He apologized before he departed.

Let's be frank: Boromir was almost evil at the end of his days, he tried to steal the fate of the entire Middle Earth, and yet he dared to accept his misgivings. Do it before you fall victim to a horde of arrows puncturing your chest.

How many times have you been rude and unbearable? It is never too late to repent.

Merry

"I am hungry. What is the time?' 'Past supper-time now,' said Pippin"

Eat well. Period.

After a great battle, comes a grand banquet.

Although we can learn many things from Merry, one of the most useful things for our times is that he eats correctly.

Are you one of those that skip lunch because you're working? Bad idea! Every hobbit in the Shire knows that it is necessary to have something in the stomach to work well.

Do not overindulge either, sometimes with lembas under the arm will be enough. It is important to walk as much and climb as many trees as your naughty hobbit nature allows.

Pippin

"'Fool of a Took!' he growled. 'This is a serious journey, not a hobbit walking-party."

Learn from your stupidities

It must feel horrible that the most powerful wizard in all of the Middle Earth marks you as a fool.

Eventually, Pippin learns that he has to be more focused on his affairs and ends up being part of the illustrious people of Gondor.

To reach the high spheres of human power. Or, if you want to meet your goals, you need to fail sometimes, let your superiors tell you how you failed and follow their guidance. At the end of the adventure, I bet you'll be satisfied to look back and see how much you grew.

Frodo

"I will take the Ring," I said, "though I do not know the way."

Take your task to the Mount of Doom

Frodo had many opportunities to deliver the One Ring to his friends, to people who loved him, but from the get-go, he accepted that the burden should be his.

When you embark on a venture, do not pass your burden to the first one that crosses your path, be persistent. The road to the end of a saga is not easy. You have to traverse marshes and face monsters. It is as if in the adventure of setting up a company, you face competition, paperwork, and days when it seems that the sun will not rise.

You will see that, in the end, everything goes well. May Galadriel bless your path.

Sam

"I am glad you are here with me. Here at the end of all things, Sam."

Save your friends from poisonous spiders

Is your friend about to do something apocalyptic? Stop him. Does your friend think he is right but if you leave him alone, a colossal spider will swallow him? Help him.

One of the greatest things from the saga is how the main character understands that he should carry his burden alone but, unexpectedly, his best friend appears at the end of the book to lend him a hand.

We all need a friendship like that. We all need to be more Sam.

Gandalf

"Courage will now be your best defence against the storm that is at hand — that and such hope as I bring."

Be the mentor everyone needs

Our experience can be most useful for our fellowship. Although sometimes you also feel lost, especially when you are in front of Isengard with no one to help you, you know that you have gone a long way.

Never lose the desire to guide those around you, sometimes we forget that we can be useful mentors with advice for the traveler. Listen carefully, ask the necessary questions, and strategize.

Gandalf is wise. He knows who to band together from the beginning. He surrounds himself with talented people and leads his team to the end. They say there are no magic formulas for success. Sometimes it's the team that does the magic. And, sometimes the mentor is magic.

All the quotes were taken from The Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R Tolkien.