Most of you have probably come across LEGO bricks at one point or another. What started out as a wooden toy back in 1932 is now a studded, plastic key to creativity. LEGO bricks are loved by all ages, and can play a central role in a child’s development and upbringing. Though intended to help develop motor skills, creativity and spacial reasoning, there is little doubt that the life lessons that can be learnt from LEGO bricks extend far beyond their plastic studs.

 

 

1. You have to break down the good to build up the great

People often strive for good. Good is comfortable, good is achievable and good is a job well done. However, those who want more than good often have to start making sacrifices in their lives. Sure, this lesson is best learnt by people trying to succeed in their careers or get into the best physical shape of their lives, but it is also clear with LEGO builders at an early age. In order to build something better, sometimes you have to take a LEGO set you really like and sacrifice it, though not in vain. Did I really want to destroy my LEGO City Police Station? No, not really. But I needed the base plates to create what had been at the time an epic underground bunker which eventually, also met its end in order to construct something greater.

 

2. Sometimes the journey can be more fulfilling than the destination

At present, LEGO sets are ever-growing in both piece count and complexity. As I'm sure many of you already know, it is difficult as a student to set time aside for doing the things you are passionate about. So, now more than ever, I try to enjoy the experience of the build rather than the finished product. This is interesting in itself, as it allows me to see how the models are designed, and the different ways in which the same bricks are used never ceases to amaze me. It has also helped me to learn that sometimes the journey can be more enjoyable than the destination. Sure, working towards your goals is great, but sometimes it is better to just live in the moment and make the most of the present.

 

3. Every set has a valuable piece

Some LEGO sets seem to demand a lot more money or time than they're worth. However, regardless of the set, there is always a piece (or more) that is unique to it specifically, or at least very uncommon (like the infinity stones in the Avengers: Infinity War sets back when they had just been released). This idea is applicable to life experiences, as even the most mundane life moments can have valuable ‘pieces’ to them that make them worthwhile. Sometimes it takes a lot of shuffling through a vast amount of commonality and often monotony to find them, but just about anything has something unique and memorable that makes it worthwhile.

 

All in all, though thought by many to be a children's toy, LEGO can be used by people of all ages, whether as a stress reliver after a hard day's work, or just as a way to connect with their inner child. LEGO is all about creativity, ingenuity and most importantly: having fun, though it might also help provide an insight into a few useful life lessons along the way. As Ole Kirk Christiansen once said, ‘The brick is the most important toy in the world.’