Over 14 seasons we’ve followed the adventures of Sam and Dean Winchester as they’ve traveled the country saving people and hunting things. In the midst of all the demon possessions, angel battles and constant apocalypses, there have been some really important life lessons from the brothers, their friends and enemies.
Obviously if there’s ever a monster takeover, we all know how to defend ourselves thanks to Sam and Dean. However, we need to talk about all the ways they’ve prepared us for real life. While we’re sure the boys still have some stuff left to teach us in season 15, we thought it was time to discuss the best life lessons we’ve learned from the Winchesters.
DON'T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER
In the first two seasons, Sam and Dean were shoot first, shoot a little more, then ask a few questions once everything is handled. However, in season three the brothers met a vampire who didn’t feed on humans and it changed everything. Turns out not all monsters were evil.
Since then we’ve seen the duo team up with demons, witches and angels, learning that not all creatures are out to destroy everything, some just want to survive. It’s not a new concept, but not judging others based on your prejudices is a timeless lesson.
STAY AWAY FROM OLD CREEPY HOUSES
Most fans of sci-fi, fantasy and horror have a plan for what to do in the event of a monster/alien attack. Luckily Supernatural fans don’t have to imagine what to do, because Sam and Dean have been telling us for years.
Of course we know to carry silver, iron and holy water, but it seems the best way to avoid danger would be to stay away from old creepy houses. In real life, it’s always smart to keep away from the house everybody in the neighborhood knows is weird and scary.
LET YOUR FREAK FLAG FLY
So much of the world is designed to make people be normal. For years Sam struggled with fitting in with his family, his friends at Stanford, then the hunter community. His problems with demon blood and his connection with Lucifer have made him feel like a freak for his whole life.
Once he learned to accept how different he was and how it made him stronger, he became a better hunter and brother. In a world that wants everyone to be one size fits all, it’s important to recognize how great it is to be a unique weirdo.
ASKING FOR HELP DOESN'T MAKE YOU WEAK
Over the years Sam and Dean have fought a countless number of monsters, some are easy to defeat, while others are more difficult and require a team. One of the best things about the Winchesters is they are never afraid to call help when needed.
Whether it’s Bobby, Cas, Rowena or even Crowley, they have an interesting list of allies to choose from. It’s a lesson more of us can learn, as most people are set on figuring out everything on their own.
DON'T BE AFRAID TO FORGIVE
Considering all the problems and harm the boys have caused, both directly and indirectly, forgiveness isn’t something that comes easy for them. However, when Rufus was lost on a hunt, Bobby confessed that they had never gotten over an incident from the past.
Dean was the first one to offer blanket forgiveness for everything that’s ever happened between them, stating that family always forgives one another. This might be the most true thing Dean has ever said. When it comes to family, it’s always better to just forgive and move on.
FAMILY IS WHO YOU CHOOSE IT TO BE
The tragedy of the Winchesters is they’ve never really had a comfortable family life. From the time they lost their mother, through growing up on the road hunting, they’ve never had a chance for family time. This makes it so nice to see that in their adult years they got a father in Bobby and new brothers in Cas and Jack.
For many fans, this aspect of their story rings the most true, since a lot of viewers are happier with the family they’ve chosen than the one they were born with. Blood doesn’t always make someone family.
NOTHING GOOD COMES FROM REVENGE
No one has seen the brutal after effects of revenge more than Sam and Dean. John ruined their childhoods and basically scarred them for life with his mission to find yellow eyes and make him pay for taking their mother from the family.
Sadly Sam and Dean repeated this mistake with Lucifer and Dick Roman. When they were reunited with Gabriel in season 13 they seemed to finally understand how pointless revenge is. Revenge never works out the way it’s planned and usually leaves things worse than they were to begin with.
DON'T TAKE LIFE TOO SERIOUSLY
Sure their lives revolve around fighting scary monsters, constantly stopping the apocalypse and repeatedly putting themselves in mortal danger, but that doesn’t mean Sam and Dean Winchester don’t know how to have fun too.
At times the show can be one of the scariest on TV, but it’s very good at breaking up the screams with laughs. From “The Real Ghostbusters” to “Changing Channels” to “The French Mistake,” Supernatural is never afraid to poke fun at itself, which leads fans to not take themselves too seriously.
YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE WHO DECIDES YOUR DESTINY
Beginning in season four, the brothers were told they had a destiny bigger than themselves. They were tapped to be Michael and Lucifer’s vessels during the apocalypse showdown, and there was no way out. Fortunately, Team Free Will would not accept that and chose their own destiny.
At some point in life every single one of us has been told that they had to be a certain thing, because that’s what was expected. Thankfully the boys taught us that we’re in charge of our lives and don’t have to live how others demand that we do.
NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN FAMILY
From day one Supernatural let us know that this was a show about family. Sam and Dean started out looking for their missing father, then decided to continue saving people and hunting things, because it’s the family business.
Through everything, the Winchesters always stick together. Of course they fight, what family doesn’t, but at the end of the day they know that family is all that matters. Family will be there when you really need them and never give up on you, even if you’re possessed by evil incarnate.