Being born in 1995, I certainly didn't watch "Sex and the City" when it was on-air. It wasn't until high school that I truly got into what is now my favorite show.
I feel as though "Sex and the City" will always be one of those classic television shows that every generation will watch at at least some point in their lives. The show has so much more to offer than Manolos and Cosmos.
From love and relationships, to heartaches and friendships, I'm sure I'm not the only one who has been taught some valuable life lessons from Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda.
1. Beauty sleep is key.
Remember when Carrie stayed out all night partying with her friends and didn’t get any sleep for the photoshoot she had in the morning? Her headline went from “Single and Fabulous!” to “Single and Fabulous?”
Not everything is about looks, but getting enough sleep will keep you energized and able to do your best the next day. There’s so many health benefits to being well rested, it’s definitely worth it. If beauty sleep was what was standing in between me and Bradley Cooper, I would certainly get my eight hours.
2. Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
How many times have you been away for someone for a long time, yet you just like them that much more? You could not see someone for years and something will make you think of them and all the fond memories you’ve had together. It’s a corny saying, but for the most part, it’s the truth.
3. It's OK to be a "shitty person."
At one point or another in our lives, we’re all shitty people. You don’t have to be the most ideal person 24/7. We’re only human. We’re not going to always be polite or think of others before we think of ourselves.
That being said, every little bad thing we do does not make us shitty people. Running away from her ex when on the sidewalk didn’t make Miranda a shitty person, and it won’t make you one either.
4. Not all women have to be goddesses in the kitchen.
Let’s face it, some of us are like Martha Stewart, and some of us aren’t. It’s a fact of life. While some of us can host these fabulous dinner parties and whip up a five course meal at the drop of a hat, a majority of us consider it a victory if we don’t have to use a microwave to heat our dinner.
Furthermore, not every woman has to know how to cook just because she’s a female. This is one gender stereotype that does not hold true in SATC. It’s okay to be like Carrie and have the only use for your oven to be storage.
5. Style has no age.
Take it from Samantha Jones, she was always the oldest one of her group, yet she always looked fabulous! Just because you’re aging doesn’t mean you have to look like it.
Style is about self expression. If you feel fabulous, then dress the part! Don’t follow societal norms, if you want to be fifty-two and wear the same dress on the red carpet as pop princess Miley Cyrus, go for it!
6. Sometimes it's best to take some alone time.
With school, work, and so much other stuff going on in our lives, it’s easy to get caught up with not stopping for a moment and taking time for ourselves. Some of the best moments I’ve had were when I spent the day to myself curled up in bed with a good book or my favorite movie.
Heed this advice, especially if you have a busy life. You don’t always have to be on the go or with friends. Do nothing, even if just for one day, you’ll love it, I promise.
7. We're can all be a little "emotionally slutty" at times.
Ever have one of those times when you can’t control what’s coming out of your mouth but you can’t stop talking either? Word vomit. Now, ever have one of those times when you just kept talking to someone about intimate details that you know you shouldn’t be sharing with them, you know they don’t care about it, and what you’re saying makes you seem a little bit crazy? That’s being emotionally slutty.
These things happen. Sure, it can be embarrassing. Sure, you probably wish you could take it back, but we’ve all been there. There’s no use dwelling on the past.
Furthermore….
8. Sometimes the past is just the past.
You don’t always have to know every single detail about someone’s past. Bringing up useless information from someone’s past won’t make your future any better. In most cases, digging up the past causes more problems and arguments. Even though it’s difficult and tempting not to, sometimes you just have to let things be.
9. Being a sexual person doesn't make you a slut.
It’s okay if you’re a sexual or promiscuous person. If that’s who you are, then that’s who you are.
10. Always love yourself first.
No matter who walks into your life, you have to put yourself first. If you don’t love and respect yourself, then what kind of life are you living? You are the most important thing in your life. Don’t forget that or let anyone let you think otherwise.
Live the life that you want to live. Realize that every decision you make will ultimately affect you the most, so do what you want to do with your life. It may be tough to put yourself before the other person in your relationship or a friend, but you have to think of yourself first.
11. Being truthful doesn't make you a bitch.
I know everyone always says “just be yourself”, but it’s true. If you’re a blunt person who likes to say it like it is, you’re not a bitch. And if someone calls you a bitch for acting like that, they’re truly just jealous of your confident attitude. It’s as simple as that.
12. Drunk dialing is never a good idea.
This one might be a given, but it is a good life lesson. Don’t ever drunk dial someone… ever. Texts, phone calls, FaceTime, whatever it may be, it’s not a good idea and it’s not going to end well. Sure, it may seem like a good idea at the time, it may even seem like the BEST idea at the time. But the reality is you’re just going to wake up in the morning with regret.
13. Sometimes you're just over, and that's OK.
Sometimes life throws unexpected curveballs at us. They may have reason, or they may be inexplicable, but either way, they just happen.
Sometimes things just end. Maybe you and a friend have drifted apart. Maybe you just broke it off with your boyfriend/girlfriend. Things don’t always have to have a reason. Once in a while, things just end and that’s okay.
14. Some people aren't worth the tears.
We encounter a lot of people in our lives. It’s the cold, hard truth that some of the people we meet just aren’t nice. Some people aren’t worth the pain and crying when they leave our lives. Hold your head high and focus on the future. Things will get better. You don’t need to waste your time on someone that didn’t really care for you. They’re not worth it.
15. "The one" will come along when the time is right.
We’ve all been at that point where it seems like everyone around us is getting into relationships and we’re the only ones singled out. It’s annoying, and frustrating, and hard.
It’s okay to get frustrated. You just have to remember that your time is coming. When you least expect it, good things happen. Focus on yourself and the rest will fall into place. Just be patient!
16. Don't get too caught up with yourself.
It’s really easy to over-analyze ourselves; nitpicking every single thing we do or say, it’s the worst thing we can do. If you keep doing this, you’ll go crazy. Just relax.
That being said...
17. Don't get caught up in what others are saying about you either.
This will really drive you crazy. The only thing that truly matters is what you think of yourself. What people say when they judge you is useless to worry about. It won’t do you any good. Hold your head high and forget the haters.
Ultimately...
18. YOU DO YOU!
Societal standards don’t matter. Whatever makes you happy is most important. Who cares what others think. If it’s something you love and truly benefits your attitude and continues your happiness, go for it!
Whether or not this includes getting frisky with a delivery man like Samantha, Embrace whatever lifestyle you want to live.
19. Your soulmate doesn't always have to be the love of your life.
A soulmate you can have doesn’t necessarily have to be a love or a significant other. The best soulmate you can have are your friends. Should we ever be so lucky to have an amazing group of friends like Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda to stick by our sides and love one another unconditionally. That’s what a being soulmate is about.
20. Find those who will always be there for you.
In addition to the previous point, make sure you surround yourself with those who will always love you for you. Companionship and unconditional love are important when finding those who will truly be there for you. Through thick and thin, the ups and downs, having friends you know will be there forever is an amazing feeling to have.
21. And finally...
Enough said.
"Sex and the City" being so open about sexuality crushes the stereotype that women must be modest when it comes to ourselves and sex. I wouldn’t mind seeing more women like Samantha Jones roaming the streets if it meant more understanding that women are free to express themselves in whatever manner they so choose. It’s an important life lesson to learn.
With that being said, I’ve learned a lot by watching "Sex and the City" and I wouldn’t trade these lessons for anything in the world. I’ve grown as a person by knowing what the show taught me. Yes, I’ve learned about love, but I think what is most important is that I learned about friendships. How can you not understand how important friendships are after watching an unbreakable group of friends for six seasons and two feature films?
"Sex and the City" has taught me the importance of female relationships and embracing other women. I feel having Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda presented to us as strong female role models will definitely benefit any generation that watches.
Carrie did say it best: “They say nothing lasts forever. Dreams change, trends come and go, but friendships never go out of style.”
