Sure, you could argue that Rachel Green essentially grew up without having any real sense of responsibility. And sure, the first time we meet her is when she left her soon-to-be husband at the altar because he looked like Mr. potato head. And yes, she may have been in her mid-20s before learning how to do laundry, and even that didn't go as planned. But within fifteen minutes of the first episode, Rachel leaps towards a life of independence and easily becomes one of the most relatable characters on the show.
Despite her on-again-off-again relationship with Ross, I'd say we learned a lot from Rachel. So here are five life lessons to live by as told by Rachel Green, over the course of ten seasons:
1. You don't have to be a shoe, if you're meant to be a purse.
OK so, Rachel was never great with metaphors, but you get the gist. Never settle. Sometimes taking the path that was laid out for you doesn't make it the right one and Rachel shows us that right off the bat. It may have been easier to marry the orthodontist she didn't love, giving her some sort of direction and financial stability, but that would have just made her a "shoe," polished and crafted by her daddy.
Rachel may never have become that purse she desired to be if she didn't choose to make her own path. Even though there were a lot of bumps and curves on that path, she ended up being stronger because of it.
2. It's okay not to fit in.
This one is plain and simple. Rachel taught us to always be true to ourselves and not just because she left the man she didn't love at the altar.
We all know Rachel has dealt with some pretty tough trials and tribulations, from people in her old world not approving of Rachel's choice to try and make it on her own to trouble fitting in at work. When Rachel kept missing out on information at work because she didn't smoke, she attempted to fit in by smoking for the first time.
Although she ultimately tries to hide it from her friends and mask the smell, they are not pleased when they figure it out. Her friends' disapproval of Rachel smoking mainly stems from their disappointment over Rachel pretending to be someone she's not, a smoker.
3. What's meant to be will be.
One word. Ross.
4. Where you start is not where you have to end up.
Rachel started as a terrible waitress and wondering why "he's [FICA] getting all [her] money." She constantly mixed up her friends’ coffee orders, and let's not forget her first attempt at making coffee herself was a disaster. While Rachel eventually got pretty good at waitressing, she took yet another blind leap when she leaves a job she's finally comfortable in to pursue a career in fashion.
5. Friends become family.
In every episode of F.R.I.E.N.D.S., we see how friendship plays an integral part in Rachel's everyday life. At the beginning of the series, Monica takes Rachel in despite drifting apart after high school and not receiving an invitation to her wedding.
We constantly see Rachel's friends encourage her to make decisions that positively impact her life. When we see Rachel cutting up her credit cards, essentially taking her most notable step toward independence, her friends are right there supporting her. Rachel's taught us the importance of having a support system you can rely on, and her friends make up one heck of a team.
