"Friends" is one of the most beloved and iconic shows in television history. Beyond all the quirky skits, witty comebacks, and catchy tunes (Smelly Cat anyone?), this TV show and the six unique characters have taught me a lifetime’s worth of lessons in the few weeks that I had my 10-season marathon.
Ross Geller taught me that you should never give up on true love.
How many people have gone through three marriages and three divorces? Even for a fictional character, that's pushing it. We all know him as the man who loves weddings and proposals and it has been a recurring joke throughout the series. But behind all that funny stuff, we do know one thing: Ross Geller is hopelessly, truly in love with Rachel Green. He was in love with her when they were together, and even when they were apart. He has always been in love with Rachel Green, and even if it took him more than a decade to finally work things out, it was worth it. Because even with all those heartaches and mistakes, Ross Geller never gave up on true love. And true love, in his case, was Rachel Green. And that, truly, gives me something beautiful to believe in.
Phoebe Buffay taught me that happiness is a choice.
She grew up with the most traumatically “colorful” childhood stories. She lost her mother to suicide, lived on the streets of the city, got left by her boyfriend(s) several times, discovered that her biological mother isn’t who she actually is, became the surrogate mother of her brother’s triplets, and failed at multiple short-term relationships. But, Phoebe Buffay happens to be the bubbliest in the bunch. Even when low, she still knows how to positively affect the people around her. Her songs, though incredibly absurd, give the lightest and happiest feelings; even the audience beyond the TV screen just can’t get enough of “Smelly Cat.” She made me realize that happiness, no matter what the situation is, is achievable.
Monica Geller taught me that even the best people can’t achieve perfection.
We all know Monica Geller as the obsessive-compulsive-perfectionist-control-freak-organizing-nagger. We know how intense she can get with competition, and how she reminds us of every overly critical person in our life. That does not just go for the things in her house — it goes for everything in her life. Even with that fighting spirit and that determination, however, there are some things that did not go according to her plans. She couldn’t give birth to a baby of her own, she failed to settle down with Richard, she has constantly struggled just to keep people from “stealing her thunder” from time to time, and even with her amazing cooking skills had to face bad restaurant reviews. If Monica’s no-nonsense attitude can’t get her perfection, then it’s time to accept that there are some things in our lives that we have no control over.
Joey Tribbiani taught me that rejection is nothing but a phase.
Joey Tribbiani is the ultimate chick-magnet. However, Joey is also the ultimate struggling actor. For such a long time, he has been living off Chandler’s paycheck and Monica’s refrigerator. He has gone to countless auditions and failed, and has been given countless bad reviews for his performances. He got fired from the best role he has ever landed, too. But what I love about Joey is that he never gave up on his acting dreams. He went from audition to audition, from review to review, without any hope lost. He continued until he was there for good, and he just kept going.
Chandler Bing taught me that falling in love with your best friend could be the best thing in life.
Chandler has struggled with women. He was socially awkward, and made the weirdest and most uncalled for jokes whenever he felt uncomfortable. He used humor as a defense mechanism — or so he claimed. But being with Monica, his next door neighbor and best friend, has changed all that. He got over his commitment issues, proposed to the love of his life, got married to a beautiful woman, quit his job for a new career that he obviously loves, adopted children with Monica, bought a house and lived an awesome life after that. Monica brought out the best in him and he did the same with her. It’s the kind of relationship everyone wants. It’s possible in TV shows, and it sure is possible in real life.
Rachel Green taught me that my life is what I make it.
She moved to New York City after she ran away from her own wedding, moved into an apartment building way beyond her comfort zone, spent the next ten years of her life with the best friends she could ever have, got the job of her dreams, and had a beautiful baby girl with the love of her life — things that never could’ve happened if she hadn’t decided to change and put matters into her own hands. Walking away from her privileged life where her decisions were made for her was nearly impossible to do, but she did it. From a rich spoiled brat who knows nothing about love and life, Rachel Green has blossomed into an empowered career woman with so much drive and passion for her field and for the important people in her life.
