While life on the Upper East Side may not be the most relatable in a literal sense, it can be in the ways my favorite characters live out their lives over the course of six seasons. Here are the life lessons I've learned from watching Gossip Girl.
1. Confidence is key.
Let’s be honest, there were some pretty cocky characters on this show. With a setting of the Upper East Side in Manhattan, I can’t say that I can relate too much to their lives, even though I so wish I could. But, Gossip Girl also taught us that every successful person worked for it and believed in themselves. From Nate assuming the role of Editor-In-Chief at a newspaper he started interning for to Blair believing that she can be the boss of literally anything she becomes apart of, this show definitely instilled me with some confidence.
2. Surround yourself with people who are with you through anything.
Throughout the course of six seasons, there were multiple horrendous and equally ridiculous decisions made by the main characters. Nearly everyone has been mad at another at least once throughout the series, yet they still made it altogether by the end. At the end of the day, they’d all still stop everything to help each other.
3. Dress to impress.
No, this doesn't mean burn your credit card on Henri Bendel’s or Louivitions, even though I wold if I could. It means that the look of being put together in a cute outfit matters. It shows that you respect yourself and others, and if nothing else, retail therapy is a real thing.
4. It’s never too late to start over.
I’m fairly certain that literally every main character has proved this. From Blair wanting to flee the country, Serena actually fleeing the country, Chuck trying to erase his identity, Dan becoming an infamous author and Nathaniel’s struggle with his families’ bankruptcy, this show proved that you can do anything you want, whenever you want. Your fate is always entirely up to you.
5. Carry yourself like Blair Waldorf and you’ll find your Chuck Bass.
Ladies, we all wish for it. But as we see up until literally the last episode, both Chuck and Blair tried and failed to be in a relationship with anyone else. She had such a distinct personality and set of standards that it made her needs so specific to the point where she couldn’t mess around. When she wasn’t with Chuck, she was focused solely on herself, and he knew that, which made him fall for her even more. Focus on yourself, on being the best person you can be, and know that it’s okay to still be waiting for him. Don’t you dare settle, because just like no one ever compared to Blair for Chuck, no one is going to compare to you for him. He might even make a Harry Winston purchase to prove it.
6. Don’t give up.
On people, on ambitions, anything. Nothing worth having comes easy. There’s nothing you’ll ever do that you can’t recover from, so never stop trying to be the best version of yourself.
