Three summers ago I made of the best choices of my life: watched the whole How I Met Your Mother series in order. As ridiculous as it sounds, the T.V. show changed the way I looked at things. HIMYM is so much more than a comedy -- it is a comical phenomenon laced with life lessons, and I would recommend anyone to experience this revelation from beginning to end.
Now here are some things I’ve learned from HIMYM:
1. The best things are worth waiting for.
Ted is a main character with extreme patience. Girl after girl, heartbreak after heartbreak, and season after season he is unable to settle down and find “the one.” After nine seasons his wait is finally rewarded with the girl of the dreams. As audience members wait in anticipation, routing for Ted, you learn to appreciate the delayed gratitude. This is so important in world of instant satisfaction, because we tend to forget that all things aren’t immediate and may take time to blossom.
2. Trust the universe.
The producers of this series carefully assembled the story line so that everything happened at the perfect time and place it was supposed to. Whether it was the episode where Ted describes why he turned right instead of left out of his apartment, to then run into Stella. Or the time he accidentally taught Economics 101. The producers were always aware why something was happening. In life, there’s always moments where stars align and everything starts to make sense. There’s also times where everything is haywire, but it is the cause to new doors opening. HIMYM has taught me to breath and let the universe take control of events in my life, and it has brought me to some amazing experiences,
3. Never pass up a good time with your friends.
A night with the HIMYM gang is always legend (wait for it) dary. The five of them fit together like a puzzle and they all embrace the friendship they share every night at McLaren’s. I have friends that always pick me up when I am down and I never pass up a night with my three best friends. Life is unpredictable and it’s impossible to predict how much time there’s left with certain people. So, don’t blitz out, stay for those crazy nights with your friends and run with it.
4. Nothing good happens after 2am.
We’ve all been in Ted’s shoes: after a late night of shenanigans, ready to call up that ex and confess all our true feelings. After watching, “The Pineapple Accident,” I’ve decided that there may be logic to this life rule, and it may be best just to go to bed at 2am. After a certain point, the night has to be finished, and it’s best to let go of what might have been.
5. Sweeping declarations always fail.
The gang has had many instances where they swore, “I’m never doing _____ again!” Let me be the first to say, if someone in your life declares something with the upmost confidence, it will probably happen again. It’s best to let it play out, and let that person, or yourself, learn that lesson on their own.
6. Take the leap of faith.
Marshal took years to commit to jumping from the ledge of the apartment to the ledge of the neighboring building. They called it, “the leap of faith.” This ongoing occurrence symbolizes, not a silly dare, but the big scary steps in life that are hard to take. Whether it’s locational, vocational, or romantical stride, take a deep breath and take it. Go for the things you want and don’t look back. Jump.
7. Never be afraid to steal the blue French horn.
Ted’s big romantic gestures are pivotal moments in the show. The biggest is the stealing of the “smirf penis” in both seasons 1 and 9. Grand gestures are a lost art in this wacky generation of dating. A text isn’t a romantic expression of love. Never be afraid to get up off your butt and tell people exactly how you feel. Heck, Ted told robin he loved her on his first date. If you love someone, make sure they know.
