10 Things ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Taught Me About Living
1. Being smart is okay.
As a female you are sometimes told beauty before brains, at least that’s what magazines typically show you. But then there is ‘Grey’s Anatomy.’ Cristina Yang has taught many young women that you should be loved for your brain, and that you should take advantage of your education. Having a brain is what gets you through life. It helps to know that you can fend for yourself and make it on your own without the help of someone else.
2. You will be surprised by people.
Arizona’s father was accepting of her coming out as a lesbian. He said as long as your still the person I raised, than I can accept it. Arizona was surprised by her father’s acceptance just like people are surprised by others in their everyday lives. Don’t judge a book by its cover, because you may be surprised with the outcome. You have to wait and see their actions, and then you can base your judgement on that.
3. Be the best you, you can be.
You only get one chance, so you better make it count. To live is to better yourself and become the best you that you can possibly be. Meredith Grey once said, “I think you can’t wait for someone to fly underneath you and save your life. I think you have to save yourself.” She built herself up and became her own savior. Cristina Yang was a badass, and didn’t let anyone tell her she couldn’t do something. She went out and lived.
4. Take chances.
You never know what life will throw at you. It could be the greatest opportunity of your life, or your worst enemy. You can’t live in the fear of wondering “What if?” “We do not get unlimited chances to have the things we want. Nothing is worse than missing an opportunity that could have changed our life.” When you get a chance, take it. You may not get the chance again.
5. Friends are family.
“We’re friends. Real friends. And that means, no matter how long it takes when you finally decide to look back, I’ll still be there.” They say you can’t pick your family, but that’s false. You can pick your friends, and that’s pretty damn close to family if you pick them right. Meredith Grey and Cristina Yang are as close to family as you can get in the friends category. They prove that sometimes the best thing you can do is make your friends just as close as your family.
6. Putting yourself first is okay.
Sometimes life throws you a curve ball that you need to handle. It is okay to take the time you need for yourself. It is how you survive. “You don’t have to be tough every minute of every day. It’s ok to let down your guard.” Meredith has taught us all that being tough is okay, but so is letting your guard down and taking care of yourself. After all the only person that knows how to take care of you mentally, is you.
7. Life is tough.
Whether it be losing friends in an airplane crash, watching your person go away, or having to let your husband die, life is tough. But just like Meredith, you can live through it. “Maybe we like the pain. Maybe we’re wired that way. Because without it, I don’t know, maybe we just wouldn’t feel real.” Life has obstacles that you can’t plan for, but the true testament is if you can make it through them. Meredith proves that you can make it through everything, even if it hurts.
8. You are not what has happened to you.
You can overcome anything, and the past helps to shape you. You live and learn from your mistakes. “Never erase your past. It shapes who you are today and will help you to be the person you’ll be tomorrow.” We are built on the things we have experienced. We can let them affect us negatively or positively.
9. You will find your person.
Cristina Yang and Meredith Grey are a dynamic duo. They know that no matter what happens, they will have each other to rely on. “This is life. Bad things happen. It’s hard. You find your people, you find your person, and you lean on them,” You can’t expect to go through life without leaning on a few people, you just have to make sure they’re the right people. They know that they can rely on you and that you can rely on them.
10. Life is worth living.
With all the things life throws at you, it is still worth living. Making each day count is worth it. In the end you’ll know you took chances, and that you made your mark. “We screw up, we lose our way. Even the best of us have our off days. Still we move forward.” You move on. You live. You build yourself and become the best. When you decide to leave, you know you made your mark, because you knew life was worth living. You made every shift, every incision, and every encounter count.