Iconic Shows with Surprising Life Messages

Throughout high school and my first couple years of college, I binge-watched many shows. There are countless shows I wish I could go back and watch again for the first time, but my two favorites taught me a lot about growing up and entering the real world as an adult. Sex And The City and How I Met Your Mother are both shows that taught me unexpected lessons about dating, friendships, jobs, and every little thing in between. 

Sex And The City 

Sex And The City (SATC) follows four best friends, Charlotte, Carrie, Miranda, and Samantha, around New York City on their journey to figuring out their 30s. I think a lot of people do not realize that Carrie was 32 when the show started—all the characters were all in their 30s, just living their lives in the city with their best friends. No matter what happened, their friends were there for them, ready to drop everything and help with whatever the others needed. I love how SATC really emphasizes slowing down! There is zero need to have it all figured out right now. It might not seem like it, but you really do have your whole life ahead of you. All four of the main characters were in their 30s and still finding their solid ground. I also love how this show really emphasizes the importance of female friendships. No matter how old you are or what phase of your life you are in, your true female friendships are the ones that will carry you through. At your best and worst, your highs and lows, there is no judgement from these friends. Nurturing them and making them a priority in your young life is SO important. Guys will come and go, but your girlfriends will be the ones standing next to you from your worst heartbreak to your wedding. Always make them feel loved, seen, and heard. 

How I Met Your Mother 

How I Met Your Mother is another show that follows a group of friends in their 20s. The obvious lesson from this show following Ted Mosby’s quest for love is that you won’t find anything until you stop looking: There is no sense in forcing a connection that isn’t there. There are so many things you can learn from him and his journey of finding his wife. However, there are plenty of other things I learned from this show. Ted, Marshall and Lily were friends for years before they met Barney, and even longer before they met Robin. However, when Barney and Robin came into their lives, they welcomed them with open arms and gave them the same love they gave each other. This show is so important to watch, especially in your younger years when moving is more common and you don’t know exactly where you might end up. No matter where you are, there is always a chance you can find your people: the ones you lean on for anything, the people that celebrate your wins and help you up from your losses. You don’t need to be best friends since middle school to have a true best friend, which I think is hard for a lot of people to think about. The reality is, most of the people we were friends with in high school and younger will not be a part of our lives forever. Robin is a true example of finding your people at an older age, and connecting with them on a level she had never connected with anyone on. How I Met Your Mother shows that friends that are family. They did everything together, holiday, birthdays—you name it, and they were together. It really emphasizes the idea of a chosen family. You do not need to be blood to be family, you just need to share unconditional love.