With Friends coming to Netflix this January, I began to wonder what exactly made me, along with millions of others, fall in love with Friends. 

Along with winning countless awards, catapulting multiple actors into stardom, ranking on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time, Friends has a way of touching its viewers. Now, I can only really speak for myself, but Friends impacted me in a way that no other show has. 

Before I can even get into what Friends taught me, I just need to take a moment to praise the characters. If you ask a true Friends fan who their favorite character is, they'll most likely think about it for a moment, give an answer, give a different answer, and then realize they honestly can't choose. This is simply due to the combination of brilliant casting and real chemistry between actors. The friendships and relationships they built seemed so real that I felt like they were my friends too. 

On to what's most important, what Friends taught me: 

Ross: Ross taught me it's okay to be a nerd sometimes. Your friends will still accept you even after you continue to make mistakes, like getting divorced three times. The main thing Ross taught me  was to never give up or lose hope. You should fight for what you want. I mean he got Rachel didn't he?

Rachel: Rachel taught me it's okay to have a mental breakdown and be a little high maintenance every now and then. You have to be proud of what you're doing and go for what you want. She also showed me what it looks like to fall hard for someone. 

Monica: Monica taught me to be a perfectionist. She gets the award for most improved, going from an overweight youth to a successful chef. She taught me to clean everyday. Most importantly, she taught me to never overlook what's right in front of me. Best friends can make the best relationships. 

Chandler: Chandler taught me how to laugh at myself. His sense of humor and sarcasm found a way into every single conversation. Things didn't typically go his way, but that didn't stop him from marrying his best friend's sister and the love of his life. 

Phoebe: Phoebe taught me that it's okay to be myself. She may have roughed it on the streets and then started to write absolutely terrible songs, but that never got her down. You can't ever let anyone stop you for being you. 

Joey: Joey taught me how to be a good friend. He may not be the smartest one, but he sure does have a big heart. He would do anything for his friends, even marry them if they were pregnant. Joey knows what it means to be there for someone. 

It's okay to have a bad day. It's okay to not be happy with where you are right now. However, it's not okay to marry your friend in Vegas, say the wrong name at the altar, go on a break, get a bad spray tan, lie about the results of a pregnancy test, or eat someone's moist maker sandwich. But if you do, make sure you have your friends by your side. 

We get to choose our friends, so choose the ones that are going to be there for you. That's what Friends taught me.