Everyone has their show; the theme music fills your heart with joy and memories, and the characters feel like your best friends. You grow with them, hurt with them, laugh with them, and love with them. Each episode carries a special meaning to you and sometimes the lessons learned - hit home. For me, my show is "How I Met Your Mother." I can't count how many times I've laughed so hard that I feel like I can't breathe, or have cried my eyes out because I can relate to what the characters are struggling with and it feels like I'm learning about life with them. Who doesn't want a Ted Mosby to show up at their door with a blue french horn, or jam to The Proclaimers with Marshall in his Fierro? But the show is so much deeper than just another comedic series. Here are 10 things I've learned by watching this show:
1. "It's easy to part ways with people forever, so if you want them in your life, do something about it."
This sentence struck me when I heard it. Who doesn't have best friends who became acquaintances? As you grow, the people in your life will more than likely grow in different directions. It's so easy to allow the drift to be permanent, but if you really want that person in your life, you have to do something about it. You can't notice a change, shrug your shoulders, and hope it works out for the best. People come and go, so hold on tight to the people who matter.
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2. "Love is the greatest thing we do."
Ah, Ted Mosby. Such a romantic, and filled with tidbits of wisdom when you're not distracted by him stealing a blue french horn. Love is one of the greatest and scariest things we do. Of all the ventures you'll tackle in life, choosing a person to love and care for is one of the greatest things. We live in a world that is filled with chaos and hate, but there's always a small glimmer of light and hope in those 50th anniversary parties and honeymoons. Never be afraid to love.
3. "Friends ride the ups and downs with you."
Throughout the nine seasons of HIMYM there were so many curveballs. Just when you thought everything was finally working out the way it was meant to, some crazy thing would happen and all of a sudden you were back at rock bottom with the characters. As I watched, I learned true friends will laugh with you while everything is great, but they'll buckle down and kick butt with you when the going gets tough.
4. "To love truly and deeply is to sacrifice."
When you sincerely love someone, you are willing to compromise because their happiness is so important to you. True love is selfless.
5. "Don't eat at a restaurant you stole a blue french horn from."
Just look at how that turned out for Ted Mosby. Choose your restaurants wisely!
6. "Take risks because they could pay off."
Don't let fear of the unknown prevent you from attempting new things. Branch out onto new territory! Everything you've ever wanted could be waiting for you, but you'll never know if you never try.
7. "Sometimes it's okay to jump into things."
Ted Mosby made some interesting jumps, but he always learned valuable lessons every time. Maybe it's time we stopped overthinking every step and take a leap of faith.
8. "Being crazy every once in a while is normal."
Everyone has some crazy inside them. It's healthy to let it out now and then because that just may be where you're at in life and exactly what you need. Each character had a time where their crazy came out because it just wasn't healthy to hold it in anymore.
9. "Don't shut out people you love."
Let them love you. If you're anything like me, it's easy to be really closed off, but you need to push past that and let the people who matter in. If they're true friends, they'll accept you flaws and all.
10. "Make every day legen - wait for it - dary!"
Legendary. Make every day a day to remember. Barney Stinson was one messed up dude, but boy did he have something very, very right with this concept. He may have made some iffy choices, but he always came away with stories of a lifetime (even the made up stories were legendary). Decide that each day is a new opportunity to make the most out of life.
