A true fan knows that the women of Grey's Anatomy are like none other. They're complicated, powerful, brilliant, compassionate, selfless, and have managed to teach viewers so many lessons through their stories.

1. Sometimes your soulmate is your best friend and not your significant other:

2. Sometimes you need to put yourself first, and that's ok.

3. Never apologize for who you are (or try to pray away the gay):

4. Love can be consuming:

5. Never let anyone fault you for being a woman:

6. In times of crisis, hold onto your faith:

7. Absolutely no one is happy all the time:

8. Your disabilities, or "flaws", don't define you:

9. No one is worth losing your identity over:

10. Never blame the victim, especially if that victim is you:

11. Falling apart is normal. No one can keep it together all of the time:

12. When all else fails, find your girls, and dance it out: