Over the past weekend, as I was scrolling through the usual binge-watching apps, namely Netflix and Amazon Prime, I couldn't help but gravitate towards a series I've seen one-too-many times before. There it was, pulling me in like a marble fountain of water in the middle of the desert, "Sex and the City," a show that I probably started watching too young and will probably never stop re-watching.
More than anything, I love the different meanings the show takes on at different periods and times in one's life. It seems that, not only do I understand many more topics talked about now than when I was say, 11 years old (yikes); however, the show also hits on a deeper level now that I live in the city (check the title) that serves as a not only the setting of the show but in a way another character within the series as well.
Re-watching the series for a guesstimated third time, don't want to go any higher than that and embarrass myself, makes me appreciate Carrie even more. And for all those people out there who have not blessed their eyes and ears with this series, Carrie is the main narrator and character of the television series and is as hopelessly fabulous and fabulously hopeless as they come. So, without further adieu here are five important life lessons that Carrie Bradshaw taught us all.
1. Buy the shoes
Before there was the "Treat yo' self" motto from "Parks and Recreation" there was Carrie Bradshaw and her shoe collection.
Now, some would say extremely problematic and unhealthy shoe collection, but I am not one of those people. Carrie always bought the shoes and the dress and the shirt and the skirt, credit card and logic be damned. Whatever damage to her bank account she did, she looked fabulous while doing it.
She inspired and continues to inspire us all to buy the shoes because whenever life is bringing you down, nothing can bring you up like a good pair of brand new (possibly extremely expensive) shoes.
2. Mix and match
I hate to talk about only materialistic ideals as the first two life lessons, nonetheless here we are. Welcome. Why Carrie was and continues to be such a fashion icon is her insanely bold fashion choices, my all-time favorite being her ability to mix-and-match.
To me, in fashion and everyday wear there seems to be such a negative aura around mixing and matching different patterns, that it is unfashionable and sloppy. However, the opposite could not be more true, as seen by Carrie. The person with the superior style knows how to collaborate two seemingly unimagined items into a truly stunning outfit.
It also takes a bold and extremely confident person to do such a thing, and who better to draw strength from than Carrie Bradshaw herself.
3. Be accepting
Something I always found admirable about Carrie was the plethora of people she knew and talked to. Now, I know that sounds base level but what I mean by it was that Carrie was always this glamorous person, but she knew people from all walks of life.
She didn't look down on anybody, she judged people as we all do, but she never looked down on anybody. She had the amazing ability to talk and interpret so many people and to use that to help so many people in such positive ways. And that is truly admirable.
4. Always speak your mind
More than anything, what Carrie did was always speak her mind. I mean she did narrate the show and write her own column, so that comes as no surprise.
But, she also spoke her mind in the sense that she never let anyone put her down. She stood up for herself and always spoke her mind about what she thought she deserved, now whether she acted rightly or wrongly is completely up to each individual viewer.
Through it all, though, she never let anyone put her down, or bring her down, especially a boyfriend or man in her life.
5. At the end of the day, significant others may come and go, but real friends are there forever
Which leads me to the fifth and arguably most important life lesson that Carrie Bradshaw taught us: no matter what happens in life real friends are there forever. Through all the boys and break-ups and back-aching life up-and-downs, Carrie always had her "girls."
Many people misinterpret the show as a bunch of women just sitting around and gabbing on-and-on about men. Well to burst all their bubbles, the show and its characters are about so much more than that. At the end of the day, it's not about the romantic relationships, it's about the solidified friendships.
The people that will always be there for you.
