***Spoiler warning: if you haven’t caught up all the way through season two, and you don’t want spoilers for some of the things that happen, I suggest you stop reading this article now, go get caught up and then come back and read it.

It's not often that a TV show – a cartoon, nonetheless – can make a person question their entire existence at some points.

So with that in mind, picture this: a cynical genius, mad, alcoholic scientist who gets his kicks by dangerously traveling through different dimensions and alternate realities with his grandchildren.

If that sounded to you like the crazy plot of a sci-fi cartoon show, you’re right; that’s the basic premise of the show, “Rick and Morty.”

And. This. Show. Is. Insane.

This series is about as nonsensical as they come, and it’s become one of my favorite shows on television. It’s super vulgar, quite random, pretty crude, undeniably hilarious and completely clever.

There are no rules for this cartoon: anything can happen in an episode, like having cereals made of eye-holes, or finding a dimension where giant, telepathic spiders make peace with the human race.

So who would have thought a show with something called a “plumbus” (emphasis on the something, because I’m still not sure what a plumbus does) and planets where everything is on a cob (I’d try strawberries on a cob) could have some actual depth to it?

I’m not kidding; through all of the absurd antics, “Rick and Morty” is a show that will unpredictably go 180 on you and slap you in the face with some real life knowledge.

So here are the top five best life lessons I’ve learned from watching, “Rick and Morty.”

***Again, spoilers below; proceed with caution and what not.

1. “Listen to me, Morty. I know that new situations can be intimidating. You're looking around and it's all scary and different, but you know, meeting them head on, charging right into them like a bull...that's how we grow as people.” – Rick Sanchez, “Pilot”"We're gonna have to go through interdimensional customs, so...you're gonna have to do me a real solid..."

I think the best thing about this moment from the pilot episode of the series is the fact that it actually is part of a joke, but can still be taken as a serious thing as well. And I can’t think of a more motivating moment that I’ve seen yet.

One of my favorite sayings about life is, “life is an adventure” because it couldn’t be more true. We’re all going to see incredible things, meet wonderful people and go to fantastic places, and knowing we won’t always be surrounded by things that are familiar to us can be a bit overwhelming at times for sure. But we can’t continue on if we don’t face the new and embrace it. Take things on and let them change you and push you forward. Never be afraid of the things you don’t understand, but rather, use those things to help you become someone better.

2. "Yeah, you don't love people in hopes of a reward, Dad. You love them unconditionally." – Summer Smith, “The Wedding Squanchers”"What are you in for?"
"Everything."

This one is pretty straightforward, but I’ll break it down a bit anyway. If you watch this show already, you’d be familiar with the fact that Rick is a sociopath, or at least claims to be. He puts on a front of being detached, but in a few moments, it’s obvious he truly cares for his family (minus Jerry, of course).

In the finale of season two, Rick shows us just how much he loves his family by giving himself up to the Galactic Federation in exchange for his family’s health and happiness. Looking at the fact that Rick is an intergalactic terrorist, who has the capability to run forever even if it means dragging his family along with him for his own selfish gain, makes his sacrifice a kind of a big deal.

It’s a noble thing, and it says a lot about what selflessness is. We should all strive to be that way. You can’t say you love someone hoping to gain something from that in return. Loving people because you actually care for their wellbeing is the most important thing we can do in our lives. And most of the time, you’ll be rewarded with them loving you just as much.

You’ll be presented with multiple opportunities to show people that you care for them unconditionally. Whether it’s by a simple act of kindness or giving up something important to you, may you take any and every opportunity to love people with every fiber of your being.


3. "But those bad thoughts are the real Rick: the fact that you're old, the fact that we're all going to die one day, the fact that the universe is so big, nothing in it matters—those facts are who you are!" – Summer Smith, “Big Trouble in Little Sanchez”"I'M TINY RICK!"

“Big Trouble in Little Sanchez” is easily one of my favorite episodes of the series so far, and this moment is a huge reason why. This is the moral set Rick lives by: the size of the universe we occupy is so absolutely incomprehensible, no thing any one does really matters in the end. And it’s so true when you really thing about it.

Throughout the duration of your life, you’re going to experience the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, because essentially, that’s what life is. It’s successes and failures. Ultimately, don’t stress about anything too much. There are an infinite number of people, places and things out there to let yourself get wrapped up on one of them.

I take this a step beyond as well; I also use this mindset as a motivator. I push myself to make a mark on the universe that will last. I strive to be remembered for something. Strive to leave your mark on the universe, always.

4. "That's planning for failure, Morty. Even dumber than regular planning." – Rick Sanchez, “Get Schwifty”"I try to shelter you from certain realities, Morty, because if I let you make me nervous, then we can't get schwifty."

Let’s be straightforward, here…Rick is not the most positive person when it comes to giving advice, if he even bothers to give advice at all. I’d say 90 percent of the time, Rick will put his own cynical views on life advice he gives, like the time he tried to tell Morty about what love is…

But the ironic thing about this moment is Rick teaches us, in a way, to stay positive. He explains to Morty that going into anything with a negative mindset will provide negative results.

Also, thinking that we can control our fate is impossible. You can plan things all you want, but if the universe is going to take you somewhere else, you can’t change that. It’s just the way things are. So don’t stress and stay “schwifty.”

5. "Nobody exists on purpose, nobody belongs anywhere, everybody's going to die. Come watch TV." – Morty Smith, “Rixty Minutes”"On one of our adventures, Rick and I basically destroyed the whole world. So we bailed on that reality, and we came to this one, because in this one, the world wasn't destroyed. And in this one, we were dead. So we came here, and we buried ourselves, and we took their place. And every morning, Summer, I eat breakfast 20 yards away from my own rotting corpse."
"So, you're not my brother?"
"I'm better than your brother. I'm a version of your brother you can trust when he says, 'don't run.'"

Initially, this is the moment that got me to watch the show at all. “Rixty Minutes” was actually the first exposure I had to “Rick and Morty,” and while I had sat there and watched almost 15 straight minutes of the characters watching utter nonsense on their interdimensional television, I had no idea what to think of this show. Did I think the sketches were funny? Yes, I did. But did I think this show could actually straighten up and be serious? No, to the highest degree of no.

So when Morty says this to his sister, after revealing to her that he and Rick were from a different dimension and living in that dimension under certain circumstances (seriously, watch the show, because it’s hard to explain it and so worth it to see), it made me think about my own concept of where I belong and my own mortality. Where do I belong and how do I get there, if there even is a 'there' at all?

What Morty says here is true; the future and our paths in life are so uncertain. All we can do is play with the hand we’re dealt; we can’t change the past. Go with the flow of life and go where the universe takes you. Do not confine yourself to one place, because there is an infinity of places for you to see. And do what you can with the time you’re given, because nothing lasts forever; not even you.

Honestly, there are a lot of other examples within the series that can be considered definitive moments; these just happen to be my favorites.

If you’re into Sci-fi adventures, random comedy, violent action, science, random moments of genuine sincerity and/or a combination of all of the above, I really recommend you watch this show.

Trust me, it's a lot better than I'm probably making it sound. I never thought I’d be into it, and here I am, like the rest of the fandom, desperately waiting for season three’s release.

I encourage you to give it a try, and to travel the universe with Rick and Morty. You just might learn a few things.

Happy exploring.