There was always something simply magical about "Friends," the television show that captured America's heart for over a decade. Was it the romance between Ross and Rachel, the famous quotes fans still reference today ("How you doin'?"), or the bonds between characters that seemed so genuine and real? Whatever the reason for the popularity of "Friends," Ross, Rachel, Monica, Joey, Phoebe, and Chandler will always remain timeless. "Friends"wasn't just entertaining. Here are 10 important life lessons that the "Six of One" taught us.

Ross taught us that nice guys finish first.

Ross: the intellectual nerd who never got the girl in the end. Just kidding! Not only is Ross a scientist and a professor, but he's also incredibly kind and humble, which is probably why Rachel was so crazy about him. Ross may be a little too logical sometimes, but his heart is bigger than Joey's appetite. We can all learn a thing or two from Ross's kind nature, including that big brothers should always look out for their little sisters, and that friends always provide extra hockey tickets.

Rachel taught us that wrong turns can lead to beautiful destinations.

Don't be afraid to run away from the altar and move in with a friend you haven't seen since college. Sometimes what seems like a wrong decision can turn out to just be a hard decision that takes you where you need to be. Rachel left a financially stable relationship to be a waitress and live in a tiny apartment. Eventually, she worked her way up to high-paying corporate jobs, met the man of her dreams, and formed friendships that would last a lifetime.

Joey taught us that hard work pays off.

As an actor, Joey is in a very difficult profession that is highly competitive. He has to borrow money from Ross multiple times, and it's clear his situation isn't ever secure. He's always jumping around from one gig to another, hitting speed bumps along the way. As the ladies' man that he is, Joey doesn't let a little thing like fear get in the way of his dreams. He ends up as a recurring character on a popular soap opera and eventually becomes a pretty prominent actor. It just goes to show that hard work and dedication can lead to extraordinary things.

Phoebe taught us that you should never take life too seriously.

Phoebe's been through a lot. She lost her mom, she's not had a lot of good relationships, and her career doesn't make her a lot of money; but she always seems to be the happiest of all the friends. Attitude is everything, and Phoebe teaches us that no matter your circumstances or who you are, life should never be taken too seriously, and it should always be filled with laughter and music.

Monica taught us that being a neat freak is cool.

Monica was a pioneer in making neatness cool. Sure, she was OCD about, well, pretty much everything and everyone, but she showed us that cleanliness really is close to godliness.

Chandler taught us to find the humor in life.

Ah, Chandler. The renowned joke-teller. Chandler made a name for himself as the cynical comic on the show, but he used his ability to tell jokes as a way to teach others around him that life truly is a barrel of laughs.

They all taught us that you should always follow your dreams.

One of the greatest life lessons "Friends"teaches us is to always follow your dreams. Monica is a chef, Ross is a paleontologist, Rachel is in fashion, Phoebe is a musician and masseuse, Joey is an actor, and Chandler is a... well, let's hope Chandler loves his IT job. The best thing "Friends" conveys is that life is about loving what you do and loving the people you share your time with.