I'm going to take a wild guess and say that most women have seen at least one or two episodes of "Sex and the City" in their lifetime, or at least the one of the two movie adaptations. I personally have seen all of the episodes, multiple times, as well as all of the movies, multiple times. The slew of characters and their own unique personalities kept me coming back for more and taught me a lot about myself and life in general. Carrie Bradshaw's life in New York City is very different from my life in small-town Ohio, but that doesn't mean that the show didn't apply to issues that I was also dealing with. So, here are the lessons that I've learned from "Sex and the City," and not just lessons that Carrie herself has taught me.
1. Always put yourself first
Almost all of the characters in "Sex and the City" embody this notion. Carrie herself always made sure that she was her own #1 priority and, most of the time, didn't depend on anyone else for her own happiness. This leads me to believe that sometimes, it's okay to be selfish.
2. Buy everything - even if you can’t really afford it
I remember there being an instance in the show where Carrie explained that when she first moved to New York City, she would sometimes spend money on an issue of Vogue before she fed herself. Now, I wouldn't spend my last dime on an issue of Vogue, but I would make an impulse purchase or two…or seven. Carrie was the queen of treating herself to new clothes, shoes, and even a luxury lunch with her friends here and there. Although this may not be a great quality due to the spending aspect (sorry mom), Carrie taught me that sometimes you need to stretch your bank account in order to make yourself feel better. I always use this as my excuse to eat out for a meal instead of going to the dining hall, which happens very often.
3. It’s okay to be open about absolutely everything
I learned this from the queen of openness, aka, Samantha Jones. There has never been a television character that is more authentically his or herself than Samantha Jones. Even though her "openness" could be a little too much sometimes, she taught me that it's better to actually confront the problem than to leave it hanging in the air waiting for a resolution to come. Ms. Jones also taught me that it's okay to tell your friends about absolutely everything, even if it includes the gory details.
4. Take risks
Charlotte, Carrie, Samantha, and even play-it-safe Miranda have all taken risks within their fictional lives. Even though Charlotte knew her future was financially and socially stable with Trey, her happiness was compromised and therefore she made the impulse decision of divorcing him, and then, of course, falling madly in love with her divorce attorney. Carrie and Samantha were seen taking risks during every episode, whether it be compromising paying rent for buying a pair of Manolo Blahniks or having sex with someone random that you had just met at a yoga studio. They all remind me every day that it's okay to not know the outcome of something before actually doing it, and that taking a risk is a good thing (most of the time).
5. Taking time for yourself is important
I used to think that I always had to be with my friends, family, or someone else in order to happy, but I've learned that it's pretty much always okay to take time for yourself and be alone. All of the girls had their time alone which was just as rewarding as them spending time with everyone all together. Carrie would often go shopping alone, Charlotte spent time in her art gallery alone, Miranda watched her late-night television and ate take-out Chinese alone, and Samantha often went to clubs alone. Even though they were all the best of friends, each had their own separate lives from each other. This taught me that it's okay to take some time to yourself and do the things you like, that sometimes your friends don't particularly enjoy.
6. Sometimes you need to forgive and forget
I'm the queen of holding grudges over the littlest things, and sometimes I need to just learn to forgive and forget. No matter who wronged you and what they did, big or small, sometimes it's better to just forget it ever happened. Now, that doesn't mean you can't hang out with that person anymore or cut them out of your life, because sometimes it's healthy to do that, but also not dwell on what exactly they did wrong by you. I'm still trying to work on this one, but the SATC girls taught me that being the bigger person and letting shit go is the best way to move on.
7. Your friends are also your soulmates
I would say this is the "golden rule" of SATC. I personally have a great group of best friends, and like the SATC girls, we're all different but together we make something pretty awesome. No matter who is and isn't in our lives, we will always have each other, and I think that's one of the best things I've gathered from watching the show. The SATC girls went through so much personally and also together, and instead of letting it negatively affect them or their relationships with one another, they let it make them stronger. No matter what, I know my best friends will always be there for me.
So thanks Samantha, Carrie, Charlotte, and Miranda. You taught me so much about life, love, and confidence in six seasons, and I wish you would come back for more.
