7 Critical Pieces Of Life Advice We Learned From ‘Friends’
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Two decades later and “Friends” is making a whole new generation of fans laugh, cry and commiserate. The 90s sitcom is timeless (although there are a few notable ‘of the time’ blunders). The relatable show — focused on six friends, in their 20s and 30s, living in Manhattan — taught us everything we need to know about adulting. From finding a new apartment to chasing passions to navigating all kinds of relationships to being young, single and carefree, the influential sitcom covered it all and made us laugh our asses off in the process. Whether you were eight or 20 when you watched “Friends” for the first time, we’re sure the show impacted your life in some way. Here are seven times “Friends” nailed life advice.
1. It’s okay to press the reset button on your life.
You should never feel trapped. Whether it’s a job, a relationship or anything in between, it’s okay to press the reset button and do something that makes you feel good about yourself. When Rachel didn’t marry Barry, she became a waitress before she landed her dream job. Ross had to take a sabbatical from work because of his mental health and Chandler quit his boring job to take an unpaid internship in something he was passionate about. Time and time again, the beloved sitcom taught us there’s nothing wrong with starting over, even if it’s uncomfortable, if it makes you happy.
2. Sometimes your friends will make more money than you and that’s okay.
It’s pretty common, especially in a major city, that you and your friends will have different salaries. Things can get uncomfortable when you’re out to dinner and you order one drink and an appetizer while your friend balls out and orders eight margaritas and a lobster roll and then want to split the check.
Remember that episode when they were out to eat to celebrate Monica getting a promotion? Ross, Monica and Chandler order expensive seafood while Phoebe orders a cup of soup, Joey gets a small pizza and Rachel gets a side salad. Ross splits up the bill equally and Joey, Phoebe and Rachel end up getting screwed. They even tried to recalculate the split so Monica didn’t have to pay. Just remember, it’s okay to stand up for yourself when the check comes. If you didn’t order it, you shouldn’t have to pay for it.
3. Never underestimate the importance of a savings account.
No matter how great your job might seem, you never know when you’ll need some savings to fall back on. Always expect the unexpected and try to have at least one month of rent in your savings account at all times. Throughout the entirety of the series, a bunch of them are suddenly without a job and thrown into a full-blown panic. Rachel starts the series without a job or any work experience, Ross is forced to take a sabbatical, Chandler left his job abruptly, Monica was fired early on from her restaurant job and Joey is almost perpetually unemployed. They weren’t all prepared, but you can be.
4. Life might throw you curveballs, but something beautiful can come out of it.
When life hits you with something that you’re not at all prepared for, there’s always the chance that something special will come out of it. Try and see the positive in a dark or stressful situation. When Rachel finds out she’s pregnant and tells Ross, the look on his face is of sheer terror. When Emma is born, all of those fears go away.
5. Be careful who you live with.
Before you live with a random roommate, you might want to do your research ahead of time or else you’ll end up with a crazy Eddie for a roommate. Eddie moves into Chandler’s apartment when Joey gets his own place. The two of them met at the supermarket after Eddie helped Chandler pick out some chorizo. Later on, Chandler learns that the two have nothing in common. Eddie steals mannequins from Macy’s, dehydrates fruit for fun and steals insoles from Chandler’s shoes out of spite, not to mention he watches Chandler sleep.
Bottom line: Before you decide to live with someone you meet at the grocery store, do some detective work.
6. One negative opinion shouldn’t stop you.
When you’re successful, people are going to try and knock you down. You can’t let one opinion or a few people’s opinions ruin your confidence. As long as you know you’re good at what you do, that’s all that matters. When Monica’s restaurant gets a bad review, she goes to some pretty extreme lengths for validation, including taking a beginner’s level cooking class to prove herself. Don’t let anyone take away your confidence. Chances are they’re either jealous or insecure and you gotta keep doing you.
7. Community is everything.
Whether you live in a busy city or a small town, a community is everything. Surround yourself with people that make you laugh. Ross, Rachel, Monica, Chandler, Phoebe and Joey have a bond that’s unshakeable. It survives all of the ups and downs of their 20s and 30s and at the end of the day, they’re each other’s family.
While the world might’ve changed since the days of pagers and life-altering voicemails, these life lessons on romance, friendship and navigating the adult world are all timeless. Thank god for reruns.
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