The Ramblings of a Twenty Something: Lessons I Learned From FRIENDS

F.R.I.E.N.D.S

Six people in their twenties. All trying to figure it out.

Because when you're alone in the big city, your friends are your family.

1. The real world sucks but you'll learn to love it.
Eventually you have to grow up, believe it or not, you have to leave home and make something for yourself. And yes, the real world is a terrible place but there's good stuff in it too. At some point you have to cut the apron strings.

2. Walking away and starting over may be the best thing for you.
Rachel left Barry at the altar because she wasn't sure, and she moved in with Monica and that was the end of that. She started all over again, got a job for the first time, realised that your first pay check doesn't go all to you, and that you will eventually make the best friends you've ever had.

3. Y O U ' R E spells 'you are', Y O U R spells 'your'.
Just for when you're home on a Saturday night playing Scrabble with Monica...

4. Making up with your significant other is not like swimming after you eat; pick up the phone!
If Ross had picked up the phone earlier, or even called Rachel again then maybe he wouldn't have slept with that girl from the copy place.. if you have an argument, cool off but make sure you attempt to speak to them and figure it out.

5. We were on a break is never a good excuse
I guess this depends on your perspective; it all comes down to that age old battle between women and men and whether you side with Ross or Rachel. The way I see it Ross slept with the girl from the copy place because he thought Rachel was sleeping with Mark; tit for tat never works. People just get hurt. (If this wasn't the saddest episode then you're lying).

6. Get some magic beans
I don't literally mean go and get some magic beans, I mean look around you and appreciate what you have. You have wonderful friends how love you when you aren't very lovable, that's important. Life may suck most of the time but there are good parts too, you just have to choose to see them.

7. Your friends are the family you choose because when you're twenty something and on your own for the first time they're your family.
They share things with you that you're parents could never experience, the ups & the downs, the highs and the lows, the laughs and the tears, they get you through it all. Just because you're not related doesn't mean that they aren't your family.

8. True love does still happen even if it takes time.
Monica thought Richard was her true love and then she fell in love with Chandler, and by season 10 they had babies and a house. Ross and Rachel were on again, off again, hell Ross even got married, but in the end they found each other again. Because true love is real.

9. If you cross the line be prepared to spend some time in a box.
Thinking time will help you understand a situation, especially if you've crossed a line with someone you've cared about. Chandler & Joey's friendship almost ended when Chandler kissed Kathy and after Chandler spent some time in a box Joey realised his friendship was worth more. Moral of the story? If you've hurt someone, think. Try and fix it, but definitely think.

10. If someone writes a make up letter with all their feelings & it's 18 pages FRONT and BACK don't lie about reading it - even if it is 5:30 in the morning.
If someone has done the decent thing and written down every single thing that they want to tell you then make sure you read it the whole way through. They've poured their heart out on the paper and you do them a disservice by not reading it - don't do a Ross and pretend you've read it & then end up ruining a second chance.

11. Never bet your apartment on a game of 'who knows who best'

It's never a good idea to bet something you value on a game like this, turns out the guys knew the girls a lot better than the girls knew the guys.

12. Say the right name at the Altar unless that's how you wanted your relationship to end - in which case, that's a really douchey move.
Ross married Emily but it turns out that he wasn't over Rachel (which we all knew), he rushed into a wedding with Emily and when he tried to make it work she asked too much of him... moral of the story never rush into a wedding with someone you've only known for a few months & make sure you're definitely over your ex.

13. You will find your lobster.
Everyone is destined to find their lobster, just have faith. They'll walk into your life when you least expect it.

14. You may hate your friends partner and they will probably hate yours too.
You love your friends, and you really do care about them so nine times out of ten they'll never find anyone who is good enough for them. They could be the most gorgeous guy/girl on the planet but you'll still claim that they're not right for them and vice versa. You love them & it's a natural feeling - they feel the same way too. Don't feel bad for hating their partner just don't let it get in the way of your friendship even if it's an Italian guy or an ex fiance.

15. Sometimes the best relationships begin as friendships.

Over the ten years Ross and Rachel had their many ups and downs but they worked it out in the end. Chandler and Monica began as a one night stand and then they ended up being the powerhouse couple of the show, Monica found her prince charming and Chandler found the woman who he could commit to properly.

16. An ex is an ex for a reason. The relationship with the older guy may seem like a good idea but you're both gonna want different things.

Monica and Richard were an adorable couple but everything that Monica wanted Richard already had, so when she decided to move on she did the healthiest thing. The point is, sure an older guy is more mature (hopefully) and has his life sorted but you have a lot of stuff ahead of you to experience and you should do it.

17. Running away to Yemen won't solve your problems.

18. Pros and cons lists really hurt people.

Being torn between two people is terrible, either way you're the bad guy for making the decision. But remember pros and cons list hurt people, most of the time they know which cons they have and to use them as reasons not to be with them is harsh. Choose if you'd be the Ross/Rachel in that situation.

19. Having a plan isn't the be all and end all, it's okay for things to fall apart - maybe you just need a 'pl-'

Maybe you don't need a plan.. It's all well and good having a plan for the future that you set down when you were seventeen but sometimes it just doesn't work out that way. Sometimes you need things to fall apart because then there's a chance for better things to fall into place. Maybe you just need the start of one and then you should just wait and see; you never know. Or maybe you just need a night in with the girls to let you know that it's okay not to have one because, well, neither does anyone else.

20. Paste pants are never a good idea.

This ones pretty much self explanatory ... don't buy some leather pants as the 'new thing you do that day'.

21. Don't get hung up on waiting for that ring.

Rachel almost married Barry but she ended up being with Ross, falling in love, having his baby and finding true love. Phoebe waited years before she met and married Mike, she could have married David but she didn't love him anymore, and Monica married Chandler and she was sure she'd marry Richard. My point is, it'll happen when it happens.

22. It's not that common. It doesn't happen to every guy and it is a big deal.

23. You may have to start at the bottom of the career ladder even if you're the oldest one there.

Chandler gave up his career meaning that Monica was bringing in all the money, and he ended up being an intern in an advertising agency and then getting a really good job out of it. My point is, just keep trying and don't be afraid to start from the bottom

24. Stay in and play board games with your friends.
Don't underestimate the importance of staying in with your friends, some of the best nights you'll have are nights in. You're not always going to want to be smashed off your face & in some loud bar, sometimes all you'll need is a night in with your most favourite people.