It’s been over 20 years since Friends first hit our television screens and Jennifer Aniston, Courtney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matthew Perry, David Schwimmer and Matt Leblanc paved a one-way street way into our hearts. The hit series that is still a hot favourite of many a fan, is the kind of show that becomes a part of you. Even today, people continue to religiously watch re-runs. Friends plays, even if it’s just in the background, while we eat, work, clean, whatever! Janice’s squeaky, annoying ‘Oh My Gaaad’, Joey trying to make Grandma’s chicken salad and Ross yelling “We were on a b-r-e-a-kkk!” is still, all too fresh.
While each character in the show had (has) something valuable to teach us about life , today, we’re going to focus on a few relationship takeaways from the episodes. Be it after watching the dynamics between Monica and Richard, Phoebe and Mike or our favourite couple, Ross and Rachel – there’s plenty of learning to do. So brace yourselves, this is not only going to be a fun walk down memory lane, it’s also going to teach you something you can apply in the present and future.
1. Celebrate your partner’s quirks
Now Phoebe is most definitely not your regular girl – she’s a special one! She comes up with the weirdest lyrics, she finds normalcy in raising rat babies and she’s non-judgemental to a point of scariness. However, that’s exactly what makes her so awesome and Mike, her romantic interest at some point in the show, couldn’t seem to agree more. Never did he try to change her crazy ways or try to mould her into the stereotypical idea of what “normal” is.
2. Say the right name at your wedding
A major lesson to learn from the show, is to always remember to say the right (i.e, your partners) name at your wedding ceremony! Don’t be like Ross, who had everyone, including his bride Emily, flabbergasted when he took Rachel’s name at the altar, instead of hers. Be clear about who you want to marry, who you’re marrying and whose name you blurt out. Please!
3. Age is just a number when you’re in love
When Monica and Dr. Richard Burke discovered a romantic connection, Ross and the siblings’ parents thought it was ridiculous, given Burke’s and Monica’s age difference. And of course, since he was also Monica’s dad’s friend. However, love has no hard and fast rules. It can happen to anyone, anywhere, anytime.
4. Some people are too good as friends to be anything else
When Joey and Rachel had some brief “moments” together, it was not only uncomfortable for Ross (Rachel’s then ex) to digest, but also for us as an audience. If you remember, when Joey and Rachel tried to initiate a hot make-out session with each other, they too couldn’t go through with it. After several failed attempts, Rachel asks Joey, “If Monica and Chandler could do it, why can’t we?” To which he responds, “I guess they aren’t as good friends as we are…”
5. Timing is everything
The whole universe was rooting for Ross and Rachel to get together, but it took them about 10 seasons to finally get things moving in that direction. Usually, one would fall in love with the other right as the other would decide to move on, then vice versa. It was all a matter of timing, and they had to get that game-playing out of their systems before they could get on the same page. Food for thought, right?
