I’ll be honest: I did not think Sex and the City was worth the hype for a majority of my life.
My best friend watched it from the time we were preteens – too young? Maybe, but who am I to judge? – and I just did not understand the big deal.
In the fall of 2015, I was bored and looking for a new binge show. My Netflix options were tapped out and Hulu didn’t have anything worth my time at the moment. I decided to check Amazon Prime, figuring there might be something for me to kill my time between shifts and going out with friends.
Sex and the City caught my eye.
As a blogger, I’ve seen gif sets of Carrie Bradshaw for as long as I’ve been on the Internet. I’ve used quotes from the show and novel in my everyday life. Maybe, I thought, it was time for me to give the show a shot.
So I turned it on. And I was hooked.
It gave me a much needed break from reality – falling for a guy who didn’t reciprocate and homes
I laughed whenever Charlotte became visibly uncomfortable as the four leads discussed sex. I cried when Big was marrying someone else.
I cheered when Miranda and Steve got together. I cried when Carrie and Aiden broke up.
I actually clapped whenever any of the women shut down slut-shaming. I cried when Samantha was diagnosed with cancer and her friends (and boy toy of the minute) were there for her through her struggle.
I cringed when Carrie started to fall in love with the Russian and subsequently moved to Paris with him.
I cried when Big went to Paris to get Carrie back.
Through all of the emotions, I didn’t realize that I was learning so much about myself, and about life in general.
Sure, the show was entertaining. The wild antics of wealthy thirtysomething women in New York City didn’t seem relatable at face value.
But, at the end of the day, they were just women with everyday problems in a less-than-average situation.
Sex and the City taught me to embrace sexuality, regardless of stigma.
Samantha Jones is unapologetically sexual. She has sex with whom she wants, when she wants, and she will tell you that. “I will not be judged by you or society. I will wear whatever, and blow whomever I want, as long as I can breathe and kneel.”
Charlotte York is constantly embarrassed by her own sexuality. However, when her friends introduce her to the trust Rabbit, she begins to embrace it (albeit, a little too much!) and this aids her in her life further.
What kind of woman doesn’t want to be herself, sexuality included?
Sex and the City helped me realize that being single is okay.
I spent a majority of my life (okay – all of my life) being described as boy crazy. As it happens, I have also spent a majority of my life single.
As Carrie says, “Being single used to mean that nobody wanted you. Now it means you’re pretty sexy and you’re taking your time deciding how you want your life to be and who you want to spend it with.”
There’s no problem with standards, especially when it comes to the person you’re dating.
Sex and the City reminded me that it’s okay to value your appearance.
My mom has always been the type of person that was concerned with how she presented herself. Honestly, it bothered me when I was fifteen and determined that wearing makeup would make people (okay, boys) think that I was, god forbid, high maintenance.
I’m twenty-two now, and I generally won’t leave the house without a full face of makeup. I am more concerned with how my eyebrows look than I could have ever imagined and I’ve spent over $50 on lipsticks (thanks, ColourPop) in the last month.
I read fashion blogs and magazines to understand what’s trendy and find things that I think will flatter my body type. I’ve recently become obsessed with chokers, after swearing that I would never wear them, because Gigi Hadid wears them and I love her style.
In a world where women are frequently described as vain or self-obsessed for being concerned with how the world perceives her, Carrie and Co. showed us that it’s okay to be concerned with how you look and what you wear.
Carrie says, “I like my money where I can see it – hanging in my closet.”
Honestly, Carrie? Same.
Sex and the City taught me that while men might come and go (or stay), friendships are forever.
I have the greatest friends, and I am so lucky for that. I have many smart, beautiful, funny women who I am lucky enough to be able to call my best friends.
Someday, when we’re all in relationships or married or have children, we will still have each other.
I can’t even pick one quote here, because there are so many.
“They say nothing lasts forever; dreams change, trends come and go, but friendships never go out of style.”
“After all, seasons change, so do cities; people come into your life and people go. But it’s comforting to know that the ones you love are always in your heart. And if you’re very lucky, a plane ride away.”
“Maybe our girlfriends are our soulmates and guys are just people to have fun with.”
Sex and the City taught me that self-love is more important than anything else, even though we are not perfect.
It’s okay not to be perfect. Carrie says, “I will never be the woman with the perfect hair, who can wear white and not spill on it.”
You need to put yourself first. Samantha says, “I love you, but I love me more.” She ends a decent relationships because it’s detrimental to her mental health.
At the end of the day, I don’t believe that you can be truly happy with someone unless you’re happy with yourself.
“The most exciting, challenging and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. And if you find someone to love the you you love, well, that’s just fabulous.”
