Twenty one years ago the world was introduced to six unique characters in a coffee shop in New York. We journeyed together for an amazing ten years through relationships, love, jobs, real life and most importantly comedy. Watching Friends every Friday night with the females in my family was a strict ritual.
Now, my post may seem slightly out of date – Friends ended (to my devastation) in 2004. But the more I binge on re-runs thanks to Comedy Central’s #FriendsFest I have come to realise that I am Rachel Green.
Stay with me, I’m not being arrogant and obnoxious and saying I am bomb shell with a great figure and quippy lines – actually I’m saying the opposite!
Rachel Green is the 90s reflection of having to actually become a grown up. Throughout the entirety of Friends we see her trying to do this and struggling.
Stage One of being Rachel Green – cutting off (or flying the nest) from your parents. Rachel gets cut off from her Dad after she flees her Wedding. Who isn’t trying to spread their wings and be the grown up that people criticize you for not being – only to have over bearing parents keep you at their side!? Monica so brilliantly expresses most grown ups feelings of it: “Welcome to the real world. It sucks!”
Stage Two of being Rachel Green – not actually knowing what you want. Remember the on again off again feelings/relationship roller coaster that was Ross and Rachel? Rachel not being able to make up her mind reminds me of so many people (me included) who just cannot make up their mind. Should I take this job? Should I buy this house? Should I see that person for dinner? Should I save all of my money and go on holiday? Should I invest? Being a grown up is just learning to pretend you know what to do.
Stage Three of being Rachel Green – finally deciding what you want. Flash your memory back to Ross and Rachel Being ON A BREAK. Rachel had finally made up her mind about wanting to be with Ross – only for it not being meant to be. What follows is a hilarious season of comedy. But in real life, it’s not always that funny. I hope this final decision making for you doesn’t go as disastrously as it does in Friends but it does come with some tough choices.
Being a grown up is clearly about being able to laugh through the problems and make light of the decisions. As Monica once rightly announced, it does SUCK but if Friends can teach us one thing it’s that we need to lighten up!
If all else fails and your life does truly suck, bunker down, get a blanket and go and visit your old friends at the coffee house. Thank you Friends for all you’ve taught us and always bring there for us!! (Sorry)
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