Now, I must confess something at the onset. I have been a
huge fan of the sitcom Sex and the City and I secretly aspire to be India’s
answer to Carrie Bradshaw (well, not so much of a secret anymore!).
Having established my allegiance towards the show, I can safely
say of all the sitcoms dished out, SATC comes quite close to understanding women,
voicing their latent fears and comprehending their wildest fantasies. It is
like an institution of sisterhood or an unofficial holy book of sorts for
single women across the world, holding true even after a decade it aired last.
Personally, I have evolved a lot with each season of the
show, just like the characters did. Their struggles, stories, fights, flings
and friendship, it was all-consuming. I was living with them, passively. I
admire this show for its sheer honesty and guts. It puts it all upfront for all
of us to see, a woman’s anxieties and her challenges. And you cannot help but
believe in them.
I believe we all somewhere would identify, however partially, with
either of the four lead women in the show, Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and
Charlotte. We all carry one or some of the traits of these women. Watching it, you
cannot help but relate to them in one way or other. There are things you could
see Carrie doing wrong and you would want to advice her not to. Or, you would
want to tell Charlotte to not be so gullible. Or, you would admire Samantha for
her devil-may-care attitude. Or, you would wish Miranda was a little more
receptive towards her own emotions.
So, when a show is bordering on such realism yet fantasy, it
must have got some things we all could take help from and appreciate. Some of
the things that SATC has taught me are akin to having a best friend around and
let her explain life lessons to you when you need them.
1. Men will come, men will go. Don’t
sweat over the wrong ones because the right ones will ultimately find a way
back to you.
Case in point, Mr. Big (how much of an asshole he may have been to Carrie),
Steve and Harry.
2. Girlfriends as soulmates and boys as
the ones you have fun with. It is really that simple to sort through your life’s all
pains and heartbreaks.
3. Dating is fun, dating is cool and dating
is sexy. I
almost want to go out on a fabulous date right now!
4. You, your life, your choices first. Be it the choice to commit or back
out in a relationship, to get pregnant, to sleep around or to put career first.
These women stumble but then make their choices their way
5. Sex, as noun or a verb, is not bad. It is as important or as essential as
sleep, food or shelter. Just one of the things our body needs.
6. Ditching girls’ night out to go on a
date is so not cool. Oh yeah!
7. Age is ACTUALLY just a number. True it’s a sitcom and that too set
in New York but hey, things are shaking up in India too. Well, for starters the
one writing this is in her 30s, single and a wannabe Carrie!
8. Spend on style but do save money. Because seriously, you don’t want to
be that old woman who lived in her shoes.
One of the many things that Carrie
says, this one comes right at the end of the season finale, almost like summing
up the whole series:
'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.'
And I couldn’t help but wonder would
you all agree with me here? J
