Top 10 Life Lessons from ‘How I Met Your Mother’ - Part 1

In the middle of its eighth season on air, CBS’s How I Met Your Mother provides insight into relationships, careers, and life in general.

How I Met Your Mother, which premiered in 2005, chronicles the story of how Ted Mosby (Josh Radnor) met his wife. Every episode begins with future Ted speaking with his children on the couch, and continues with a story from his past that leads him one step closer to finding their mother.

The TV show also stars Neil Patrick Harris as the womanizer Barney Stinson, Jason Segel and Alyson Hannigan as Ted’s roommates Marshall Eriksen and Lily Aldrin, and Cobie Smulders as the Canadian news anchor who rounds out their group, Robin Scherbatsky.

Its unique appeal lies in offering more than laughs and entertainment. The life lessons it teaches are endless, but here are my top 10. Would you add any additional favorite moments to your list?

10) Nothing good ever happens after 2 a.m.

It’s true. Whether you are drunk or merely tired, you should go home by the wee hours of the morning. Everything else you do or say past this hour is not a fully conscious decision, and you may wake up in the morning with regrets. Ted learned this too late when he chose to go over to Robin’s house to make juice, and wound up cheating on Victoria, his girlfriend at the time.

9) A man’s best wingman is a suit.

All Barney Stinson has to do is show up, and girls seem to throw themselves at him. What’s his secret? Girls love confidence, but they also love a well-dressed man. Barney used to be a hippie until his girlfriend left him for an older businessman. Since then, his motto has been, “Suit up.”

8) Long distance relationships don’t work.

No matter how much you think you love and trust each other, you will not be the one couple to make a long-distance relationship work. Skype does not make up for physical contact. Sooner or later, one or both of you will be yearning for love, and move on to a person in closer proximity. It’s better to mutually agree to take a break than to string someone along and wind up cheating. Ted and Victoria thought they could stay together when she left for culinary school, but he ended up sleeping with Robin during her absence.

7) Platinum rule: Never ever, ever, ever love thy neighbor.

Never date a co-worker, or anyone you see on a continuous basis. It will only make every moment after the eventual break-up awkward when you are consistently running into one another at the exact time you want space. Barney Stinson is correct with this sentiment. Ted fell in love with Stella, the doctor he saw for tattoo removal, despite his friends’ warnings. In the end, she left him at the altar for her ex.

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