The Most Important Lessons We’ve Learned From Grey’s Anatomy

Grey's Anatomy is filled to the brim with memoriable life lessons. We've put together a list of what we think are some of the most important ones!

For the longest time, I would not give Grey’s Anatomy the time of day. I knew it was a long-running show a lot of my friends in high school enjoyed but I didn’t see the point. One day I caught a random episode with Ellis Gray on TV and was so enticed that I went back to season 1 to give the show a genuine chance. Since then, I’ve reached season 12 and must take a lot of breaks in between to keep my emotional well-being intact. So far to me, these are the most important lessons we’ve learned from Grey’s Anatomy.

Timing Is Everything

Transcending beyond the “will they/won’t they”, Mark and Lexie will forever be my example of this. Whether it was the idea that things were moving too fast or that it was too late to get back together, these two demonstrate just how valuable time is. You never know when the unexpected is going to happen (still not over that plane crash) and you need to make your feelings clear. Thinking about both of their final confessions of love still makes me emotional and I truly believe they are together on the other side.

Tell The Truth

The multiple story arcs on Grey’s Anatomy successfully portray the consequences of not telling the truth. It always has a way of coming out even though it sometimes takes longer than others. Conveniently leaving things out will always begin with Derek and Addison. That season 1 bombshell of a finale completely alters your view on Derek (as it does in many following seasons).

Since he didn’t tell the truth, this creates a whirlwind of emotions for Meredith which she spends many seasons sorting out. In later seasons, we have Cristina and Owen. Once she feels like something is off with him she begins investigating and ultimately, we find out that he did cheat after claiming he didn’t. Despite many heartbreaking moments for Cristina, this is up there because of the amount of time she just spends in their bed bawling.

Working With Family Takes Adjusting

Although we had the dueling Shepherd Neurosurgeons, the workplace family dynamics are most prevalent with Meredith. She must adjust to having sisters (at different times respectively) she did not know about and form varying bonds with them. I’m not sure how working with my own siblings would turn out but I know it would be even more difficult if they just popped up in my life at my job one day.

Sometimes You Fall In Love With Your Best Friend

Falling in love with your best friend always seems like the ultimate dream. However, this is complicated especially when your best friend is married and you all work together in the same hospital. There is a debate as to if the George and Izzie storyline should have ever happened, but I believe it was purposeful. It showed that falling in love with your best friend doesn’t always work out but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t someone out there for you.

Exes Have A Way Of Popping Up

Sure you may have the luxury of never running into a former flame but often, this is not the case. As with Richard and Ellis, they created a thunderstorm of pop-ups. From Meredith figuring out that they were together (as it was confirmed in memories and Ellis’s journals) and having to figure out her relationship with Richard to the Maggie introduction. Secret babies, medical methods to live up to, and fidelity choices may not be your reality but we all know that things from our past sometimes come out in unexpected ways.

People Can Change

If you had told me when I first started Grey’s Anatomy that Alex Karev would become one of the best Pediatric Surgeons, I would not have believed you for a second. Karev shows that the people you are surrounded by can have a significant impact on your life. He came from a challenging circumstance but always worked hard to get where he is although some techniques were questionable along the way.

My Person

One day I am going to have to write an entire essay on the friendship of Meredith Grey and Cristina Yang because they truly deserve it. Their friendship wasn’t perfect, but they were always there for each other when it counted. They supported their wins, cheered each other up when they were down, but they also weren’t afraid to call each other out. I will forever be in awe of the way their souls were connected even when things were going awry. To have a friend who crawls into bed with you while your husband is asleep on the other side shows how strong this connection to “your person” can be.

Chasing Cars Is Damaging

I’ve always thought this was an emotional song, but Snow Patrol has an entirely different meaning after watching Grey’s Anatomy. After Denny, this song always reminded me of how ruined Izzie was. Once season 11 hit, this made letting go of Derek even harder. I was already an emotional wreck then that song starts playing and my chest heaved even harder. I could have lived my entire life thinking this song was just a song but now it is a reminder of some of the most emotional moments in television history.

I know I’m late to the Grey’s Anatomy party but here’s hoping we all find our person in the world. What are the most important lessons you’ve learned from Grey’s Anatomy? Share in the comments!