Movies, shows, and music have a way of shaping us more than we realize. They can comfort us, inspire us, or even give us the spark we need to keep going. For me, Sex and the City has always been that show.

It’s more than just fashion, cosmos, or witty one-liners; it’s about friendship, growth, heartbreak, and figuring out who you are in a world that doesn’t always make it easy. Carrie Bradshaw gave me the courage to chase my dreams, and And Just Like That continues to remind me that we’re all still evolving, no matter how old we are.

This piece is my love letter to a series that changed my life and continues to comfort me.

CARRIE BRADSHAW CHANGED MY LIFE (AND STILL DOES)

One of the earliest memories I have isn’t from school or a birthday party; it’s sneaking around my mom’s apartment. She was a single mom working hard, and whenever she wasn’t home or her friends were babysitting me, they thought I was asleep in my bed. In reality, I was tiptoeing into her room and turning on E! reruns of Sex and the City.

That’s how I learned everything I probably wasn’t supposed to at five or six years old; from Samantha teaching me what a blowjob was, to Charlotte showing me what it looked like to hold it all together, to Miranda proving that women (and men) can be smart, sharp, and unapologetic. And then, of course, there was Ms. Carrie Bradshaw, the one who gave me all the inspiration I didn’t even know I needed.

GROWING UP WITH CARRIE

Now that I’m older, re-watching the show hits differently. Back then I only saw random episodes on TV. But going back now, as a longtime fan, I realize how much these characters shaped me. At twenty-seven, still trying to figure out who the hell I am, And Just Like That has given me a new perspective. It’s funny how we grow with shows and people… how fictional characters can change our lives in real, permanent ways.

When Carrie wonders if she’s making the right choices, when Miranda throws herself into something new, when Charlotte holds onto her optimism, when Samantha refuses to apologize for being herself, those aren’t just TV moments. They’re reminders to keep going.

COSMOS, VHS TAPES, AND FINDING COMFORT

My first legal drink at twenty-one? A Cosmo. Because duh, Sex and the City. In my first apartment in Florida, I hung a massive canvas of the girls in my kitchen. They were my comfort then, and they’ve been my comfort ever since.

When I checked myself into mental health treatment years later, there was no internet. Just old VHS tapes. And the universe (or fate) handed me a stack of random Sex and the City tapes. I watched those same episodes over and over again for seven months; rewinding, flipping, rewinding again. It sounds silly, but those tapes gave me hope when I didn’t have much left. They reminded me that life could be glamorous, messy, heartbreaking, and still worth showing up for.

WHY CARRIE BRADSHAW STILL INSPIRES ME

Pop culture has always been my lifeline. Britney Spears was my first pop girl obsession, but career-wise, it’s Carrie Bradshaw who lit the fire. She showed me that writing could be more than a hobby; it could be a way of living. She made me realize I don’t just need a job; I need a career that brings happiness.

Carrie taught me that sometimes all you need is a cigarette, a burger, and a Cosmo. Or a cry with your friends, or just the reminder that chasing your dreams is never something to apologize for.

MY FRIENDS ARE CHARACTERS TOO

The older I get, the more I see my own circle reflected in the show. I’ve got my gay bestie who could rival Stanford and Anthony. My girlfriends all have qualities of the SATC girls, and just like Carrie, I’m learning that it’s okay if you don’t have hundreds of friends; the few that really love you are more than enough.

AND JUST LIKE THAT…

I’ll never stop being grateful for this story. Sex and the City shaped who I am, reminded me to keep writing when I wanted to quit, and continues to inspire me to chase my dreams.

Of course, I miss Samantha in the revival. She was the boldness, the humor, the shock factor we all secretly wished we had. But life has different chapters for everyone, and sometimes we grow in separate directions. That doesn’t erase the impact, it just reminds us that friendships, like people, evolve.

And I have to say, And Just Like That gave us new women to love. Seema is everything: fierce, funny, unbothered, and the kind of friend who can tell you the truth while still holding your hand. LTW brings a different kind of fabulous: elegant, grounded, and showing that success doesn’t have to dim your sparkle. Together with Miranda, Charlotte, and Carrie, they’ve added new energy, new perspectives, and new reasons to keep watching.

Another season would mean everything, because this show, both SATC and AJLT, still has so much more to say about life, love, friendship, and figuring it all out in your 20s, 30s, 40s, and beyond. Until then, I’ll raise a Cosmo to Carrie Bradshaw, Seema, LTW, Miranda, Charlotte, and yes… Samantha too. Forever my girls. ✨💌