Most people who know me know that I am a big fan of “The Big Bang Theory.” It’s a 12-season American sitcom that revolves around the lives of three brilliant scientists and an engineer – Sheldon, Leonard, Raj, and Howard.
The things I loved about this show are how they introduce science in a fun way; and it teaches us the fact that relationships have ups and downs, but if it’s, everyone sticks until the end. To be honest, while I am writing this blog, I am watching (for the 7th time) S9:E13 “The Empathy Optimization.” Enough about how much I love this show. Let me share with you these relatable life lessons we, as Scouts can learn from the show.
“You got hurt; that doesn’t mean you stop trying.” – Bernadette
When we get hurt, it is natural to want to take a break and give ourselves some time to heal. Sometimes, we need to take a break from the situation or the person who hurt us. This is not the same as giving up.
We should be careful not to confuse taking a break with giving up on our goals and dreams. In life, we will inevitably get hurt, but that doesn’t mean we stop trying.
We must not let one setback or failure keep us from trying again and again until we finally succeed in what we want most in life.
“Leonard, I am overwhelmed. Everything is changing, and it’s simply too much. I need to get away and think.” – Sheldon
It is not uncommon for people to feel this way. It is normal to feel overwhelmed when you are in a new situation where you have less control. You might feel like everything is changing, and it’s simply too much. It can be challenging to know what to do next.
When it feels like everything is too much, the best thing you can do is take a break from the situation and get away from it all for a while. This will give you time and space to think about what’s happening and what your next steps should be.
Always remember, you are not alone in this.
“Sheldon is the smartest person I have met. He’s a little broken, and he needs me. And I guess I need him, too.” – Leonard
We all have that one friend who might be weird for some reason. Maybe they are too ‘addicted’ to Scouting or collecting Scouting memorabilia. We may have that one friend who is too ‘st*pid’ in love or life for that matter. Despite their quirkiness, as Dr. Siebert describes these qualities, we know they need us. That is why we stay.
Better yet, we need them too; that is the real reason why we stay. I always believe that every one of us is broken, but when we are together, we are whole.
“The whole world is dying of curiosity.” – Sheldon
Curiosity is a natural human instinct. It is a part of who we are and what we do. There are many examples of how curiosity killed the cat, but it also led to some of the most remarkable discoveries in human history.
Even we, as Scouts, are curious about how things work. When we first joined Scouting, we were amazed at how our leaders built that pyramid-shaped campfire lays. Have you seen a comet-like way of lighting that campfire lay? You were curious too. Right? But as we grow older, rank up, and attend more activities, we learn.
When the time comes, we are the ones who will be building those lays and will be thinking of new gimmicks to amaze the new generations of Scouts. However, our curiosity never stops there. We are always eager to learn more. That is what life is about—learning.
“12 years after high school and I’m still at the nerd table” – Leonard
Even our founder, Lord Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell, said, Scouting is for the young people. We cannot argue with that. That is true.
Many of our Scout Leaders—adults leading the Scouts in positions such as unit leaders and assistant unit leaders—especially those from the ranks, still act as if they are kids. They always try to join the activities made for Scouts, including the obstacle courses, rappelling, ziplining, wall-climbing, and the likes.
A decade after you earned that shining golden Eagle Scout medal of yours and are still in Scouting, you will realize this.
“Affliction changes us.” – Howard
Pain is a necessary part of life. It teaches us lessons, and it can make us stronger.
Pain is an inevitable part of the human experience. We all experience it in various ways and to different degrees, but its presence in our lives cannot be denied. It shapes how we think, how we react to others, and how we live our lives. Pain is a necessary part of life because it teaches us lessons and can make us stronger. It may not be the affliction that changes us, but it is definitely that we change our perspective of the world because of it.
“No problem, my treat” – Raj
A phrase that might not be said often enough in the world of friendships, but one that is truly appreciated when it is said. I am kidding, although this may be kind of the truth for some. This is one of the most-awaited and favorite phrases of everyone. Tell me I am wrong.
It is when your friend asks you to go to the JamboMarket, and you say you can not. It is when your unit leader asks you to come to eat with them after a stressful unit meeting. It is when you really want to buy that Scouting neckerchief and patch, but your friend sees your sad face and then taps you on the shoulder.
It is when you have no money, and they say, “no problem, my treat.”
“There was a time I never would’ve been friends with someone like you, and now you are one of my favorite people” – Penny
If you are a fan of this show and remove Leonard from the equation, can you imagine how Penny and Sheldon can even be friends?
Scouting introduces us to many things, including life and survival skills, and I am grateful for this. But the greatest thing about Scouting is how it changes the youth to be humble and friendly. I can relate to this as I have worked with many people in the past two years inside the movement.
If not because of Scouting, if not because of AMAPS, I will be able to know most of the friends I have right now. I guess I would never have been friends with Bianca and Sharm; now, they are two of my favorite people.
I am sure you also have friends that you never expected to be your friend, not until you become a part of the Scouting movement. In a world where people are increasingly more similar, it is essential to remember that friendships are not about our similarities but rather how we overcome our differences.
Friendships can be hard to maintain in the modern world because of their competitive nature. It should be built on a foundation of trust and understanding, without the need for competition or comparison.
“Well … they say at the end of your life, you regret the stuff you didn’t do more than the stuff that you did – Leonard
In our everyday life, we always decide whether to do one thing or not. This applies not only in our Scouting life but in our real life as well. Sometimes, we just want to try that 60-foot rappelling obstacle course, but we are so afraid that we might fall. And sometimes, we are so scared to tell someone what we feel because we might hurt them or worse, we might get hurt.
Ever since I heard this quote from Leonard, I took it and lived with it. We should not be afraid to take chances, do things that make us happy, and always take risks. We will never know what could have happened if we did or said things that we did not do or did not say.
We must seize the day if we want to live a life with fewer regrets.
“When people finally do notice you, they’re gonna find someone a lot cooler than they thought.” – Leonard
There is a lot of pressure for people to be perfect and have everything together. But, nothing can be further from the truth from that.
The best thing about you is that you are different from everyone else. You are unique, and you are your person. So do not try hard to be someone else or fit with a particular crowd or circle of friends—just be yourself and let the world fall in love with who you are.
People might not notice you at first, but when they finally do, they will find out that you are cooler than they thought; it might take some time, but they will find out that you are enough for someone who loves you for who you really are.
The Big Bang Theory was my go-to show when I am down, feel alone, and cannot find a new show or movie to watch on Netflix. The show and the unorthodox friendship of Sheldon, Leonard, Howard, Raj, Amy, Bernadette, and Penny, okay Stuart, you as well, shows the diversity that makes their squad so loveable.
It made me laugh, cry, and feel romantic excitement. It really is a complete package. But aside from these ten quotes I have personally chosen to share with you, there are other things the TBBT has taught us. The four most important life lessons I learned are to speak our minds, no one is too old for games (and of course, ball pits!), it is okay to love and love again, and your best friends will always be there for you.
For full disclosure to our audience, I wrote the first two paragraphs of this article on January 8, 2022, that was when I was watching the series for the 7th time. I stumbled too many times, but thanks to my friends who had been there, I stood up again and continued with my life.
I guess I am privileged to have Keven-Jayson, Dominique, Bianca, Sharm, Mika, and Alyanna in my life. I finished the I article, and I survived. Let me borrow another great quote from Sheldon Cooper, “I apologize if I haven’t been the friend you deserve. But I want you to know, in my way, I love you all.”
For now, live long and prosper!
