Sex and the City

In 1998, the world met four extraordinary women:

Carrie Bradshaw

,

Samantha Jones

,

Miranda Hobbes

, and

Charlotte York

. These fictional icons, brought to life by Candace Bushnell, transcended the screen, becoming more than characters—they became our confidantes, our muses, and our friends. 

For me, the ‘90s were a distant memory, a time when I missed the initial wave of this cultural phenomenon due to my second marriage—a chapter that ended with more relief than regret. But when the dust settled, I found myself in a new season of life, armed with three years’ worth of “Sex and the City” episodes and three cases of wine consumed over three months. The show’s witty banter, fashion-forward sensibilities, and candid discussions about love, friendship, and self-discovery became the soundtrack of my days. 

Carrie Bradshaw

, the quintessential New York City columnist, taught me that the most significant relationship is the one we have with ourselves. Her iconic quote—“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.”—still resonates. I realized that friendships never go out of style, even as trends change and dreams evolve. 

Samantha Jones

, the unapologetically bold PR maven, showed me that passion knows no age. Her pursuit of love—ridiculous, inconvenient, and consuming—inspired me to seek the same. And when she declared, “I’ve spent $40,000 on shoes and I have no place to live? I will literally be the old woman who lived in her shoes!” I laughed and secretly agreed. Samantha taught me that life is too short for mediocrity; we should chase our desires with unapologetic fervor. 

Miranda Hobbes

, the pragmatic lawyer, reminded me that resilience matters. She faced heartbreak, career challenges, and motherhood head-on, proving that sometimes the best we can do is play the hand we’ve been dealt and accessorize our outfits with confidence. Miranda’s strength became my silent anthem, urging me to persevere even when life threw curveballs. 

And then there’s

Charlotte York

, the romantic idealist. Her pursuit of love, fairy-tale weddings, and happily-ever-afters resonated with my own desires. But Charlotte also taught me that being single doesn’t mean nobody wants you—it means you’re taking your time to decide how you want your life to be. She was the dreamer in me, the one who believed in magic even when reality seemed mundane. 

As I navigated my own path, these characters became my companions. They whispered advice, laughter, and encouragement. They lived inside me, each representing facets of womanhood—the dreamer, the pragmatist, the bold adventurer, and the romantic. Candace Bushnell’s creation empowered me to embrace every version of myself, whether I wore stilettos or sneakers, whether I chased love or solitude. 

So here’s to Carrie, Samantha, Miranda, and Charlotte—for being more than fictional characters. They’re the friends who never left my heart, even as life’s seasons changed. And to Netflix, thank you for streaming every episode, allowing me to relive some of the greatest laughs of my life. As for Pablo, well, he’s now a fan too, and together, we raise our Cosmopolitans to the fabulous quartet that shaped us all.