Life Lessons from the Big Bang Theory!
For twelve years we enjoyed watching the lives of our favorite friends in Pasadena, California- Sheldon, Leonard, Penny, Howard, Raj, Bernadette, Amy and even Stuart… Their coworkers, their extended family became our family and our friends as well.
We loved it when famous people would drop in, either as themselves, or as a character on the show. The many recurring appearances by people like Keith Carradine (Penny’s dad), Katey Sagal (Penny’s mom), Kathy Bates & Raymond Teller (Amy’s parents), Judd Hirsch (Leonard’s dad), Christine Baranski (Leonard’s mom) Bob Newhart (Professor Proton), Sara Gilbert(Leslie Winkle), Lauri Metcalf (Sheldon’s mom), to name just a few. Then there were the numerous cameo appearances by stars like Billy Bob Thornton, Nathan Fillion, Elon Musk, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Adam West, Christopher Lloyd, Bill Gates, Jerry O’Connell, Buzz Aldrin, Charlie Sheen, Stan Lee, Sean Astin, Kal Penn, Steve Wozniak, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Howie Mandel, Stephen Hawking and more. Star Trek boasted the largest group of cameo appearances with Wil Wheaton, Brent Spiner, William Shatner, Levar Burton, George Takei, the voice of Leonard Nimoy, with Star Wars cast members coming in a close second, with appearances by Carrie Fisher, James Earl Jones & Mark Hamill.
Throughout the series we witnessed the crazy relationships, the ups and downs of their friendships and family lives, and were witness to romances and break ups, marriages and deaths, moving in, moving out and moving on. They were more than a TV show. They became for many of us a part of our extended family… that weird part of the family that we never tell others about, but still, family none the less! Now that our friends from Cal Tech have been relegated to syndication, maybe it is time to reflect on the life lessons they taught us?!
Friendship and Loyalty are worth fighting for!
In the series finale, Sheldon upsets both of the other couples with his usual levels of selfishness and insensitivity. In frustration, the Walowitz’s and Hofstadter’s both decide to leave Norway before the Nobel prize ceremony. But after some soul searching, the four friends decide they need to stay, and that their friendships with Sheldon and Amy are far too important to leave them at the most important moment in their lives. Each one of us have similar times in our lives where those people we love the most become the most frustrating and difficult to live with. We need to remember that the best things in life are worth fighting for, and that includes friendships!
We all have our own quirks and weirdness, so be patient with others!
Sheldon is the obvious pick for “Weirdo of the Decade”, but each character on the show has their own quirks- Howard’s clothing, Raj’s inability to speak to women, Bernadette’s squeaky voice… you get the picture! Anyway, it’s pretty easy for us to spot the unusual or quirky characteristics in others lives. But are we just as quick to see our own facets of weirdness through the lens of self observance? Once we understand that each of us is someone else’s weirdo, it makes us much more patient with the idiosyncrasies in others lives.
You’re never too old to play a game or dress up in a weird outfit!
LARPing… Live Action Role Playing… is a mainstay activity of our four weird friends on Big Bang. DC Comics characters, Star Trek and Star Wars costumes, Lord of the Rings and even Nickelodeon costumes grace the screen from time to time. All night and all weekend long video tournaments, paintball Saturdays and even Twister at a girls night are parts of the Big Bang experience. Our nerd friends never seem to have lost the magic feeling that comes with being a child, the love of make believe and playing with friends. When we lose the sense of wonder, the ability to enjoy relaxing and just having fun with others, then we need to step back and reevaluate our life priorities. Stop taking yourself so seriously, get a pair of Spock ears and go have a little fun!
“Soft Kitty” is the best song ever when you feel sick or sad. A hot beverage is always a kind gesture when someone is upset!
Sheldon’s mother sang the song “Soft Kitty” to him any time he got sick. Early on in Big Bang he taught the song to Penny, and later to Amy. Throughout the series we would find ourselves singing along, and finding comfort as we sang, “Purr, Purr, Purr.” Whenever someone had their heart broken or was upset, the Cooper family tradition was to offer them a hot beverage as a means to provide a level of comfort and solace. This song or a hot beverage may not be your “go to” strategies when you don’t feel good, but it’s always important to have a plan. What we know is this… for whatever Sheldon lacked in skills, he at least made an effort, he had a plan to help in the only way he knew how. What’s your plan to help people when they are hurting?
Every group has a weirdo in it. If you don’t know who it is in yours, then it’s probably you!
Yes. I said it. If you don’t know who the weirdo in your group is, it’s probably you. Now for the really difficult part. Sheldon THOUGHT he knew who the weirdo in their group was, and this was Howard. In one sense, he was right. Howard was weird. But Sheldon was oblivious most of the time to his own unique strangeness. Understand and accept that everyone, including you, is a weirdo to someone. So be nice to the geeks in your orbit… someone else is nice to you.
The best advice or encouragement can come from the most unexpected places!
One of the most poignant scenes in the entire series was when Howard received news that his mother had died. The group was all with him, and they were equally heartbroken. Sheldon asked if he could say something, and Leonard tried to cut him off, but Howard allowed Sheldon to offer his input, as scary as that seemed. Sheldon said, “When my father died, I had no friends to help me through it. You do.” The world is a scary, but sometimes wonderful place. Be open to what the people around you have to offer, however unlikely or unusual the source might be.
When it comes to gifts, it’s the thought that counts!
Sheldon was so upset at the thought of exchanging Christmas gifts with Penny one year that he bought multiple gift baskets to that he could give one or a multiple of baskets to her. He wanted to make sure that the gift he gave was of the exact value of the one she gave him. He was totally unprepared when she presented him with the used, autographed napkin from Leonard Nimoy (Mr. Spock) that said, “To Sheldon, Live Long and Prosper”. He was overwhelmed, and gave her all six gift baskets, and sensing it wasn’t enough, he gave her a hug too! Penny and Sheldon both seemed to understand that the gift they picked that meant the most was the one that appealed to their heart- Sheldon’s love for Spock, and Penny’s love for affection! Our lives are so much richer when we make our gift giving to others focused more on what we know brings them the most joy, rather than on what makes us happy to give to them! Learn, ask, understand what brings others the greatest joy, and gift accordingly!
For better or worse, our family and our friends help shape much of who we are. Deal with it!
Leonard shared a moving hug with his mother, after decades of feeling like he was nothing more than a sociological experiment to her. Howard had his mommy issues and Penny had her daddy issues. Raj couldn’t seem to cut the financial apron strings, and the powerful influence of Sheldon’s mom and MeeMaw were highlighted again and again throughout the series.
Raj & Hoard had a weird bromance, and Leonard and Sheldon shared a friendship for the ages (as awkward and imbalanced as it was at times!) Penny was the dog bone that Amy and Bernadette played tug o war with, fighting over whose “best friend’ she was, all the way until the final episode. Yes, our family and our friends invade every crevice and aspect of our lives, and as they do they impact us in more ways that we know. Good friends, as they did on Big Bang Theory, tend to bring out the best in us. It’s not always a pleasant or easy process, but friendship seldom is easy. The wisdom here is simple. Choose your friends wisely.
Never give up on true love and dream… unless it’s stupid, then give up on that. Find something better!
From the very beginning of Big Bang Theory, Sheldon was convinced that one day he would be on the stage in Norway, receiving a Nobel Peace Prize in Physics from the King of Norway. This came to fruition in the final episode of the 12 year series. In the pursuit of his life long dream, and the final attainment of it, Sheldon comes to realize what his true prize on the day is. The acceptance speech goes something like this:
Sheldon Cooper : Because this honor doesn’t just belong to me. I wouldn’t be up here if it weren’t for some very important people in my life. Beginning with my mother, father, meemaw, brother, and sister. And my other family, who I’m so happy to have here with us. Is that Buffy the Vampire Slayer?
Sheldon Cooper : I was under a misapprehension that my accomplishments were mine alone. Nothing could be further from the truth. I have been encouraged, sustained, inspired, and tolerated not only by my wife, but by the greatest group of friends anyone ever had. I’d like to ask them to stand.
Sheldon Cooper : Dr. Rajesh Koothrappali. Dr. Bernadette Rostenkowski Wolowitz. Astronaut Howard Wolowitz. And my two dearest friends in the world, Penny Hofstadter… and Dr. Leonard Hofstadter. I was there the moment Leonard and Penny met. He said to me that their babies would be smart and beautiful. And now that they’re expecting, I have no doubt that that will be the case.
Penny Hofstadter : [crying] Thanks, Sheldon. I-I haven’t told my parents yet, but thanks.
Sheldon Cooper : Oh. I’m sorry. Don’t tell anyone that last thing. That’s a secret. Howard, Bernadette, Raj, Penny, Leonard, I apologize if I haven’t been the friend you deserve. But I want you to know in my way, I love you all.
Never give up on your dream… and never, ever forget to love the people you love along the way.
AND FOR YOU HUGE “BIG BANG THEORY” NERDS… HERE ARE OVER 100 QUOTES FROM THE SHOW!!!
- “Scissors cuts paper, paper covers rock, rock crushes lizard, lizard poisons Spock, Spock smashes scissors, scissors decapitates lizard, lizard eats paper, paper disproves Spock, Spock vaporizes rock, and as it always has, rock crushes scissors.”- Sheldon Cooper
- “I am the king of the nerds.” – Leonard
- “I do wanna fling my poop at her.” – Penny
- “As my mom used to say, ‘When you’re doing a puzzle, it’s like you’ve got a thousand friends.’ She was full of fun lies like that.” – Amy Farrah Fowler
- “I am a horny engineer; I never joke about math or sex.” – Howard Wolowitz
- “My point is, while you’re spending all this time on your own, building computers or practicing your cello, what you’re really doing is becoming interesting. When people finally do notice you, they’re gonna find someone a lot cooler than they thought. And for those of you that were popular in high school, it’s over, sorry. Thank you. Congratulations.” – Leonard
- “If anyone’s interested, I’ll be spending this Valentine’s in the same way I spend every Valentine’s. Buying disoriented chicken from the supermarket, taking home, standing over the sink and eating out of the packet with my bare hands like an animal.” – Raj
- “You better find my husband’s mother, ’cause one way or another we’re walking out of this airport with a dead woman.” – Bernadette
- “What up, Shel-Bot?” – Penny
- “It’s a Satunalia miracle.” – Leonard
- “The only way she’d be able to make a contribution to science is if they resume sending chimps into space.” – Sheldon Cooper
- “I lost my virginity to my cousin, Jeanie. It was my Uncle Murray’s funeral, we were all back at my Aunt Barbara’s house. Our eyes locked over the pickled herring. We never meant for it to happen. To this day, I can’t look at pickled herring without being aroused and ashamed. Oh, cousin Jeanie.” – Howard
- “Amy, good luck getting these guys excited about a dinner with a theme. I gave up when no one cared about my Tom Hanks-Giving.” – Raj
- “We’re here to see Koothrappali, not kill Batman.” – Leonard
- “I often forget other people have limitations. It’s so sad.” – Sheldon Cooper
- “I haven’t cried this hard since Toy Story 3.” – Raj
- “Feelings? What am I? A hippy at a love-in?” – Sheldon Cooper
- “I told you you shouldn’t have espresso after dinner. I know the little cups make you feel big but it’s not worth it.” – Bernadette
- “We’re all pathetic and creepy, and can’t get girls. That’s why we fight robots.” – Barry Kripke
- “Gosh, Amy. I’m sensing a little hostility. Is it maybe because like Sheldon’s work, your sex life is also theoretical?” = Bernadette
- “I like you a lot and that’s scary for me. Mostly because you’re a proven flight risk.” – Raj
- “I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: Aquaman sucks!” – Raj
- “Well, this is confusing for me. But I don’t want to stand in the way of your happiness. So, I will condemn you internally while maintaining an outward appearance of acceptance.” – Sheldon Cooper
- “Then it’s settled. Amy’s birthday present will be my genitals.” – Sheldon Cooper
- “People get things they don’t deserve all the time. Like me with you.” – Leonard (to Sheldon)
- “I know the real reason you never made progress with that idea. You thought of it September 22nd, 2007. Two days later, Penny moved in and so much blood rushed to your genitals, your brain became a ghost town.” – Sheldon Cooper
- “You think that’s bad? In college, I passed out at a frat party and woke up with more clothes on.” – Amy
- “Penny. We are made of particles that have existed since the moment the universe began. I like to think those atoms traveled fourteen billion years through time and space to create us, so that we could be together and make each other whole.” – Leonard
- “Oh, you’re going to jibber-jabber about jibber-jabber.” – Penny
- “Jewelry? Seriously? Sheldon, you are the most shallow, self-centered person I have ever met! Do you really think another transparently manipulative – Oh, it’s a tiara! Put it on me, put it on me, put it on me, put it on me.” – Amy
- “I’m glad I got that mocha. And you know what else I’m glad about? I bought you a brownie and I ate it in the car!” – Bernadette
- “Yeah, I’m a freaking genius.” – Leonard
- “While you confront your mother about her sex life? I’d rather go back to that bar in assless chaps.” – Howard
- “It’s too late. He’s been murdered by someone in this room. Welcome to another classic Koothrappali murder mystery dinner.” – Raj
- “I’m exceedingly smart. I graduated college at fourteen. While my brother was getting an STD, I was getting a Ph.D. Penicillin can’t take this away.” – Sheldon Cooper
- “Not really a great outfit for work unless something opens up in the hookers and whores department.” – Penny
- “I was thinking more of a biosocial exploration with a neurochemical overlay.” – Leonard
- “Well, I’m a Hindu. My religion teaches that if we suffer in this life we are rewarded in the next. Three months at the North Pole with Sheldon and I’m reborn as a well-hung billionaire with wings.” – Raj
- “Do you have any idea how hard it is to laugh at a knock knock joke that starts ‘Knock Knock Knock, Amy. Knock Knock Knock, Amy. Knock Knock Knock, Amy’?” – Amy
- “Holy crap on a cracker.” – Penny
- “I’m too small for Twister. And roller coasters. And sitting with my feet on the floor. Hope you enjoyed the prenatal cigarettes, Mom.” – Bernadette
- “I’d like to take a moment to personally thank Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler, who you may or may not know is the first woman to co-host a flag or banner related Internet infotainment show.” – Sheldon Cooper
- “So either one of you weirdoes want to buy my underwear? Only $1400.” – Penny
- “Merry Newton-mas everyone.” – Leonard
- “And you should pick me for Miss. California Quiznos 1999, because I want to tell you what I want, what I really really want. I’ll tell you what I want, what I really really want. I wanna. I wanna. I wanna. I wanna, really, really, be the California Quiznos 1999.” – Bernadette
- “Wow, my boyfriend is friends with Stephen Hawking and my new dandruff shampoo doesn’t smell like tar. Everything really is coming up Amy.” – Amy
- “It upsets Sheldon when you play with the Sheldon.” – Leonard
- “There’s no denying that I have feelings for you that can’t be explained in any other way. I briefly considered that I had a brain parasite, but that seems even more far-fetched. The only conclusion was love.” – Sheldon Cooper
- “Isn’t this when he says ‘bazooka’ or something?” – Penny
- “If it’s ‘creepy’ to use the Internet, military satellites, and robot aircraft to find a house full of gorgeous young models so I can drop in on them unexpected, then fine, I’m creepy.” – Howard
- “12 years after high school and I’m still at the nerd table.” – Leonard
- “Now, when you said on the phone he broke up with a girl, you meant an actual girl? Not something you kids whipped up in a lab?” – Mary Cooper
- “Game over, Moonpie.” – Wil Wheaton
- “I would have been here sooner but the bus kept stopping for other people to get on it.” – Sheldon Cooper
- “If I could speak the language of rabbits, they would be amazed, and I would be their king.” – Raj
- “What are ya doing there? Working on a new plan to catch the Road Runner?” – Leonard
- “All right, Howard Wolowitz, listen up! You sign anything she puts in front of you, because you are the luckiest man alive. If you let her go, there is no way you can find anyone else. Speaking on behalf of all women, it is not going to happen, we had a meeting.” – Penny
- “It would be nice to be with a man who wants to know what’s underneath my cardigan. FYI, it’s another cardigan.” – Amy
- “Thankfully all the things my girlfriend used to do can be taken care of with my right hand.” – Sheldon Cooper
- “That is a good point. But I didn’t marry you for good points. I married you to blindly support me no matter how ridiculous I’m being.” – Howard
- “So that means, you’re a doctor, you’re a doctor, you’re a doctor, you’re a doctor and, Howard, you know a lot of doctors.” – Penny
- “I’m going to be deported. Sent home in disgrace. Exposed to the sardonic barbs of my cousin Sanjay or, as you may know him, Dave from AT&T customer service.” – Raj
- “And what kind of doctor removes shoes from asses?” – Penny
- “It was an hour ago, Sheldon. A Jew sits in front of a house in Texas for that long, for sale signs start to go up.” – Howard
- “If you’re keeping him, I’ve got a cage you can borrow. One of the test monkeys slipped on a banana peel and broke his neck. It was both tragic and hysterical.” – Amy
- “I’m sorry, coffee’s out of the question. When I moved to California I promised my mother that I wouldn’t start doing drugs.” – Sheldon Cooper
- “No shirt, no shoes, no Sheldon.” – Penny
- “Sometimes your movements are so lifelike I forget you are not a real boy.” – Leonard
- “Raj is it? Still having trouble talking to the ladies? Because you know at our church we have a woman who’s an amazing healer. Mainly she does crutch and wheelchair people. But I bet she’d be willing to take a shot at whatever third-world demon is running around inside of you.” – Mary Cooper
- “Love is not a sprint, it’s a marathon, a relentless pursuit that only ends when she falls into your arms- or hits you with the pepper spray.” – Howard
- “I love him but if he’s broken, let’s not get a new one.” – Penny (re: Sheldon)
- “Oh gravity, thou art a heartless bitch.” – Sheldon Cooper
- “Bernadette, I want to thank you for allowing me to be your maid of honor. I also want you to know that I will be happy to do it again if this marriage craps out.” – Amy
- “Sheldon doesn’t know when he’s being mean because the part of his brain that should know is getting a wedgie from the rest of his brain.” – Bernadette
- “I’m a vegetarian except for fish, and the occasional steak. I love steak!” – Penny
- “Yeah, Mrs. Wolowitz was pretty special. When I first moved to America, Howard was my only friend, and she made me feel so welcome in her home. Which says a lot, because those first few years she thought I was the gardener.” – Raj
- “Penny, I told you if you don’t put him in his crate at night, he just runs around the apartment.” – Leonard
- “Indian Monopoly is just like regular Monopoly, but instead of money you use rupees, instead of building hotels you build call centers, and when you pick up a chance card there’s a chance you die of dysentery. And just FYI, that was racist.” – Howard
- “I am not crazy, my mother had me tested.” – Sheldon Cooper
- “Yes, yes, yes. He’s a jolly good fellow. What time do the strippers arrive?” – Barry Kripke
- “Oh, I get it. Like CP-3O…What happened to me?!” – Penny
- “Come on, do you want to sit here being a loser, or do you want to watch me climb into an Australian man’s G-string like a baby kangaroo.” – Bernadette
- “I promised myself if I ever got friends I’d do whatever they said. Really, I’m lucky you found me before a cult did.” – Amy
- “I know the feeling. It’s like accidentally walking into a gay bar and then having no one hit on you…it happened to a friend of mine.” – Raj
- “What did you do, Romeo? Did you pour maple syrup all over your body and ask her if she was in the mood for a short stack?” – Howard
- “The correct animal for inter-species super soldier is the koala. You would wind up with an army so cute, it couldn’t be attacked.” – Sheldon Cooper
- “You can’t ruin a friendship with sex. That’s like trying to ruin ice cream with chocolate sprinkles.” – Raj
- “You know people think you are this weird robot man who’s so annoying all the time and you totally are. But then it’s like that movie Wall-E at the end. You’re so full of love and you can save a plant and get fat people out of their floaty chairs.” – Penny
- “The only person who signed my yearbook was my mother. ‘Dear Amy, self respect and a hymen are far better than friends and fun. Love, Mom.’” – Amy
- “Okay, please don’t take this the wrong way, but I’d rather swim butt-naked across the Ganges with a paper cut on my nipple and die a slow agonizing death from a viral infection than work with you.” – Raj
- “Apparently you can’t hack into a government supercomputer and then try to buy uranium without the Department of Homeland Security tattling to your mother.” – Sheldon Cooper
- “Sheldon, you remind me of a young Lex Luthor.” – Raj
- “Penny, you don’t want to get into it with Sheldon. The guy’s one lab accident away from being a super villain.” – Leonard
- “I am aware of the way humans usually reproduce which is messy, unsanitary and based on living next to you for three years, involves loud and unnecessary appeals to a deity.” – Sheldon Cooper
- “It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without an Indian providing the food.” – Raj
- “Usually when someone’s being talked about behind their back, it’s me and it’s right in front of my face.” – Amy
- “But excuse me, I have something to say. None of you may realize it, but I was very much looking forward to this weekend. It was gonna be like the old days — the four of us hanging out, playing video games, before you guys all got girlfriends. Do you have any idea what it’s like to be the only one without a girlfriend? Even if I get one someday, I’ll still be the guy who got a girl after Sheldon Cooper!” – Raj
- “A neutron walks into a bar and asks how much for a drink. The bartender replies ‘for you, no charge’.”- Sheldon Cooper
- “A guest in my trundle bed and a boy at my door. I wish I could tell thirteen-year-old me it does get better.” – Amy
- “How can I be a gynaecologist? I can barely look a woman in the eye!” – Raj
- “All I need is a healthy ovum and I can grow my own Leonard Nimoy.” – Sheldon Cooper