The Fact is, You're a Lady Edith

Last Sunday the final season of Downton Abbey premiered on PBS, and people all over these United States sipped tea, donned their finest hats, and watched the beginning of the end. For me there was only one way to prepare for such a momentous occasion: binge watch the entire series. It was incredible, but it got me thinking.

When watching an ensemble show like Downton Abbey, it is almost impossible NOT to look at the characters and figure out how you'd fit in the mix. When I was a tween I did it with the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants books - I was a Lena. Then as a teenager and into my young adulthood I did it with Sex and the City. I mean - who HASN'T done it with Sex and the City? I'm a Charlotte - obvi.

But last May our friends over at BuzzFeed gave us a truly remarkable gift. They took a good look at this Sex and the City “I’m a Carrie” “I’m a Samantha” phenomenon and spoke truth to power in an article titled: The Fact Is, You’re a Miranda. It was brilliant, and made this tried and true Charlotte re-think a lot of things. Because the truth is, at one time or another, WE ARE ALL MIRANDA.

I was reminded of this article during my epic Downton binge session. As I was watching I couldn't help but think to myself "I'm totally a Lady Mary"... beautiful and stoic, the perfect portrait of a lady till a Turkish diplomat is found dead in my bed. Just as others may watch and say "I'm a Lady Sybil"... free-thinking and opinionated, but loving and kind. Or perhaps you're a Lady Rose, wild and full of life with jazz and lust running through your veins. Or maybe you're an Anna, loyal and dutiful taking care of everyone around you, even when your husband is in jail on a murder charge... again.

That's all well and good - until the truth hits. The truth being, of course, that you're a Lady Edith. Because at one time or antoher,

WE ARE ALL LADY EDITH.

Now don’t be upset. It’s a tough pill to swallow at first, I know, but it’s actually the best possible scenario. Lady Edith is real – she’s relatable. In fact, I believe the reason we are all so loathe to be her is because deep down we know we ARE her.

We've ALL been here:

And here:

Preach, milady.

We've all felt this at family gatherings:

And we're never actually happy for our friends:

I mean, we are… but it’s complicated RIGHT?!

For instance how many of us found ourselves staring at our computer with a death glare locked on our face while scrolling through social media and seeing how many people got engaged over the holidays? I know I did. And if you’re honest you’ll admit that you did too.

Or how about when yet another girl you went to school with announces she’s pregnant and somehow maintains her perfect physique, managing to look like she’s just been to Umami Burger for lunch as opposed to carrying a human life inside of her. In times like these we’ve ALL felt doomed to maiden aunthood.

Which is probably why…

We've all looked at men with googly eyes when they say things like "Do you know how much you mean to me?":