What I’ve learned from Game of Thrones

It’s time to ‘out’ myself—my name is Alex and I’m a Game of Thrones (GoT) tragic. There’s a reason it’s the most pirated/watched TV show of recent times – its frickin’ excellent!  I have a GoT viewing party each week with my Frusband (ex-now-friend) and very dear friend, the Mother of Dragons. My Frusband is currently in Japan so we Skype him and sit him on my lounge so he can watch. I don’t actually watch a lot of TV but I love it! They kill off favourite characters all over the shop, great story lines (loosely based on Wars of the Roses I’ve read), sex, violence and dragons.

But most importantly, I’ve learned some valuable life lessons from Games of Thrones – yes, good advice that would keep anyone in good stead. And, I’m going to share that with you – you’re welcome.

WHAT I’VE LEARNED FROM GAME OF THRONES:

Live in the moment

Chances are you’ll either get your head chopped off, be poisoned, bitten in half by a dragon or catch a hideous disease, so don’t put things off, live in the now.

Strong women are sexy

So many strong women on this show! Daenerys, Brienne of Tarth, Ygritte the Wildling, Melisandre, Arya and Sansa Stark, (that Sansa is really coming in to her own this season).

There’s Margaery toughing out in the High Sparrow’s cells and Cersei is rocking that bowl haircut.

Special mention has to go to Margaery’s grandmother, Olenna Tyrell, played by the fabulous Dame Diana Rigg (pictured right) – she’s still got it.

Love never lasts

Refer to earlier mentioned “Live in the moment” – there’s a very good chance something bad will happen to the one you love, i.e. they die or starting getting’ jiggy with someone else, so make the most of your time with them (refer Ned Stark, Ygritte the Wildling, Khal Drogo, Shae the prostitute).

Learn how to use your brains

Tyrion’s rise to power and indeed, ability to stay alive is based on his great intelligence. Similarly, Sansa has become very savvy at using her noggin; Lord Varys – genius; and the reason why Little Finger (Petyr  Baelish) is at short odds to win the Game of Thrones? She is very, very, sneaky and clever.

Learn how to use ye olde weapon

However, there is no point being smart if you’re dead. In any age, or Kingdom, knowing how to defend yourself is very important. Learn how to use a sword, knife or crossbow or some weapon.

Have work/life balance but choose your social events carefully

After a hard day or plotting or wandering around the castle it’s important to let your hair down. I love a party as much as then next noble woman but if the first thing you have to ask yourself is “can I get away with chain mail under this dress?” when you’re invited to a party, should you really be going? This is still true today. Be discerning with your social functions and be wary of weddings.

The new ways aren’t always best

Based on my own recent experience I strongly believe I would have better luck sending ravens with messages to my friends and family rather than rely on the Telstra network. Sure, a cunning enemy could poison them, but that’s an awful lot of work and still less likely to happen than the Telstra networking crashing.

Housekeeping GoT style

Carpet is for fools. Next time you’re renovating lay some cobblestones and throw some hay on top of it. The blood just hoses right off!

Responsible pet keeping

I know people who have owned what could be considered “dangerous” pets—snakes, a very spikey lizard—but that’s still not quite in the dragon category. Be a responsible pet owner – don’t chain your dragons in your catacombs. NB: if I had a dragon he would be purple and I’d call him Graftorus.

Now don’t tell me that hasn’t been invaluable?

Have you learned anything you can share? If not from GoT (and why not?) from some other instrumental program?

GoT screens on Foxtel’s Showcase on Monday.