11 Love Lessons Learned from Watching Soaps

Tuesday, June 8, 2010 at 2:43 AM ET by Errol Lewis

Photo: ABC

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — If you thought you couldn't learn anything about love while watching daytime soap operas, other than "Who's the Daddy?," Beliefnet.com's Hillary Fields has compiled a list of 11 love lessons learned while watching soaps.

"Soap operas are my big guilty pleasure," said Fields in her report. "Yes, the acting is melodramatic and the storylines are sometimes so over the top they make the plot twists on "Lost" look logical, but still, there's a lot you can learn from [these] daytime dramas."

1. Don't Keep Secrets
EJ (James Scott,"Days of our Lives") needs to learn that.

2. It's OK to Take a Chance on Love
Chloe (Elizabeth Hendrickson, "The Young and the Restless"), you can take a Chance on Chance (John Driscoll).

3. Respect Others' Personal Space
Annie (Melissa Claire Egan, "All My Children") sure isn't respecting JR's (Jacob Young).

4. Don't Make the Same Mistake Twice
How about 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, etc times? Erica Kane (Susan Lucci, "All My Children") has done it often.

5. Don't Lie
Too many liars to list in daytime.

6. Don't Assume the Worst of Others (but Don't Turn Your Back on an Enemy Either)
Luke (Anthony Geary, "General Hospital") and Helena (Constance Towers) do it often.

7. Don't Stray
Chloe (Nadia Bjorlin, "Days of our Lives") is notorious for doing this. First with Lucas (Bryan Dattilo), now with Daniel (Shawn Christian).

8. Let Calmer Heads Prevail
Greenlee (Rebecca Budig, "All My Children") could learn from this.

9. Be Discreet
Vivian (Louise Sorel, "Days of our Lives") is bad at this.

10. Talk Is Great, But It's No Substitute for Action
"Days of our Lives" is known for having its characters be talking heads.

11. Wear Elegant Clothing—to Everything
If nothing else, "The Bold and the Beautiful" is about fashion and style.

For more information and descriptions from Fields on each category, head on over to Beliefnet.com.