Leslie Knope is arguably the best character from "Parks and Recreation" and maybe even every sit-com ever. She is loyal, compassionate, and so over-the-top that you can’t help but love her. Leslie’s the kind of person no one knows he/she needs in life until she comes and never leaves. Over the course of the seven seasons of "Parks and Rec" that are unfortunately behind us, Leslie has taught us some invaluable lessons about life, love, friendship, and breakfast foods.
1. In order to get what you want; you have to truly believe in it. Leslie is the #1 proponent for putting on the blinders and never looking back when she believes in a project. It may have taken 6 seasons to build the park in Pawnee but Leslie never let anyone tell her she couldn’t do it.
2. Life is all about balance. Leslie is the most hardworking person in Pawnee despite her sometimes troubled coworkers. She has an intense personality and is obsessive when it comes to friendship. She knows that work and the people she loves are very important to her (as are waffles), but there has to be a balance among them and can’t let just one consume her entire life.
3. Look at everything with amazement. Treat any mundane activity with a wide-eyed gaze and whole-hearted engagement. Who knew someone could be so invested in the development of local parks, but Leslie showed us that all it takes is blind optimism. If you see everything you do as an another amazing opportunity to do something great, it will positively affect your wellbeing.
4. Don’t be afraid to be who you are and own it. Leslie is the biggest nerd with a personality so big that you can see it miles away. She embraces her complete lack of understanding of youth culture, over-involvement in her friends’ lives, and concerning obsession with waffles. There is no motivation better than watching Leslie and all of her quirks reach success personally and professionally.
5. You’re allowed to feel proud of your accomplishments. Got an A on an exam you studied hard for? Scream it from the rooftop! Made the sports team you’ve been dying to play for? Wear a sign on your chest that exclaims your excitement for you! While you don’t have to shout out everything good you’ve ever done, don’t feel like you have to always act humble. We all know Leslie agrees.
6. Be a committed friend. Leslie is famous for her obsessive tendencies when it comes to friends, but it’s all done with the best intentions. The effort put into friendships is what you’ll get out of them. A dependable and considerate friend is the type of friend you’d want, so it’s exactly what you should be for someone else. Tell your friends you appreciate them however you choose to express it.
7. Remember to give yourself a little confidence boost every once in a while. Nothing says “you’re doing a great job” like telling yourself you’re doing a great job – and we don’t do it nearly enough. Feeling confident and reminding yourself that you’ll be okay is super important. If Leslie Knope has taught us anything, it’s that confidence above all else is key.
Overall, just be the Leslie Knope of whatever you do.
