Leslie Knope: the extremely driven, hilarious, and steadfast heroine of NBC's "Parks and Recreation" that had it's series finale in February 2015. Through six seasons (and all six seasons are now on Netflix!) of public service that mostly went un-thanked from the people of Pawnee, unmatched metaphors, and personal growth, Leslie Knope taught us countless life lessons.
1. Always Show Your Friends You Love Them
Leslie Knope was literally the queen of metaphors, my personal favorite being "Ann, you opalescent tree shark". She always let Ann Perkins know how much she was appreciated and how much she meant to Leslie as a best friend. She stuck with her "Parks & Rec" family through thick and thin and did anything she could to keep them happy and motivated. She found Ron Swanson his dream job, she helped April Ludgate, once apathetic intern, find her dream job, gave the lovable Andy Dwyer his first job that introduced him to April, who he later married, and always supported Tom Haverford in his many business ventures in his quest to become a mogul. Moral of the story, Leslie was a kick-ass friend, and we should all be as supportive as her in our personal relationships.
2. Accept That You Are A Badass
Leslie knew that she was a badass- and you should too. She ran for City Council and won, became a Director of the National Parks Service, worked for the Department of the Interior, and became a two-term Governor of Indiana. Her drive, willingness to never give up, and her "tunnel vision for achieving her dreams" combined with the help of her friends created a badass feminist role model who we should all admire.
3. Follow Your Heart
Even though it was technically against the rules for her and Ben Wyatt to date...she did it anyway. And then guess what -- he became her best friend, most trusted confidant, and biggest supporter. Leslie always knew what she wanted and relentlessly pursued her dreams. Remember the Pit in Lot 48? It became Pawnee Commons! Remember the debacle over putting fluoride in the drinking water? Leslie and Tom solved that problem with H2Flow! Leslie always followed her heart even when it meant getting recalled from her City Council position. But, the recall opened other doors for her and she pursued a full life with Ben and their triplets.
4. Keep Your Priorities Straight
I think the quote in this picture is explanation enough. Always put your friends first, then waffles (or any breakfast food, really), and work last. If you're a workaholic and never make time for your friends, who's going to eat your waffles with you? Remember Morningstar? That's what happens when you put work before your friends.
5. Be Confident
Finally, and most importantly, Leslie was a confident woman who knew her potential and knew that she could get the job done. She tirelessly worked day and night to improve the lives of Pawnee-ans, even just a little. She won a seat on Pawnee's City Council, then went on to be the Governor of Indiana, (and probably the President, tbh). And to add onto that, she wasn't afraid to admit that she was confident. Leslie Knope rocked the power suit every episode and dove into every challenge head first.
We should all try to be Leslie Knope.
