I’m gonna miss Parks & Rec so damn much.

Parks and Rec ended on Tuesday February 24th. I know I, like many other people, are going to morn the show for similar reasons. Its witty and improvised scenes, The sci-fi direction the final season took, having a prime time show with a female lead, and being endlessly cheery. For me, its that lead character that I will miss most from the shows 7 seasons.

Leslie Knope, the character carried the most optimism of any human that could ever exist. She could be beaten up sure, but Leslie never broke, she came back swinging 10x as hard. She never met a person she didn’t try, and inhumanly succeed, in making happy. This may seem idealistic or fool hardy, but I don’t think there’s a better way to live than that. People say don’t try and please everyone, I think thats bullshit, Think of all the happiness you could bring if you tried. Though not always perfect, its how I try and live my life. I think the most joy I can get comes from making someone else happy. Its infinitely better than only doing things that will make me happy.

The best part of Leslie’s optimism was her outlook on government. I think most of us know that modern politics and government sucks. But Leslie only looks for the best in people and the best in the system. It was a great balance to cancel out all the cynicism that is so often around in other pop culture sources of comments on government. The show often reflected real world events i.e. a government shutdown & drones in ways that helped humor some worse parts of the those issues.

The shows smart and happy take on life, wether easy or hard, simple or crazy, good or bad. Parks knew how to tell a feel good story and truly develop wonderful characters and stories.

I’m gonna miss Parks and Rec, Thank god for Netflix.