Here’s why Parks and Recreation’s leading lady should inspire you, even if you don’t have any desire to get involved with local politics.
1. She doesn’t give up on her passions.
When Leslie is passionate about something, especially if it is beneficial to others, she does her absolute best to achieve her goals. There have been multiple storylines where Leslie fights against the stubbornness of Pawnee residents in order to better the lives of others, and though she sometimes gets discouraged, she never gives up. Of course she does not always succeed, but we would all benefit from having some of Leslie Knope’s determination.
2. She looks out for her fellow lady.
In one of my favorite episodes of Parks and Rec, Leslie gets upset that the boys of Pawnee can join the Pawnee Rangers, but the girls don’t have a comparable organization. In order to give the girls a similar experience, she creates the Pawnee Goddesses, a club that is open to people of all genders. She also took April under her wing, even when April resisted, and eventually helped her become an integral part of the Parks Department. I mean, who wouldn’t want Leslie Knope as their boss?
3. She’s perfected the balance between work life and personal life.
Leslie is the perfect example of a woman who is able to have a highly successful career while maintaining a thriving personal life. Sure, when the show started, Leslie had some trouble in the love department (Remember the episode where Ann goes on the practice date with Leslie? Yikes.) but once she found someone who understood her, she was able to strike a balance. This quality is perfectly represented in my favorite Leslie Knope quote: “We need to remember what’s important in life: friends, waffles, work. Or waffles, friends, work. Doesn’t matter, but work is always third.”
4. She looks up to powerful women who have come before her.
As a woman in government, Leslie looks up to many people who have come before her, regardless of their genders. But it is definitely notable that she has portraits of ladies such as Hillary Clinton, Margaret Thatcher, and Sandra Day O’Connor in her office. Plus she dressed up as Rosie the Riveter for Halloween, which is just too perfect for words.
5. She’s human.
Leslie Knope will probably be the first person to tell you that she isn’t perfect, but she always finds a way to better the lives of the citizens of Pawnee. She might make mistakes sometimes, but so does everyone else, and she is always willing to admit that she’s wrong, which is definitely a rare quality in politicians.