Hey God, it’s me, Leslie

Whenever I watch Parks & Recreation, which is somewhat often, something hits me every time. I am Leslie Knope. Let me share just some of the many things Leslie Knope and I have in common:

1. We both never get enough sleep.

Now, I have been a lot better about getting sleep this year since I never slept last year and got really sick and lost a lot of weight. I can’t say that I can survive on three to four hours of sleep a night like Leslie, but I can relate to waking up, drinking too much coffee and getting ready for the day. I hardly ever feel fully rested because there’s too much stuff to do and too many people to see.

1. We’re both always down for breakfast.

Ok, I’m always down for any food, but I’m especially always down for breakfast food. If JJ’s Diner was real, I could probably singlehandedly support them financially. I love bacon, eggs, hash browns, pancakes, and most importantly, waffles.

THIS IS ME.

1. I’ve got my own Ann Perkins.

In the episode, “Citizen Knope” (S4E10) Tom creates a word cloud of the most commonly used words in Leslie’s emails. The name of her best friend, Ann, is significantly bigger than the name of anyone else, including her boyfriend, Ben. I’d be lying if I said that wasn’t reflective of my life. I love my best friend Anna, more than I love just about anything. Anna is without a doubt my Ann Perkins—she accepts and refines my craziness, she’s equally in love with me (even if she hides it) and Anna and I have full intentions to marry best friends. The best friend love between Ann and Leslie doesn’t compare to complete codependence Anna and I have.

This is one of the funniest lines in the whole series. They just are best friend in love with each other.

1. We’re both insanely organized. Like, almost disgustingly organized.

You know how Leslie creates binders for everything? Yeah, that’s probably the epitome of me.

1. We’re both incredibly driven.

This is probably the greatest way I relate to Leslie. Leslie puts her whole heart into anything and everything in her life. She dives into projects and covers every last detail. I only hope I have half of Leslie’s determination and passion. Leslie’s career and life aren’t short of obstacles. But she is never discouraged. In the past couple years, things have not been as easy as they could have been, but I’ve tried to never be discouraged.

Honestly, I’ve probably said this before.

1. Sometimes I come across with poor intentions.

Leslie is so driven and passionate that she sometimes pushes people a little too far. Because she loved April so much and saw her potential, she may have pushed April a little too much for a career in politics. Sometimes I do or say things to the people I love and it comes off a little pushy or misguided. But, just like Leslie, it comes from my love for the amazing people in my life.

1. I’m just looking for my Ben Wyatt.

Ben loves Leslie because he sees her drive and her love for everything. He accepts her overwhelming craziness and he encourages her to chase her dreams. I hope one day I can find my own semi-awkward, sweet, patient, driven, accepting, secretly nerdy, encouraging, and a little self-deprecating Ben Wyatt.

I didn’t cry during this at all!!!!

1. Ovaries > Brovaries.

I would argue that Leslie Knope is a feminist icon. I would not argue that I am a feminist icon, but I think that Leslie Knope and I both love us some good ole fashioned girl power.

I won’t consider my life a success until I one day lead my own troop of Pawnee Goddesses.

1. We both have to be doing something.

Even when Leslie was suspended from her job, she had to find other ways to keep her job. While I do need a break every now and then, it drives me crazy to sit around and feel like I’m wasting time. I like organizing or writing or typing or doing just about anything that I know has a purpose.

1. We’re both slightly dramatic.

Leslie has a flair for the hyperbole and the drama. If you know me at all, you know I like to be a little dramatic every once in a while.

1. We’re both kicka** gift givers.

I’m not one to toot my own horn (also much like Leslie) but I would venture to say that I am a phenomenal gift giver. I got Anna a Tyler Seguin jersey for her birthday to match my Jamie Benn jersey. Need I say more?

1. We both can’t hold our liquors.

I’ve never drank, so this is just an educated assumption on my part.

13. I like wearing down grumpy, emotionless men.

This needs little explanation–they know who they are.

I love me some Ron Swanson.

So now that I’ve shared some of the many ways Leslie Knope and I are similar, I want to explain why I’ve devoted an entire post to my feminist icon.

I relate to Leslie because of her passion and drive above all. Parks & Rec often shows Leslie’s passion and how it can be slightly overwhelming. One of my constant fears in life is that I am overwhelming to people. I worry that I come across as too pushy or too driven, and that I am judged because of how sometimes ‘too much’ I can be. But, maybe with some help from Leslie and Parks & Rec, I’ve learned to embrace my drive. God has made me incredibly passionate and driven, and he doesn’t want me to tone down my passion out of fear of what others may think.

Whether you’re a Leslie or an Ann or even a Ron, it’s important to know that God has spent so much time and energy to make us exactly who we are. God made us loud or tall or athletic of clumsy or hilarious or smart or driven because he knew that’s what the world needed from us. We should never feel like we have to tone down who we are for others to love us. GOD loves us!!!! Even if we love breakfast too much or never sleep or spend too much money on planners, he loves us. So, I’m proud to be Leslie Knope, and all that God has made me to be.

This is kind of how I’ve been feeling lately–really freaking lucky.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. // Ephesians 2:10

***All pictures are not mine. No rights reserved.****

#March2016 #popculture