Leslie Knope has said a lot of incredible things that I’ve carried with me all this time. So has Amy Poehler in her podcast, Good Hang. But the one thing that I still think about (and cry over) every time is the words that come in during Leslie Knope’s city council acceptance speech, “No one achieves anything alone.” The world is a dark and heavy place right now, so I’ve been rewatching Parks and Recreation to feel some semblance of hope every day. Recently, I came to the conclusion that no matter how long it’s been, I won’t be able to find a way to put into words why this show (and this acceptance speech) is so special.
Episodes like “The Trial of Leslie Knope” and “Citizen Knope” are perfect in a way that set an impossible standard. “Leslie and Ron” makes me sob in a way that’s actually a bit concerning. The show is overall perfect, and this message is ultimately why. It’s easy to want to accomplish things on our own because we don’t want to burden those we love. At the same time, I also think about how many people are probably scared to ask for help because they’re let down every time they do. I think about the people who give and give and give and get nothing in return because everyone thinks they’re brave enough to handle everything on their own.
But when Leslie Knope wins the city council race, she’s right to acknowledge her campaign team. She’s right to point out that “No one achieves anything alone” because human beings aren’t designed to bear it all. We aren’t built for solitude, and we aren’t built to shoulder everything by ourselves. We aren’t gods or saviors. We’re human beings—flawed, broken, and lacking. Leslie has the dream, the drive, and the determination, but Leslie needed her friends to stand beside her to help in the areas she isn’t equipped to take on alone.
There’s a beautiful and deeply necessary message here that doesn’t diminish Leslie’s strength as a person, but rather, it amplifies how important it is to have a team beside us. Shouldering all of this by herself would’ve not only been a form of toxic strength and positivity, but it would also undermine how valuable human connections are. And this isn’t the only time we get a reminder of why this statement matters, but we also see it in the moments when Ron encourages Leslie to take a sabbatical because she can’t keep ripping herself into pieces to achieve everything.
In a lot of ways, Leslie Knope is the kind of overachiever that most of us can’t be. The woman sleeps four hours a night, while most of us need at least six or eight. Her optimism isn’t always easy when everything is falling apart, but again, it’s also because of the people who surround her. It’s because her friends love her enough to recognize all that she does for them, allowing them to return the adoration and goodwill.
We’ve gotten sucked into this idea that people don’t owe us anything, but this scene reminds us of why it’s worth arguing against that statement. I’ve talked about it a bit in my coverage of Shrinking, but we do owe each other something. Otherwise, what’s the point of friendship? Our relationships aren’t transactional, sure, but we should want to show up for the people who show up for us. And while that’s easier said than done sometimes, we have to try. We have to show up and be the best version of ourselves possible to ensure that small victories result in bigger outcomes.
Leslie winning this election is a small but monumental step in a bigger career, and people holding her up as she fights for a better Pawnee is still the kind of moment that makes me cry buckets because it lets me believe in hope. It helps me believe in goodness and friendships and the fact that we don’t have to do things alone to prove a point. It’s a perfect reminder, in a gorgeous scene that’s all around exceptional in every way.
What are your thoughts on Leslie Knope’s city council acceptance speech? Let us know in the comments below.
First Featured Image Credit: ©NBC