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Tomato ToMAHtoe

When I got the fever flu in April, my dad brought me his iPad, already logged into Netflix, and pulled up Parks & Rec. There's nothing like seven seasons of a tv show to keep you company while you're down and out. I think I watched two full seasons in a week, and don't regret a minute of it.

Needless to say, I had a lot of time to think about the show and came to the conclusion that it is particularly good at is celebrating the differences between people. Leslie and Ron are perfect foils for each other--Leslie is hyperactive, talkative, and bulldozes anyone or anything in her way on the quest to make the government great, while Ron is stoic, silent, and zealously committed to being a stick-in-the-mud to slow the government down. They butt heads but also tease each other, and in rare tender moments, actually help each other reach their goals (Ron always gives Leslie the best advice in her moments of crisis, and Leslie always gets Ron the best presents, including automatic door closers :)




Recently I've observed that I am ok at treating my family and very closest friends with the kind of teasing and kindness that Leslie and Ron have for each other. We just know each other well enough and have enough love that our differences seem less bothersome and more endearing. However, I've been terrible at developing this ability with coworkers, acquaintances, etc. and I'm not sure why.

So, I have a question for you all. What do you think it takes in order for two very different people to develop a Leslie-Ron kind of friendship?

Comments

  1. LizzleMay 23, 2016 at 10:06 AM

    Leniency? Tolerance? Love? I think it's requisite for both people to have an understanding and acceptance of how the other person views the world.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Tower of ChatterMay 23, 2016 at 10:20 AM

    Self confidence. Both of them are Not afraid to be themselves. Then working closely with someone long enough that you develop mutual respect for each other.

    ReplyDelete

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