We all have those days where we are sitting in our residence halls or in class and all we can think about is how awful the day is going. The only person that I know that can turn any bad situation into a great one is Deputy Director Leslie Knope of the Pawnee, Indiana Parks and Recreation. No matter the situation, she is definitely her own positive role model! Here are 5 reasons (counting down) of how you can be as positive as Leslie.

5. Have a love for the town that you live in

It is no secret that Leslie loves Pawnee. She stuck with her town from the financial downturn to the recall election, heck she even returned when she became President of the United States. Leslie gave Pawnee her all and dedicated her career, probably her life, to making it the greatest town in America.

4. Eat a daily breakfast

So you are cruising to work or walking to class and your stomach is feeling continues to rumble… Leslie always stopped at JJ’s Diner to grab some waffles to satisfy her hunger needs. Leslie’s daily breakfast kept her going for hours at a time, and because waffles are the greatest invention of all time, they can be eaten several times a day.

3. Leave yourself positive messages

Now this may be interpreted anyway you wish, whether it be writing yourself a Post-It and sticking it to the bathroom mirror, or in the case of Leslie Knope, calling yourself and leaving a detailed voicemail to reassure that you are in fact doing something right, even if you are trying to fake it until you make it.

2. Supporting your friends through thick and thin

Leslie had Ann’s best interests up front and center all the way back that first meeting about the pit. Ann may have thought she was a bit kooky, but hey we all make friends differently, and the duo went onto accomplish great things, even if Ann moved away to Michigan to live with the wolverines…

1. Helping out you enemies in their worst times

We all have a nasty Eagletonian in our lives and unlike them we do not claim to not be home when our neighbors are in great need. Leslie may have at first hated helping out Eagleton, but in the end it made the New Pawnee a much better place and made the lives of all of the citizens much better, which you know that Leslie had to love.

Leslie Knope was her greatest supporter and always seemed to make great things come out of bad situations. We should take that from her and become more positive, have people pass by you and think WOW, that was a great interaction.