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Politics and Activism

Lessons From 'The Office'

"Would I rather be feared or loved? Easy. Both. I want people to be afraid of how much they love me." – Michael Scott

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Lessons From 'The Office'
Wikimedia Commons

"The Office" was a fictional show about a group of people working at Dunder Mufflin, a paper company in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The show followed the interesting, amusing, and at times complicated lives of these people. Even though "The Office" ended a few years ago, the messages from the show still apply to everyday life.

**Spoiler Alert!**

If you haven't watched the entirety of "The Office," do it right now, or keep reading and ruin it for yourself. But seriously, watch it.

1. You can have fun at work.

What was a day at Dunder Mifflin without Jim pulling a prank on Dwight? Jim found simple yet brilliant ways to annoy the hell out of the coworker right next to him on a daily basis, proving that it is possible to have fun at work. Well, at least he had fun.

2. Your worst enemy just might be your best friend.

Remember how I said Jim always pulled pranks on Dwight? It was out of love. A true bromance was formed between these two very different coworkers. The best part about it all was that Dwight adores Pam, so he's overly protective of her and made sure Jim didn't hurt her.

3. It's OK to give someone a second chance.

Kelly and Ryan broke up and got back together pretty much every other episode, always willing to forgive and forget. Dwight and Angela had their own version of a roller coaster relationship with everything coming together in the end, too.

4. But maybe don't give them a third.

Again, Kelly and Ryan broke up and got back together pretty much every other episode. Enough is enough! They were too mad for each other to realize how toxic their relationship was.

5. Accept who you are.

Although things didn't go exactly as planned, Oscar came out and was accepted by the majority of the office, aside from Angela who ironically came around when she realized Oscar was having an affair with her husband, the senator. We can dive into some political issues here with the senator having a beard and starting a fake family just to hide the fact that he was gay, but that wasn't really the problem. The problem was he, like Oscar, felt uncomfortable coming out, but even though they didn't get to come out completely on their own and in the way they wanted, everything worked out in the end. Oscar was respected by his peers, and the senator's career wasn't tarnished. So accept who you are, and if other people don't like it, that's their problem, not yours.

6. It's OK to make the face, just try not to direct it at anyone.

Jim is notorious for giving the camera a particular look more often than not. It's a look more powerful than words. You know when you're completely flabbergasted by how stupid/rude/obnoxious/etc. some people are and you can't find the words to describe it? You know when you have to bite your tongue to hold back the army of insults ready to attack? Just look off to the side, make the face, and get all your frustrations out without hurting anyone physically or emotionally.

7. Love will prevail.

Michael moved across the country to be with Holly because he'd lost her once and didn't want to lose her again.

Dwight and Angela were together, but broke up because Dwight killed her beloved cat Sprinkles. They saw other people, Angela even got engaged to another coworker and ended up marrying a gay senator. But these lovebirds managed to swallow their pride and finally admit their undying love for each other. If you don't cry during their wedding episode, are you even human?

Now on to the real OTP of the show: Jim and Pam. It's obvious from the first episode they're in love, but Pam is engaged to someone else. Jim later professes his love to Pam, but she chooses to honor her engagement. She breaks her engagement off later, but it's too late. Jim takes a job at another branch, but comes back with a new girlfriend who is nowhere near as amazing as Pam. Now it's Pam's turn to confess her feelings for Jim, but Jim turns her down because of his new girlfriend and possible promotion. Fear not, fate steps in, and Pam and Jim end up finally dating before later getting married in Niagara Falls and having two kids.

And they all lived happily ever after.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
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