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Growing up with The Office and having to say goodbye Growing up with The Office and having to say goodbye
(4 months later)
I never thought I would be one of those people who become emotionally attached to a TV show. And yet, here I am, still crying a bit about the end of The Office. I find myself looking back at old clips, interviews and behind the scenes shots the same way you occasionally pull out photos of your childhood.I never thought I would be one of those people who become emotionally attached to a TV show. And yet, here I am, still crying a bit about the end of The Office. I find myself looking back at old clips, interviews and behind the scenes shots the same way you occasionally pull out photos of your childhood.
The Office meant a lot to me, sometimes on a deeply personal level, and the show even helped me in my quest for love and maintaining a relationship.The Office meant a lot to me, sometimes on a deeply personal level, and the show even helped me in my quest for love and maintaining a relationship.
Each of the characters had something we can relate to in a friend, colleague or acquaintance in real life. There's the co-worker who is so bad at their job that you can't understand how they even have it, like Kevin – an accountant who's terrible at math. There's someone with a special talent who's afraid about the risks of pursuing it, like Pam, who dreams of art school.Each of the characters had something we can relate to in a friend, colleague or acquaintance in real life. There's the co-worker who is so bad at their job that you can't understand how they even have it, like Kevin – an accountant who's terrible at math. There's someone with a special talent who's afraid about the risks of pursuing it, like Pam, who dreams of art school.
Everyone knows that super strict person, who only goes by the book and can't take a joke, like Dwight. And we all know somebody like Angela, who who says, "I don't like to judge, but …." There's the celebrity gossip of (Kelly Kapoor), the guy who won't stand to have his puzzles interrupted (Stanley Hudson), and the guy who's too nice for his own good (Toby Flenderson). You can see yourself in these characters, too. I relate to Oscar's habit of being a know-it-all, for instance. These aren't just characters on a sitcom, they're people we know in our daily lives, or personalities and quirks we can identify in ourselves.Everyone knows that super strict person, who only goes by the book and can't take a joke, like Dwight. And we all know somebody like Angela, who who says, "I don't like to judge, but …." There's the celebrity gossip of (Kelly Kapoor), the guy who won't stand to have his puzzles interrupted (Stanley Hudson), and the guy who's too nice for his own good (Toby Flenderson). You can see yourself in these characters, too. I relate to Oscar's habit of being a know-it-all, for instance. These aren't just characters on a sitcom, they're people we know in our daily lives, or personalities and quirks we can identify in ourselves.
Much like Jim did for Pam, I once had a crush on someone who was with someone else, just like Pam was with Roy. I had to deal with the same circumstances and emotions that Jim did, on the show. She and I were friends, but I wanted to be more than that, and in a weird way, The Office helped teach me that those feeling are OK. That if it's love, you should never let those feelings die, and you should pursue them if the time is right. Like Jim, I did, and eventually I got the girl.Much like Jim did for Pam, I once had a crush on someone who was with someone else, just like Pam was with Roy. I had to deal with the same circumstances and emotions that Jim did, on the show. She and I were friends, but I wanted to be more than that, and in a weird way, The Office helped teach me that those feeling are OK. That if it's love, you should never let those feelings die, and you should pursue them if the time is right. Like Jim, I did, and eventually I got the girl.
In some ways, the story of The Office has mirrored my own life, and I can't help but feel like I know these characters and that they've made me a better person. When I'm not happy with something or my girlfriend and I are having trouble, I just look at Jim and Pam's aspirations of being with your "one true love". With that perspective, I'm making it work, just like he did.In some ways, the story of The Office has mirrored my own life, and I can't help but feel like I know these characters and that they've made me a better person. When I'm not happy with something or my girlfriend and I are having trouble, I just look at Jim and Pam's aspirations of being with your "one true love". With that perspective, I'm making it work, just like he did.
Jim encouraged Pam to go to art school even though they would have to be far apart from each other. I did the same when my girlfriend wanted to go to Spain for three months. I encouraged her to go even though I knew that it'd be tough. But like Jim, I wanted her to be happy and for her to reach her goals. In the end, that made us both happy.Jim encouraged Pam to go to art school even though they would have to be far apart from each other. I did the same when my girlfriend wanted to go to Spain for three months. I encouraged her to go even though I knew that it'd be tough. But like Jim, I wanted her to be happy and for her to reach her goals. In the end, that made us both happy.
The Office showed that relationships will never be perfect, and that they require sacrifices to work. If you want the love story to continue beyond the magical wedding, you've got to work at it, too, and not just sit around hoping it's going to happen. Jim and Pam were patient, and sacrificed a lot to make things work. Those are the same things I see myself needing to do in my relationship. Frankly, they're universal lessons: patience, sacrifice and unconditional love are what I've taken away from the office most of all.The Office showed that relationships will never be perfect, and that they require sacrifices to work. If you want the love story to continue beyond the magical wedding, you've got to work at it, too, and not just sit around hoping it's going to happen. Jim and Pam were patient, and sacrificed a lot to make things work. Those are the same things I see myself needing to do in my relationship. Frankly, they're universal lessons: patience, sacrifice and unconditional love are what I've taken away from the office most of all.
I would like to thank the writers, production team and cast members for such a great ride – I feel like I know them. As the series comes to an end, I almost feel like I'm losing some of my best "friends". Jim and Pam inspired me to work for a better relationship, the pranks on Dwight always made me laugh, and Michael's departure to be with the person he'd wanted for the entire series made me cry. There are so many great aspects of the show and I know I'm not the only person who's going to miss it a lot.I would like to thank the writers, production team and cast members for such a great ride – I feel like I know them. As the series comes to an end, I almost feel like I'm losing some of my best "friends". Jim and Pam inspired me to work for a better relationship, the pranks on Dwight always made me laugh, and Michael's departure to be with the person he'd wanted for the entire series made me cry. There are so many great aspects of the show and I know I'm not the only person who's going to miss it a lot.
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