Need hope for rest of 2022? Tear page out of Ted Lasso’s playbook

It’s easy to get caught up in the negatives of the past two years. We’re all set for the COVID-19 outbreak to be over and for life to return to normal (or something closely resembling it). We’re ready to stop worrying about how the virus is going to affect our lives. Some of us are even chomping at the bit to be back in the office, but we continue to battle the pandemic’s effects, whether it’s depression, health anxieties, or just the frustration caused by the seemingly never-ending battle with the disease. So, do we have anything to be happy about? My short answer is “yes, a lot.”

First, a confession

I’m going to admit something now: My latest guilty pleasure is watching the TV show Ted Lasso. Some of the guilt comes from the fact I’m in the middle of viewing the two seasons (22 episodes) for the third time. Yes, I said third time. It’s that good.

If you haven’t seen the show, it’s about an American football coach who is hired to manage an English soccer or (as they call it over there) “football” club. It stars Jason Sudeikis and is on Apple TV.

The show captured my attention because the lead character, Ted Lasso, is an optimist. Sure, the series is funny, well-written, and really clever, but in the end, I can’t help but like Ted because he’s such an optimist. It’s a joy to watch him interact with his colleagues and players because he always tries to be a positive force in their lives.

5 lessons to learn from Ted Lasso