I watched the last episode of "Ted Lasso" the other night. I was disappointed to see it end. I've been a fan since the show first came out. I joked with one friend that she couldn't come to my house unless she had watched it. I believed it was one of the best shows I've ever seen, and from the beginning, it touched something in me I wasn't expecting.

I have a handful of friends whom I've known for decades. Nothing about them stands out particularly in today's world of sensational social media. I've been thinking about what has kept us together all these years. Sometimes, a whole year goes by when we don't see each other. But when we do, it feels like only a few days have passed. We end up discussing only the significant changes in our lives; we never have time for the mundane. Yet, over all those years, if I ever needed something, almost all of them would be there. There are a few I know who wouldn't be, but we all accept them anyway.

The glue that binds us is a quiet, never-ending quest to become better people. We've had our arguments, debated every topic known to humans, but we've never abandoned that common quest to improve ourselves and the world around us. We recognize this quest in each other and have never stopped striving, all while asking for no recognition. They are not the type to intentionally do wrong; it doesn't seem to align with their core character.

We all value personal growth because it gives our lives meaning and helps us feel grounded. We've shared books on the subject, and it's often a topic of conversation when we're together. We never boast about our greatness; instead, we acknowledge that we can always improve. It's as routine as brushing our teeth. None of us has ever sought attention for our simple quest to grow into better people. That would miss the point entirely. It's all about the introspective journey to be better than we were yesterday.

"Ted Lasso" isn't a frequent topic of conversation among us, beyond rating the show or discussing a point it makes. However, the connection to the show runs much deeper among my friends and me, reinforcing, through complete fiction, the sense that we're not alone in this quest. That's what makes the show so relatable; it makes us feel a little less isolated as we navigate our daily lives.

It seems that everywhere we look these days, those getting all the press are the ones creating worse versions of themselves. There is no shortage of unpleasant individuals on Twitter or, for that matter, any other social media platform. The negativity can be overwhelming. Yet here was this one show, as sentimental as it could be at times, that maintained a constant theme of personal improvement.

There are hundreds of shows out there with no likable characters, where they stand for nothing good, yet people watch them. Is anyone likable on "Succession"? The show is like watching chess: intriguing but devoid of admirable characters. There are countless other shows like that. However, "Ted Lasso" features genuinely likable characters, barring one intentionally crafted villain. Every story needs an antagonist, after all.

If you've never seen it, it's worth watching. Many clips of the show's best moments can be found on YouTube. It will definitely leave you feeling uplifted.

The absence of the show will be felt for a long time, by both me and my friends.