As a Gen Xer, I’m of VCR age. Maybe that’s why I’m not a big fan of binge-watching. Maybe that’s why I refuse to pay for any streaming service and ignore my fear of what I can’t watch when social media feeds tell me how great a show is that I can’t access. But when I got a three-month free trial of Apple TV+, I temporarily changed my ways and watched all three seasons of Ted Lasso. And I got a pep talk I didn’t know I needed.

Ted Lasso, the hugely popular comedy series, ended after just three seasons, leaving audiences wanting more and hoping for the announcement that a fourth season or perhaps a spin-off was in the works. And after patiently waiting, it looks like that wish might come true, as according to Deadline, it was recently announced that the series is reportedly returning for another season and some of its stars, including Hannah Waddingham, Jeremy Swift, and Brett Goldstein, will be joining.

I’ve always been curious about Ted Lasso, even though I hadn’t seen a single episode before the series ended. Of course, I saw the memes, heard the quotes, witnessed the collective disappointment of fans when Ted said goodbye. I knew the show was popular, I knew the awards it had won, and I knew many viewers became addicted to it during the pandemic for its comedic interludes during a time of grief and uncertainty. Thankfully, I somehow avoided spoilers and knew nothing else about this show that has left such a lasting impression on so many.

Ted Lasso, played by Jason Sudeikis, is an American football coach hired to coach British soccer team AFC Richmond. Despite knowing nothing about soccer, he faces criticism with optimism, determination, and dad jokes. At first, I wondered if Ted’s constant positive attitude would eventually cross the line from funny humor to annoying silliness, but I quickly grew to love not only Ted Lasso, but the entire cast of characters surrounding him.

Three months later, just before my free trial expired, I watched the show’s final scene fade from the screen and wiped tears from my face, realizing how much I needed an uplifting show to immerse myself in.

By the time I tuned into the first episode of season one, I was suffering from burnout. My health was a daily struggle, and between a thyroid cancer scare, the surprise discovery that I was post-menopausal, and one dead end after another in my quest for relief from my chronic headaches, my calendar had been packed with doctor’s appointments for months. Add to that some unexpected financial expenses, disappointing, unfulfilled professional goals, and a recent bout of carpet-destroying Labrador retriever vomit—all while working a day job and raising two teenagers, I felt exhausted and mentally drained.

All that disappeared when I saw Ted Lasso.

And it wasn’t just about getting lost in an entertaining show. Since I had the free Apple TV+ trial, I also binge-watched The Morning Show. As much as I loved The Morning Show and loved watching a show with strong female leads and a compelling storyline, it was a heavy drama filled with angry people yelling at each other. Watching The Morning Show was not a calming, heartwarming experience.

But watching Ted Lasso filled my heart in the best way. Whether it was Ted giving a motivational speech in the locker room, AFC Richmond winning a game, or just admiring the girl power of Keeley (Juno Temple) and Rebecca (Hannah Waddingham) and the blossoming friendship between Roy (Brett Goldstein) and Jamie (Phil Dunster), I soaked up the joy the show exuded and, in the process, released some of the heaviness that was weighing me down.

Even when my TV was off, the voices of Ted Lasso spoke to me. I analyzed scenes with my friend, who was my viewing partner. I recapitulated episodes for my teenage daughter after she lost interest during the third season as the episodes got longer and longer. I fell asleep thinking about the last episode I watched and looking forward to the next one.

What stuck with me most, however, was Ted’s “Believe” sign. The sign, with its yellow background and blue capital letters, was almost a character in itself. It hung in the team’s locker room and was meant to remind everyone – fictional characters and real-life spectators alike – to keep hope alive, no matter the circumstances. Seeing that sign, both on screen and in my imagination, elicited a feeling of lightness, as if the stressors in my life had been shrunk and divided into more manageable chunks.

When I was struggling with burnout, that sign gave me faith. Faith that I would find relief for my health problems. Faith that my financial expenses would stabilize. Faith that my career goals were still attainable. Faith that I could save the carpet with the stain from my Labrador Retriever’s vomit (well, that might be a stretch).

Belief suddenly became my strongest motivator. This sign is now my main visualization for inspiration, whether I’m meditating to reduce stress, developing a new path for my health needs, or taking concrete steps toward those goals I thought I should give up on before “Ted Lasso.” I believe.

Yes, the show was predictable at times. Yes, it crossed the line into silliness every now and then. But the show wasn’t just superficial and cheap humor. While maintaining its theme of optimism, it tackled divorce, mental health and therapy, complicated parenting relationships, sexual identity, revenge, and so much more. It was real and relatable, uplifting and unforgettable.

I finished watching Ted Lasso, but I still hold on to the life lessons that stuck with me. The film spoke to me at exactly the time I needed it, reminding me to add more positivity to my life, more thoughtfulness, more patience, more kindness, more forgiveness, both to others and to myself. And most importantly, it reminded me, as Ted Lasso himself so wisely put it, “I believe in hope, I believe in faith.”