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look for the helpers.

  

At the end of the Fred Rogers documentary, “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” the interviewer told every one of the interviewees (friends, family, and coworkers of Fred Rogers) “Think of someone in your life that has helped you.” While they were recorded deep in thought, something truly fascinating occurred:

Their faces changed when they thought of their helper. They smiled a little or nodded. Their eyes shone with clarity as if they immediately understood the person's effect on their life course. The documentary- in true Fred Rogers style- not only gave the interviewees time to think about their helpers but also held space for the viewers. So when I wasn’t in awe of the changing facial expressions, I was thinking about the helpers in my life.

And there are so many. I would do well to think of them more often. To thank them more often.

As for Mister Rogers, he didn’t have a huge impact on my life. I didn’t watch his show every day, I didn’t like puppets all that much, and my brain seemed to move faster than the show. But I’m sitting here thinking: What a tragedy it would have been for his work not to have been present in my life at all. Mister Rogers is not only known to me as a public figure but was someone who personified kindness and mindfulness. I’m better for his small influence on my life.

After watching the documentary, my mind is well and truly swimming with thoughts on what our kids are dealing with today. What would Mister Rogers have to say to them about our national division, battles against one another, social media, pandemics, artificial intelligence, and mass shootings? I don’t know. It all seems too big and too menacing to me. But one thing seems to be true: He would have cared.

So what can I do, how can I be a helper? Well, one thing Mister Rogers and I have in common is that I truly believe the best form of “preaching” I personally can do is to promote loving your neighbor and yourself. So I can try to be a kind and mindful force in the lives of those around me. I can ask thoughtful questions and acknowledge feelings. I can keep learning and acting upon what I know about child development. I can treat every human with the value they inherently possess. And I can start by embodying the mantra I lead my students to say:

I am amazing.
I am loved.
I am safe.
I am free.
I can make mistakes and learn.
I can care for you and me.

Thank you for coming to my Fred Talk. ;)

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