Inspiration from a Biography of Fred Rogers
Growing up in a strictly conservative home, there were strict limits to what our family was allowed to watch on television. We were probably a decade behind the times when we finally upgraded from the boxy old TV set to a new-fangled flatscreen. Our TV time was limited to a few animated cartoons and old (mostly black and white) movies. But there were a few shows on PBS that were also acceptable, including Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, which came on every day at 12.30 pm. My mother would comment that this was perfect timing because it calmed the children down for their afternoon naps. Being one of the few shows we got to watch on television, I enjoyed sitting through these reruns even as I got older. I was drawn to the gentle and kind world of Mr. Rogers just as my younger siblings were. Of course, I had to maintain my dignity by mocking the childish puppets and silly conversations, something that I am a little ashamed of now. One of my favorite segments was when Mr. Rogers would show a tape about how common foods or objects were made. I attribute much of my curiosity about the world to Mr. Rogers’ example of lifelong learning.
His tender expression of love and concern resonated so deeply with me, I felt tears coming to my eyes as if I was again a little child, and someone was reassuring me that yes, I was indeed loved.
Eventually, I stopped watching Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood and forgot entirely about the show for some years. And then somehow I heard about the 2018 documentary film, “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” highlighting Fred Rogers’ remarkable life and character. When I finally watched it, I was fascinated to discover the thoughtfulness and depth behind his work. Like so many others across the decades, I was moved by his empathy and love for each person in the world. There was a moment in the documentary where Mr. Rogers talks about how important it is for children to feel loved for who they are — not what they have done or what they might accomplish, but to feel loved just for who they are at that moment. His tender expression of love and concern resonated so deeply with me, I felt tears coming to my eyes as if I was again a little child, and someone was reassuring me that yes, I was indeed loved.
Since seeing this documentary I had a new-found appreciation for Mr. Rogers and was eagerly awaiting the new biography, “The Good Neighbor” by Maxwell King. Although in the meantime, I also thoroughly enjoyed the Tom Hanks’ movie about Fred Rogers that came out in 2019. It seems I am not the only one to discover, or rediscover, the profound impact he has made on the modern world.
The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers by Maxwell King was a delightful read, I appreciated the thorough exploration of Fred Rogers’ life and how he became the endearing icon of children’s television. As I highlighted sections and made notes throughout the book, there were a few overarching themes that I began to notice. There are so many ways to be inspired by the life of Fred Rogers, but these are a few aspects that especially caught my attention.
