Did you ever grow anything in the garden of your mind?
This video, created by PBS Digital Studio, brought a huge wave of
memories for me and got me thinking about inspiration and imagination.
Fred Rogers inspired millions of children to use their imagination—to
imagine beyond what they see—and to grow. His patience in explaining
things, asking questions, and giving us permission to be afraid spoke
directly to each tiny viewer as he or she peered at the screen. Fred
Rogers broke ground in television and helped a nation go places it had
never been before.
I compiled some quotes by Mister Rogers; I hope he brings you some inspiration today.
1. “Often when you think you’re at the end of something, you’re at the beginning of something else.”
2. “Forgiveness is a strange thing. It can sometimes be easier to
forgive our enemies than our friends. It can be hardest of all to
forgive people we love. Like all of life’s important coping skills, the
ability to forgive and the capacity to let go of resentments most likely
take root very early in our lives.”
3. “Love and trust, in the space between what’s said and what’s heard in our life, can make all the difference in the world. ”
4. “The child is in me still and sometimes not so still.”
5. “Discovering the truth about ourselves is a lifetime’s work, but it’s worth the effort.”
6. “Knowing that we can be loved exactly as we are gives us all the best opportunity for growing into the healthiest of people.”
7. “I don’t think anyone can grow unless he’s loved exactly as he is
now, appreciated for what he is rather than what he will be.”
8. “There are three ways to ultimate success:
The first way is to be kind.
The second way is to be kind.
The third way is to be kind.”
9. “Feeling good about ourselves is essential in our being able to love others.”
10. “Love isn’t a state of perfect caring. It is an active noun like
struggle. To love someone is to strive to accept that person exactly the
way he or she is, right here and now.”
11. “Try your best to make goodness attractive. That’s one of the toughest assignments you’ll ever be given.”
12. “The connections we make in the course of a life—maybe that’s what heaven is.”
What lessons do you remember from Mister Rogers and his wonderful neighborhood?
Peg Fitzpatrick is a managing partner and writer for 12 Most blog. She
is director of marketing and social media manager for Kreussler Inc.,
and hosts the popular #MyBookClub chat on the first Monday of every month at 8 pm EST. Tweet her and say hi at @pegfitzpatrick. A version of this story first appeared on the 12 Most blog.
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