39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Great Book From A Very Special Neighbor, May 13, 2005
This review is from: Life's Journeys According to Mister Rogers: Things to Remember Along the Way (Hardcover)
Mr. Rogers was a gentle, wise neighbor for millions of children. Because Mr. Rogers Neighborhood aired on my local PBS station, I had the privilege of growing up with Mr. Rogers and his puppet incarnations (King Friday, X the Owl, Henrietta Pussycat, Lady Elaine, etc.) that lived in the Neighborhood of Make Believe. Visiting with other neighbors like Mr. McFeely (named after Mr. Rogers Grandfather), Chef Brockett, Lady Aberlin, Bob Dog, and Purple Panda was also a treat. Interestingly, my first husband (deceased) used to take trumpet lessons at Negri's Music Store (Handy Man Negri)!
Decades later, I still enjoy Mr. Rogers Neighborhood--now in re-runs on PBS Kids. (My 6 year old son loves it, too.) Despite his passing over 2 years ago, Fred Rogers' generous spirit and legacy live on.
Mr. Rogers' unconditional acceptance has comforted and affirmed children on the deepest levels. He never talked down to his audience, and wasn't afraid to tackle difficult topics that aren't even *touched* by children's programs nowadays. Rogers unflinchingly examined painful emotions, and gave practical, gentle wisdom on how to deal with them. He assured us all that we were special-and that no one could take our place. Often spotlighting the differently-abled, his curiosity and interest showed us that those who we might think are "different" from us are really the same, sharing--at core--similar emotions, fears, setbacks and triumphs.
I picked up Life's Journeys According to Mr. Rogers in the book store, and began to tear up when I read one of the passages. I knew I had to buy it--and so I did. My husband made the comment yesterday "Mr. Rogers is like a spiritual practice for you."
And he's right, really.
What surprised me about this book is the spiritual depth of Fred Rogers. Sure, I knew he was kind, compassionate, insightful, and curious-but I didn't realize just how deep his understanding of the human condition and of Spirit flowed.
A few gems from this book:
"Every human being has value. This is the basis of all healthy relationships. Through living each day as it is given to me, I've learned that. It cannot be `taught', but it can be `caught' from those who live their lives right along with us. What a privilege to be able to look for the good in our neighbor!"
"There are times when explanations, no matter how reasonable, just don't seem to help."
"The outside things of life certainly do change and often quickly, but the inside things remain. Our parents and their parents and their parents-all of us-were created by Love. Love with a capital L. And we spend our lives trying to recognize that we truly *are* lovable and capable of loving."
"We all have different gifts, so we all have different ways of saying to the world who we are."
"What's been important in my understanding of myself and others is the fact that each one of us is so much more than any one thing. A sick child is much more than his or her sickness. A personal with a disability is much, much more than a handicap. A pediatrician is more than a medical doctor. You're *much* more than your job description or your age or your income or your output."
The profound wisdom of Fred Rogers resounds through this gem of a book, reminding young and old alike Who we are, and what we're capable of when someone believes in us.
Thank you, Mr. Rogers, for believing in us.
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19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Please Won't You Be My Neighbor!, July 1, 2005
This review is from: Life's Journeys According to Mister Rogers: Things to Remember Along the Way (Hardcover)
My children (three sons) grew up watching Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood on public t.v Now, my cat Star enjoys watching the reruns. Alas, our beloved Mr. Rogers could not live forever, but he left behind (thanks to his wife Joanne) some of his plain-spoken wisdom. Here are just a few which spoke to me:
"The media shows the tiniest percentage of what people do. There are millions and millions of people doing wonderful things all over the world, and they're generally not the ones being touted in the news."
"The greatest loss that we all have to deal with is the loss of the image of ourselves as a perfect person."Each person in the world is a unique human being, and each has unique potential. One of the important tasks of growing is the discovery of this uniqueness: the discovery of "who I am" in each of us -- of "who I am" in relation to all those whom I meet. "It's really easy to fall into the trap of believing that what we do is more important than what we are. Of course, it's the opposite that's true. What we are ultimately determines what we do!"
"We don't always succeed in what we try -- certainly not by the world's standards -- but I think it's the willingness to keep trying that matters most." No matter what our age, no matter what our condition, life's disappointments show us the limits of what we're able to do. But, of course, in dealing with them, we just might create a new forward striving. "You are a very special person. There is only one like you in the whole world. There's never been anyone exactly like you before, and there never will be again. Only you. And people can like you exactly as you are."
This little book is filled with all of the sayings we heard him explain to us on his show. The trolley is on the cover to remind us of all his wonderful characters. He is sorely missed, but this book (the young librarian said "this is wonderful" as she checked it out for me along with five other books) will let young children who did not get to see him 'live' still learn from his vast amount of knowledge. Thanks to you, Fred Rogers, for letting us go on part of your journey and for the things to remember along the way. Thanks, Joanne, for assembling them as your special gift to a special person. The most special of all.
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