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Life's Journeys According to Mister Rogers: Things to Remember Along the Way

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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.

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.

Here are some more delightful thoughts and words from one of the best people to ever work in Children's television. This is a terrific sequel to the first book which offers more insight and words of hope and empathy. I find that these books appeal to so many different people. It is a lovely little book for the coffee table. It offers soothing words and fond memories from his television show; like the lyrics to some of his songs and some of the things he often said to his television audience. It makes me miss Mr. Rogers more.

I vividly recall a grade-school friend ridiculing Mr. Rogers when I was a child and I have to admit, I didn't quite "get" him. Looking back, I think at the time I was too old and not old enough. His program appeals to a younger crowd than I was at the time, though his message is truly understood by an older, more wiser crowd.

Now, two children later, I really "get" him. I was intrigued by this book when I first saw it at our local yoga studio after having watched Mr. Rogers some time ago again with my daughter and really being wowed by his message. What he said in that program, I cannot remember. But it was simple and profound whatever it was and my daughter "got it", too.

And so is this book - simple and profound. He provides reflections on life such as, "There is a part of all of us that longs to know that even what's weakest about us is still redeemable and can ultimately count for something good." He also presents a stong message of being OK with how you are, right now. He urges us to accept ourselves as we are and realize that we all have a gift to give to the world.

I have given the book to some parent-friends of mine, though non-parents will find his message hopeful and accepting as well.

For some reason, I wasn't all that big a fan of Fred Rogers
when I was younger . . . it's not that I disliked the guy;
I just never watched him (nor did my daughter).

However, it seems that since he died in 2003, I have taken
more of an interest in his work . . . I've read one
book about him and when I came across the CD
version of LIFE'S JOURNEYS ACCORDING TO MR.
ROGERS, I jumped at the opportunity to listen to it.

It is a compilation of views held by Rogers on a wide
variety of topics, including graduation, job changes, marriage
and career choices . . . some stories are presented,
and you even hear some singing from him.

Yet one thought, in particular, stood out for me:

* Here's a gift for yourself. Sometime in your day, try
to turn off the noises around you. Try to think about nothing.

Some of the many other tidbits that I picked up from
this program included the following:

* What matters most is not winning, but helping others win.

* There is no cure for loneliness. What really matters is our
relationship with others.

* Try your best to make goodness attractive. This is one
of the toughest assignments you'll ever be given.

Lastly, this concept also grabbled me:

* Take a minute to think about one person who helped
make you the person you are. (The person doesn't have
to be alive.) Imagine how happy that person would be
to know that you were thinking about them.

Blair Brown, B.D. Wong and Richard Kind handled
the narration . . . their performances added to my enjoyment
of the program.

Mr. Rogers was always a soothing voice on TV. My children watched and enjoyed his programs. Now I have the privilege of reading his books. You can almost hear his soothing, calm voice in each passage. I love the insights and candor of this man and recommend this little giftbook.


For early childhood parents who want confidence, I suggest The Birth to Five Book: Confident Childrearing Right from the Start

After spending countless hours watching and listening to Mister Roger's gentle voice and pleasant personality giving tidbits of simple, beautiful wisdom, I hestitate to add these brief, bright, thoughtful comments from his treasure chest!

"I need thinking time when someone asks me a searching question. I wonder why it seems to be so uncomfortable for many people to wait through the silence." (page 45)

"It's really easy to fall into the trap of believing that what we do is more important than what we are." (page 44)

"Are you able to believe in a loving preasnce who deairs the best for you and the whole universe?" (page 58)

Only three ways to ultimate success:
The first way is to be kind.
The second way is to be Kind.
The thrird way is to be KIND. (page 95)

Teilhard de Chardin a 19th century philosopher, writes that someone scrawled the following words on the bulletin board of the great Notre-Dame Cathedral: "Le monde demain appartiendra a` ceux qui lui apporte`la plus grande esperance." In english, The world tomorrow will belong to those who brought it the greatest hope." (page 119)

Fondly with many compliments, Retired Chap Fred W Hood

I was a bit apprehensive when I first picked this up at the library because I was afraid that Fred might concentrate more on the religious side of things.actually,he only mentioned god a few times in it and each of those times he mentioned god unforcefully,which was both smart and caring of him.I liked it so much I'm going to buy a copy!it was uncanny to see that his writing style(although compiled by others)in this book was very simmillar to that of david lynch in his "catching the big fish" book--short and to the point/abstract for a purpose:I love books which demand that the reader think things out themselves rather than have it served up american-style on a big silver platter!

Such joy in living simply. Mr. Rogers had a way of bringing people in with his ordinariness. His philosophy is one of love and positive thinking. He separates true happiness from temporary satisfactions. This is a must read.

I gave this book to my mom for mother's day. We both enjoyed reading it and talking about when I watched him when I was little. Mr. Rogers had a way of making life not seem so complicated.