Two days ago would have been Mister Rogers’ 83rd birthday.
For me, Mister Rogers has always been a source of inspiration, and his magical view of the world is one I try hard to share. As a way to honor him, I have collected ten of my favorite quotes of his below.
- “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ To this day, especially in times of ‘disaster,’ I remember my mother’s words, and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers-so many caring people in this world.”
- “As you continue to work on your understanding of yourself and others, you are really engaged in love.”
- “People whose work is self-expression of the most obvious kind-artists, writers, musicians, dancers-seem to be drawing heavily on play to do what they do. What they all have in common is the urge to take what is known and rearrange it in new combinations.”
- “Pretending doesn’t require expensive toys.”
- “The child in me is still…and sometimes not so still.”
- “On the occasions when I did something with a child’s block building that was more than I was asked to do, I quickly discovered how important it was to respect the architect within the child.”
- “Think of the ripple effect that can be created when we nourish someone. One kind empathetic word has a wonderful way of turning into many.”
- “Listening is where love begins: listening to ourselves and then to our neighbors.”
- “There is no normal life that is free of pain. It’s the very wrestling with our problems that can be the impetus for our growth.”
- “I find out more and more every day how important it is for people to share their memories.”
I have two Mister Rogers shirts I like to wear, and it’s not surprising how many people smile and or comment when they see this one. He helped so many people feel special!
