There sometimes will come a book where you read it just at the right moment in your life. This was one of those books for me. In the beginning of this year, I became inspired by Mister Rogers and his ideology. Ever since I read, “I’m Proud of You: My Friendship with Fred Rogers” by Tim Madigan, I made it a mission to start looking at people and things with a new point of view. A better, more gentle point of view where being kind is not weak nor a strategy but a habit, goodness in others and yourself does exist and gratitude does indeed reciprocate. My entire perspective on life changed and it was because of this mindset that I found myself the happiest I’ve ever been. However, the beginning of this month, I started losing myself again; becoming resentful, angry, frustrated and envious. It happens to us all.
While only one hundred and seventy-one pages in length, “Life’s Journeys According to Mister Rogers: Things to Remember Along the Way” written by Fred Rogers himself, was just the book I needed to reaffirm my perspective and snap me back to where I was before. No matter if you knew him personally, watched him on television or read one of his books, his energy is infectious and something I want to bring into the new year and to keep generating the rest of my life. This book is filled with tidbits of knowledge and insights, powerful reminders such as: “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!”
This book is incredibly uplifting and valuable that it won’t be the last time I read it. Most importantly, it makes you feel like Mister Rogers is speaking directly to you. As a friend. As a neighbor. Sometimes that’s just all we need. I cannot recommend it enough!
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“Try your best to make goodness attractive. That's one of the toughest assignments you'll ever be given.”
- Fred Rogers