Sometimes, people are good…

Music, education, and compassion are all core values of mine. Though I’m not a musician myself or a textbook educator, I find myself amazed at what an impassioned person is able to effectively communicate, especially when it comes to teaching children.

One of the simplest and most effective educators of the last century is undoubtedly Mister Rogers. He was a person who tried to send important messages like:

• feelings are okay to have, and that they may fluctuate

• compassion often looks like putting ourselves in someone else’s shoes

• frightening and difficult things can be worked through with communication and honesty

There has been so much written about his life and he certainly had an immense impact on generations while he was broadcasting his TV show. The song linked above in particular struck me today, as we know that even when we try our best we might have tough moments. The more we can accept one another as being fallible/humble/human, the better shape we’ll be in with all the relationships of our life.

As a parent, these concepts strike me as fundamental when I think about raising a human in a world that’s confusing, complicated, and wonderful.

Mister Rogers said: “Sometimes people are good,
And they do just what they should.
But the very same people who are good sometimes,
Are the very same people who are bad sometimes.
It’s funny, but it’s true.
It’s the same, isn’t it for me and…

Sometimes people make noise
And they break each other’s toys.
But the very same people who are noisy sometimes
Are the very same people who are quiet sometimes.
It’s funny, but it’s true.
It’s the same, isn’t it for me and…

Sometimes people get mad,
And they feel like being bad.
But the very same people who are mad sometimes,
Are the very same people who are glad sometimes.
It’s funny, but it’s true.
It’s the same, isn’t it for me and…” [Music and Lyrics by Fred M. Rogers. © McFeely-Rogers Foundation. All Rights Reserved.]

I’m curious as to whether you watched Mister Rogers as a child, or, perhaps as an adult. What have you learned from him??