Like many in my generation, I grew up watching Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. With thousands of other kids around the country, I was glued to the television as he tied his shoes, put on his sweater, fed his fish, played with puppets, and shared life lessons. As a young one, I didn’t have any comprehension of what exactly I was taking away from Mr. Rogers. As an adult, I now recognize the seeds he was planting really were something valuable and are lessons I cherish today.
Several years ago a friend of mine and I started talking about our mutual love of Mr. Rogers. His message was always one of kindness, acceptance, and positivity. It’s a message that is so greatly needed in the world. It’s a message of recognizing there are bad things that happening but focusing on the good that is revealed through the bad i.e. look for the helpers. A show like Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood in the wrong hands could really have been naive and clueless. However, Mr. Rogers was anything but. He recognized and embraced the world around him. More than just embracing it, he loved it. He was willing to try things he wasn’t good at. He was willing to be uncomfortable. He was willing to accept people who were different (and who had different opinions than him) because he knew that people are what matter.
Now, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood is coming to theaters later this year. Fred Rogers will be portrayed by Tom Hanks and there really couldn’t be anyone better to fill this role. A trailer has been released and from what is seen so far, it feels like the movie will nail the warmth and kindness of Mr. Rogers. It also looks like, in a more personal way, it will show how this love and kindness changed a life just like it changed so many other (more often young) lives. Watch the trailer below and then share what you think of it and also what you thought of Mr. Rogers!
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood Trailer
I, for one, am very excited about this movie! The world needs more love and kindness. It will always bring people closer together rather than divide. Love and kindness also build people up rather than sinking them. I believe that at the end of the day, all ships rise and lower with the tide. I think as we build each other up we are building up so much more than just the individuals. We are building up the community. We are building up organizations. We are building up the future. I can’t wait to see A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood when it arrives in theaters on November 22, 2019!
