Tag Archives: mister rogers

Being Kind as a Measure of Success?

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Mister Rogers told a story about a 100-yard dash at the Special Olympics: The starter’s gun went off, and the nine contestants started the race to the finish line. One of the competitors fell early and hurt his knee. He cried out, and when he did, the other runners, all of them, turned around and went back to him. They linked arms and crossed the finish line together. All of them were happy for their success. The crowd went wild. The story was popularized in a TV ad by the Foundation for a Better Life. This is based on an incident that happened in 1976. In that race, one of the runners fell and two others stopped to help him up. They finished the race together.

The implication of the story is that we are better off when we help others win and when everybody can win. In sports, we absolutely know that isn’t possible. There’s a winner and a lot of losers, especially if you believe the adage that second place is first loser. It doesn’t matter how much you train, how much effort you put in, or how much talent you have. If you don’t win, you lose. This is a hard way to live life, but it is also difficult to imagine 16 teams winning the Super Bowl. (Poor Jim Kelly, 4-time Super Bowl loser.)

How do we define success outside of sports? If it’s the cutthroat, second-place-is-first-loser philosophy, aren’t we selling our humanity short? Mister Rogers said that the three keys to success were to be kind, be kind, be kind. What happens when we start trying to outkind each other? What would it look like to be in first place at being kind? Kindness starts with being kind to yourself, and it doesn’t end there.

Sources: Life’s Journeys According to Mister Rogers: Things to Remember Along the Way by Fred Rogers (2005).

Snopes: Special Olympics Linked Arms Race Finish accessed 8/11/2024.

8 Quotes from Mister Rogers that Will Improve Our World

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I grew up with Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. Growing up with my mom as my only parent, Mister Rogers provided me with a male role model. I rarely live up to the high ideals that Mister Rogers set, But I know that’s okay because I try every day, and it’s the effort and the intention that matter. Here are eight quotes from one of my childhood heroes that will improve your world.

  • There are three ways to ultimate success: The first way is to be kind. The second way is to be kind. The third way is to be kind.
  • Imagine what our real neighborhoods would be like if each of us offered, as a matter of course, just one kind word to another person.
  • The more you grow into a helpful person yourself, the happier you’ll find this world of ours is.
  • Mutual caring relationships require kindness and patience, tolerance, optimism, joy in the other’s achievements, confidence in oneself, and the ability to give without undue thought of gain.
  • I hope you’re proud of yourself for the times you’ve said “yes,” when all it meant was extra work for you and was seemingly helpful only to someone else.
  • Whether we’re a preschooler or a young teen, a graduating college senior or a retired person, we human beings all want to know that we’re acceptable, that our being alive somehow makes a difference in the lives of others.
  • The world needs a sense of worth, and it will achieve it only by its people feeling that they are worthwhile.
  • 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 will never be again. Only you. And people can like you exactly as you are.

Go out today knowing that you are special and your kind words and actions can make a difference for the better.

Thank you, Mister Rogers.

Most of the quotes were found at https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/32106.Fred_Rogers

If you want more from Mister Rogers, check out his author page on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2k5IOgG